Are "Rambo" type knives practical?

Sam Wilson said:
We've seen pics of Buckmasters, Hibbens, Timberlines, and others in this thread. So, somebody around here has to have a Robert Parrish HH knife. Anybody have any pics of one they've owned, used, or even some stock pics of one? I've always thought they looked like one of the most practical and durable HH knives around. Plus just some of the cleanest lines on an HH knife ever.
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Show us some HARD used while really in the field like the Glock field knife or the Laotian machete above.
 
Every cleared bamboo? I'm taking about bamboo up to 4-5 inches thick. If you have, you'd realize just how practical the Laotian machete is for that task.
 
I hope this thread never dies! :)

I love (quality) hollow handle knives. I acknowledge there is a "gadget factor" involved, but the engineering of the knife is part of the attraction to me. In fact, my main interest in the knives just may be the handle-blade connection, and what comprises it in the particular knife. The well-made variations of this type of knife are rock-solid and I have no fear of the "weakness" that many naysayers claim. I suppose it is easy to understand why many have a low opinion of this type of knife when you run a search on ebay and come up with 100 versions of $8.00 knives held together with a simple screw, but the quality ones (Timberline, Parrish, Buckmaster, Lile, Randall, etc.) are about as strong as a human could ever possibly need in the woods. Sam Wilson's certainly look to be a part of the higher-quality ones currently made. Interestingly, Cold Steel's Survival Edge knife is a very nice performer, equivalent to Mora-style knife tasks, for a very reasonable price. I have used that, and the Buckmaster, extensively. Wish I had more! :cool:
 
bowie69 said:
I hope this thread never dies! :)

I love (quality) hollow handle knives. I acknowledge there is a "gadget factor" involved, but the engineering of the knife is part of the attraction to me. In fact, my main interest in the knives just may be the handle-blade connection, and what comprises it in the particular knife. The well-made variations of this type of knife are rock-solid and I have no fear of the "weakness" that many naysayers claim. I suppose it is easy to understand why many have a low opinion of this type of knife when you run a search on ebay and come up with 100 versions of $8.00 knives held together with a simple screw, but the quality ones (Timberline, Parrish, Buckmaster, Lile, Randall, etc.) are about as strong as a human could ever possibly need in the woods. Sam Wilson's certainly look to be a part of the higher-quality ones currently made. Interestingly, Cold Steel's Survival Edge knife is a very nice performer, equivalent to Mora-style knife tasks, for a very reasonable price. I have used that, and the Buckmaster, extensively. Wish I had more! :cool:
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Good post, bowie. I agree with your sentiments. Surprisingly, I find the hollow handle comfortable to use for long periods of time without developing hot spots. For me, the other part of the HH experience is assembling different kits, which has almost become a little hobby by itself. Here are a few kits I've put together that include custom shaped fatwood, homemade hacksaw strikers, and small pouches to protect the compasses. As you can see, most of the kits lean heavy on the fire starting side.

IMG_4566_zpsb04e4e17.jpg
 
TAH said:
Good post, bowie. I agree with your sentiments. Surprisingly, I find the hollow handle comfortable to use for long periods of time without developing hot spots. For me, the other part of the HH experience is assembling different kits, which has almost become a little hobby by itself. Here are a few kits I've put together that include custom shaped fatwood, homemade hacksaw strikers, and small pouches to protect the compasses. As you can see, most of the kits lean heavy on the fire starting side.

TAH, that brings up another great point. Some people laugh at the small amount of "gear" that can be carried in a hollow handle, and you hear comments like "That's what pockets are for," or "Just put a pouch on the sheath." The point people forget is that no one (hopefully!) is crazy enough to only carry the survival items that can be fit into the space in a hollow handle. This space is for reserve, extra, supplemental, emergency items in the event things go really wrong. Someone in a bad situation, maybe separated from their pack, would be very glad to have the fire starting items you have put together in your kits!

Plus, like I mentioned in my earlier post, the kits themselves have that magic gadget factor that I love!
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bowie69 said:
I hope this thread never dies! :)

I love (quality) hollow handle knives. I acknowledge there is a "gadget factor" involved, but the engineering of the knife is part of the attraction to me. In fact, my main interest in the knives just may be the handle-blade connection, and what comprises it in the particular knife. The well-made variations of this type of knife are rock-solid and I have no fear of the "weakness" that many naysayers claim. I suppose it is easy to understand why many have a low opinion of this type of knife when you run a search on ebay and come up with 100 versions of $8.00 knives held together with a simple screw, but the quality ones (Timberline, Parrish, Buckmaster, Lile, Randall, etc.) are about as strong as a human could ever possibly need in the woods. Sam Wilson's certainly look to be a part of the higher-quality ones currently made. Interestingly, Cold Steel's Survival Edge knife is a very nice performer, equivalent to Mora-style knife tasks, for a very reasonable price. I have used that, and the Buckmaster, extensively. Wish I had more! :cool:
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bowie69 said:
TAH, that brings up another great point. Some people laugh at the small amount of "gear" that can be carried in a hollow handle, and you hear comments like "That's what pockets are for," or "Just put a pouch on the sheath." The point people forget is that no one (hopefully!) is crazy enough to only carry the survival items that can be fit into the space in a hollow handle. This space is for reserve, extra, supplemental, emergency items in the event things go really wrong. Someone in a bad situation, maybe separated from their pack, would be very glad to have the fire starting items you have put together in your kits!

Plus, like I mentioned in my earlier post, the kits themselves have that magic gadget factor that I love!
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Bowie69, I agree with you, I love this thread. This is by far the longest running thread with the best all around discussion of HH knives that I have ever seen! Thank you for the comments on my knives, I do try hard to bring a quality product to the table. And I did extensive testing and videos of the knife just to put people's minds at ease about the quality of my work. That is an excellent point you make about the HH knife kit being a last ditch backup kit. That is exactly the point, to me. Yes, you should have a more extensive set of emergency supplies on your person somewhere, but if all else fails, this gives you SOMETHING in an emergency to at least get a fire going and some cordage, along with very basic navigation capabilities. Glad to know there is another HH supporter out there! :D

Sam :thumbup:
 
The problem with Sam's knives are you have no excuse to miss a chin-up workout when you're out in the woods trying to relax. :grumpy: :D

bowie, you're spot on regarding the HH kit, but like Sam said, it's amazing how much that kit could make a difference if you had to rely on it. My kit in the upper left corner is small and simple, but it could easily produce 10-15 fires. The fatwood block goes a long way and the ferro rod is a full-size 2 1/2" x 1/4" model. :thumbup:
 
leghog said:
Yup, need a tough beater compromise field knife go with something like a $25"

Enjoy your eye candy. I won't own a knife I won't use, a gun I won't shoot, or a watch I won't wear. To each his own, even those evangelizing the "unmatched" virtues of the Rambo-type knife.

Also remember this --- my posts here are from a man selling nothing. And again, never ask a question you don't want
answered. To each his own.
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You keep saying the exact same thing... And expecting people to just agree with you on the issue even though you have, as of 15 pages on this thread, shown not 1 single thing that makes these knives so "impractical" in your opinion... Besides trying to distract people with statements like: Movie prop? ...dare say Mr. Lile would disagree, along with Mr. Randall among the many other high quality "Rambo" style makers. If the reasoning is that someone won't use it because it's "eye candy" and too expensive to use hard, as I see is a recurring theme with your posts... Simple fix: don't be so cheap. Lamborghinis are very expensive as well, and I'll concede not the most practical vehicle for most purposes, however used as designed, they are very practical indeed. And not once was a question posed about firearms or timepieces. So please... The masses are waiting, so by all means stay on topic and give us one ...even ONE, single reason HH knives would be impractical for their designed purpose.
 
Agreed Rick... And if you're a mall ninja, all of your knives are eye candy. If you use any knife for its intended purpose, it then is a question of how practical that piece of equipment becomes for a given task, and that is the big question for the HH Rambo knives in question. For survival tasks, is a Rambo knife practical? I would have to say IMHO that for survival, a well made HH knife with proper proportions would be more than suitable. I don't see how most people could disagree.
 
rustyrazor said:
Agreed Rick... And if you're a mall ninja, all of your knives are eye candy. If you use any knife for its intended purpose, it then is a question of how practical that piece of equipment becomes for a given task, and that is the big question for the HH Rambo knives in question. For survival tasks, is a Rambo knife practical? I would have to say IMHO that for survival, a well made HH knife with proper proportions would be more than suitable. I don't see how most people could disagree.
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Most people will never find themselves anywhere near a real survival situation. Then the very very few who do and who actually own a "Rambo"-type knife will wish their "Rambo"-type knife weren't at home in the safe.
 
leghog said:
Most people will never find themselves anywhere near a real survival situation. Then the very very few who do and who actually own a "Rambo"-type knife will wish their "Rambo"-type knife weren't at home in the safe.
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Did a Rambo knife bully you in school?
Why the evangelical mission against them?
It's getting weird.
 
stabman said:
Did a Rambo knife bully you in school?
Why the evangelical mission against them?
It's getting weird.
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Lol, now thats funny! This mission is over, leghog! Its OVER! If he replies that "Nothing is over!" just like in the movie, that would be perfect. Come on leghog, say "Nothing is over!" And then you can break down and cry and let it all out. All the repressed memories of being pushed around by sawbacks finally boil over the top...
 
stabman said:
Did a Rambo knife bully you in school?
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My school days pre-date Rambo. I was already an Army officer by the time Rambo was released.

Why the evangelical mission against them?
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I simply answered the question if they were impractical. I answered, and keep in mind I have nothing to sell.

It's getting weird.
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Yes, it is. Especially with questions like these.
 
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leghog said:
My school days pre-date Rambo. I was already an officer in the Army by the time Rambo was released.

I simply answered the question if they were impractical. I answered, and keep in mind I have nothing to sell.

Yes, it is. Especially with questions like these.
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Come on leghog, be a sport. Just say "Nothing is over!" Lol

[video=youtube;ahts98kT_fQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahts98kT_fQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
 
And you do have something to sell: Your credibility. And so far, no one is buying any. Im sure you will have another simple answer for this as well, but the bottom line is you're starting to come across as mean-spirited and spiteful in an otherwise good-natured conversation about something that some of us love. This mission is over, Johnny. It's over.
 
leghog said:
My school days pre-date Rambo. I was already an Army officer by the time Rambo was released.

And there's your answer "army officer"... Aka: "I don't have to give you any reason why I'm right. Just do what I tell you". Say no more. I completely understand your point sir
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