Gil Hibben

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kokoek9

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Aug 29, 2014
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Hi, how are Gill Hibben knives, I like some of his designs but haven't even seen him mentioned here
 
His custom knives are excellent (as far as I've heard. A friend actually owns a really old one, and it's a well made knife. Never been used, but it is well made)

However, almost all of his designs produced by United, meyerco, etc. are just oddly shaped junk IMO.
 
AntDog said:
His custom knives are excellent (as far as I've heard. A friend actually owns a really old one, and it's a well made knife. Never been used, but it is well made)

However, almost all of his designs produced by United, meyerco, etc. are just oddly shaped junk IMO.
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This is accurate. His designs and customs are awesome. After he sells the designs, they suck. :)
 
He's very good. But if it is a knife made from his design, it is usually not too great. United Cutlery, and I believe Taylor make his designs. Lots of fantasy pieces. Like everything, you can generally tell by the price as an indicator of quality construction except in a few cases where a particular knife is collectable.
 
kokoek9 said:
Hi, how are Gill Hibben knives, I like some of his designs but haven't even seen him mentioned here
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Gill made the knife for the last Rambo movie, right?

ece3392bc11f8e7f63e78611cfd37c67.jpg
 
Like others have said, his customs are fantastic, but the offerings from major companies leave a lot to be desired, especially since most are made from medium to low quality SS.
 
The low priced commercially available models you see advertised strike me as being more wall hangers than usable knives.
 
his throwing knives are fairly decent. All of his 'fantasy' crap is just that, crap, made from inferior materials, and incapable of performing any function other than sitting there and looking pretty.
 
Mannlicher said:
All of his 'fantasy' crap is just that, crap, made from inferior materials, and incapable of performing any function other than sitting there and looking pretty.
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Actually, there may be some truth to this.

I used this one to dress a nice eight point mulie I bagged last season in southwestern Utah. In the end, only 18 ounces of meat was recoverable and I lost two fingers in the process. Wouldn't recommend.

Eye_of_Drakonus-GH2025A-Display_Stand.jpg


;) :D
 
Bronco said:
Actually, there may be some truth to this.

I used this one to dress a nice eight point mulie I bagged last season in southwestern Utah. In the end, only 18 ounces of meat was recoverable and I lost two fingers in the process. Wouldn't recommend.

Eye_of_Drakonus-GH2025A-Display_Stand.jpg


;) :D
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WINNER!
Doesn't get any clearer than this ! :thumbup:
If you want an actual Hibben knife that's well made, you'll have to get a custom.
 
I have actually been tempted by the United Cutlery Hibben knife, the Brother's Keeper. I think the micarta handle and blade shape are attractive and don't scream fantasy/mall ninja like some others do. Just a handsome blade. Only downside is the 7cr blade steel on a $65 knife.

UCWH103.jpg
 
From what I know, Mr. Hibben is a bit of a victim of his own success. He's a very skilled custom knifemaker who caught Hollywood's attention and ended up designed many of the blades seen on the big screen. That, of course, led to the more...let's just say esoteric, designs that Taylor picked up and churns out by the truckload.
 
Some of the blades, the so called 'fantasy knives' are just that...fantasy. Or you might call them art. I believe the designs to be futuristic and 'hollywood' science fiction pieces. They are not necessarily made to be used in any hunting/camping scenarios. I'd venture to say that Gil's checkbook is mighty heavy from the proceeds of these so called lower-level blades. Each to his own!

The custom pieces are nothing short of stellar.
 
Sam Cade said:
This is an $1,800 Hibben knife (in 440C).

CoffinBowie.jpg


Yeah, I don't think so. :highly_amused:
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Wow, that looks awful. Crack in the handle, scales and bolsters aren't flush to the tang, the handle shape looks uncomfortable, the "filework" on the back looks like it was done by a ten year old, and 440C...really?! Pathetic.
 
RemyKaze said:
Wow, that looks awful. Crack in the handle, scales and bolsters aren't flush to the tang, the handle shape looks uncomfortable, the "filework" on the back looks like it was done by a ten year old, and 440C...really?! Pathetic.
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I see your point but we all have our moments and he doesn't make knives by fives like everybody else but by hundreds (I'm not talking about UC but his customs) I mean he did over 400 knives for Expendables and we are talking about 79 years old man there is no other knife maker such as him and I don't think there will be another like him ever again.
I have ten of his customs and those are all flawless. I especially like his older stuff. There is nothing wrong with his 440c as it is very different then those 440c's from china. But I would start using cpm 154 as default if I was him. But he will be more than happy to use whatever you want him to use for your knife . I have his knives in 440c,d2,CPM d2,cpm 154 & Delbert Ealy damascus
As far as fantasy knives. I don't like it and I never did whoever is it from , he is also artist and that is what they do! There are pictures from well known painters I wouldn't pay $1 for but they are worth millions of dollars. He never claimed that his fantasy knives are made for skinning deer. Those knives are just as impossible as those movies u see them in lol.
 
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