Is there anything wrong with Gil Hibben knives... like this amazing Bowie!!!

B

Big Ugly Tall Texan

Joined
Jan 27, 2006
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107
If price wasn't an issue, this would be my Bowie knife choice.

gilhibbenalamobowie.jpg


https://www.hibbenknives.com/catalo...id=31&osCsid=e1076fc3d1bbe61f45bb129208db5ee7

It's the Gil Hibben version of the Musso Bowie and sells for a measly $1,800 and change. My van isn't worth half that! But if I had plenty of dough, this would be my choice. As it is, my conscience is hurting me for spending 80 bucks on a knife I don't really need.
 
I've seen some Gil Hibben knives, hunters I think they where, that seemed both reasonable quality and fair price.

I think though that what you have a link to is not serious, who'd pay that much for a knife when the materials where not even listed?

for $1800 I think you could get a "real" Bowie knife from a mastersmith. I think it's a waste of time perusing questionable quality knives in catalogs. Better to spend you're time researching and following knifemakers. That way you'll get a better handle on what you want, know who to go to for it, and likely have saved up the moeny to pay for it.

Mr Hibben is likely a fine guy who makes fine knives, but I'll always think of the UC cartoon knives when I see his name.
 
I'd certainly want to know more about the knife before I would be willing to pay that much. There are quite a few makers that will make a great Musso replica for less money than that. You are definitely paying for the name on the knife with this one.
 
There's nothing wrong with it, after all, Gil Hibben has been knives for over 20 years (I think). The only thing is that you're only paying for his name. Then again, no one ever says anything bad about Walter Brend knives, and they both use 440c.
 
I think Hibben sometimes gets a bad wrap because of his association with companies like United and the fantasy blades he designs.

Like this 2003 Gold Edition United limited autographed Gil Hibben "Eye of Drakonus."

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Belongs on Star Trek in a Klingon's hands rather than in the woods--though I'd love to hear the comments when somebody whipped out his Eye of Drakonus at hunting camp :D
 
I agree with Guyon. IMO, he's "sold out" and you see that in prices of his customs, I think. I don't think they will hold their values like other's makers will because of this. Were I a knifemaker with popular designs, I think I would have to consider very carefully whether I wanted CRKT to make one of my designs with AUS4 or 420 or whatever, let alone United. :thumbdn:
But the United phenomenon is so popular that Gil would probably be foolish to quit now.
 
Gil Hibben may make great custom knives but when I hear his name my first thought is United Cutlery and it is disturbing that a custom maker would have his designs turned out by this crap factory. Makes me wonder if he cares enough to do a good job on his personal knives? I realize folks have a right to be able to get knives for a decent price but United is a festering boil, he could have gone with a much better company and kept some of the tarnish off his name while he was at it.
 
The only thing I have ever found to be wrong with Gil's customs are that they are so dang big. I had a hard time just getting my hand around one of his bowies. As for all this nonsense about his line from United, I think it's pure poppycock. His line is THE most well consturcted line from that company. His throwers take an insane beating. Yeah, his fantasy pieces utilize some crap steel. Big deal. They are made to look pretty. If he put out a line of earings in 420J2, would you complain that they aren't 440C or 154 CM? Unlike most fantasy knives, his actually feel pretty good to hold. His "usable" knives that United puts out (The Negotiator, Alaskan Bowie, etc) are not too shabby either. The finish on them are excellent, and they use great micarta. Yeah, it likely won't perform as well as a Benchmade. But Benchmade doesn't lean that far into the fantastic side of knives.
 
Look, BUTT, you keep hovering around the Musso Bowie replicas and saying that you don't want to spend that much. Well, I have repeatedly said that what you need is to buy this one, pay them the $15.00 extra for sharpening so that you have a decent basic edge with which to start, and then have a decent, historically appropriate scabbard made for it. The blade comes with what we call a rebated edge for re-enactors, although the wickedly sharp point on the knife seems to run counter to that safety precaution. The sheath that comes with it is junk, more appropriate to a $5.00 Pakistani or Chinese POS at the corner flea market than a knife such as this.

http://www.atlantacutlery.com/webstore/eCat/Knives And Swords/Primitive Bowie.aspx

If you want to keep moaning and gronaing about how you cannot afford the more expensive ones or missed out on the chance to buy the Imperial Weapons replica last year, I am through with trying to help you. This is THE best buy in a Musso Bowie replica going, and that is a real turn-about in my opinion if you read what I had said about it. This is a good basic knife for the money, one with decent carbon steel although I have no idea what carbon steel, and decent quality of workmanship in the knife, itself. The sheath is a throwaway, all of the money is in the knife.
 
1836 was the year that the Battle of the Alamo was fought. I'm guessing that's where the $1836.00 price tag comes from. Wheteher it's a joke or not is another story.
 
Hey, I was set to buy that Atlanta Cutlery knife and some of you guys said the steel was no good and expressed concerns about the grip coming loose. 90 bucks is a lot of money to just throw away on a knife that looks good but ONLY looks good. That Primitive Bowie is a close copy of the Musso, but it's made in India? That's not the solution. And you bet, I moan and groan about the idea of paying $1,800 for a knife. Don't know about the rest of you, but I have a life away from my interest in historically correct knives.

I wanted a knife that was historically correct but not a piece of junk. That's why I went with the Bear MGC. That design is authentic, I know, because I have seen Bowie knives from the 1840s and 50s that had that same design.

I want a Musso design because other than the one made by Black, that seems to be the only design that can be reliably linked to Bowie. I had no idea anyone made good replicas of that knife until I found the one by Hibben. That one was out because it just costs too much. Now, you tell me there are custom knives of the same design that cost much less. Good, maybe I can swing 400 or 500 bucks for a well-made Musso replica.

As for the Imperial Bowie, you have me mixed up with someone else when you say I complained about missing out on a chance to buy one. The Imperial Bowie that I used to have is not the same knife. It, or rather, they, were five dollar smallish Bowie knifes of the same basic design as the Bear knife, and made by Imperial - the folks that made (or maybe still make) cheap pocket knives.

The Imperial Bowie that is kind of like the Musso doesn't impress me. Number one, I don't like that design. It's not the same as the Musso... close, but no cigar. Number two, I don't like the grip design with that silver cap.

I doubt seriously if any knife owned and used by Jim or Rezin was that ornate. The brass spine on the Musso wasn't for decoration, it was to catch the blade or an opponent's knife to give you a chance to disarm him.

Don't worry about me, Bubba. I'm here to learn and the only way you can learn is by asking questions. As I have said, if there are those here who are not interested in answering my questions, there are others who are.
 
I think that you are confusing Imperial's current reproduction offering with their previous one. Their current offering is a replica of the Iron Mistress knife from the movie of that name from the 1950s starring Alan Ladd. The Musso Bowie was their previous offering and that ended some while back after thay had sold all 200 that they had made. The quality of these knives is quite good for the money. If you doubt me, I suggest that you enter "Imperial Weapons Musso Bowie" in the Search function and read what others have to say.

As to the Atlanta Cutlery knife, yes it is from India and it is from Windlass Steel, which is the company that owns both Atlanta Cutlery and Museum Replicas. I will also say that I was one of those who criticized the knife when I first got mine, but I have revised my opinon and the experience of sharpening it last weekend has convinced me tha the steel, while not D-2 or whatever, is certainly acceptable for $90. I cannot speak to reliability of fittings under hard usage as I have not subjected mine to that. but it appears to be solidly made and I can find no obvious signs of filler and/or other buggery from bvad fitting parts. The only real criticism that I have of the knife is its sheath.
 
My 2 pennies....

Get on the General Knife Discussion > Custom forum and find yourself a custom maker. There are plenty of guys here capable of making a quality historically correct knife for a price you can afford - using quality steel and materials. I am not talking about an artisan safe-queen either because it's CUSTOM - they make it according to what you want! Maybe it's just me, but I would have a lot more pride in owning a custom bowie than any production replica.

You will end up spending a little more than what you would for a production knife, and it won't likely include a sheath ($50+ more) but again, can you put a price on owning a ONE OF A KIND custom? You mention wearing it at gun shows - imagine how much more impressive a custom would be! Seriously - some of the bowies that get pictured in the Custom forum bring tears to my eyes...um, because they are dusty. Yeah, that's it! ;)

There seems to be a little angst here among some of the more knowledgeable posters because in perspective, it's only a knife. Most of us will buy several this year (not counting the many here that buy several each week! :eek: ). Only you know what you are looking for in a knife for you - this place will provide you a lot of information but if you ask repetitive questions you may find the more knowledgeable users less likely to participate in replying. The forum Search feature is your friend!

Again, happy shopping, Tex!
 
First off if you haven't picked up a G. Hibben handmade you shouldn't trash the guy. He makes a fine knife. Bowies, daggers, and even the Elmer Keith knife that I lusted after as a kid.
The fantasy stuff doesn't fly here, but it sure sells. And when your in the knife biz, selling is good.

BUTTEX,
Good stuff costs good money.
And ya get what ya pay for.
Instead of ending up with a carton of lesser knives that add up to the cost of a custom, save up ($2 a day is a custom in a year) and get that custom.
Figure 3 years for a Hibben ;)
 
Deadhead Archer said:
...There seems to be a little angst here among some of the more knowledgeable posters because in perspective, it's only a knife. Most of us will buy several this year (not counting the many here that buy several each week! :eek: ). Only you know what you are looking for in a knife for you - this place will provide you a lot of information but if you ask repetitive questions you may find the more knowledgeable users less likely to participate in replying. The forum Search feature is your friend!

Again, happy shopping, Tex!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I can associate with what you say about buying too many knives. I am the same way about guns and have been all my life. I also own more knives than I really NEED. This purchase is not really a need. I do not currently compete in Cowboy shooting comps. In fact, I don't own the firearms needed for it. I'm kinda going at it bassackwards by getting the knife first.

When I first began this search, I knew of only two Bowie knife designs. I was aware of the one made by James Black and I was aware of what I guess could be termed a Sheffield Bowie, like the Bear MGC I am purchasing.

I took notice of the knife used by the Bowie character in the latest Alamo movie. Then I came across the Atlanta Cutlery "primitive bowie" and realized it was the same knife. I was disappointed when I learned that knife and others from Atlanta Cutlery were meant for display and not use. They also offer a version of that Iron Maiden knife.

Technically, that is all I need for a knife that is just meant to be window dressing for play cowboy.

Then I learned that knife is a pretty good copy of the "brass-backed Bowie" also known as the Musso Bowie, and my interest grew. Until I heard the news here that the workmanship on those knives might not be the best in the world. So went with the Bear MGC. I really wanted the Damascus with the India stag grips but that was more than I was prepared to pay right now, so I went with the stainless model, which I have shown in an different post.

It's not a Musso copy, but it is a faithful copy of Old West Bowie knives that I have seen, and will serve my purposes.

I still really like that Musso Bowie and am encouraged by what you guys tell me about custom knifemakers. Maybe there is a "brass-backed Bowie" out there somewhere that I can afford.
 
Have you taken a look at Paul Chen's historical Bowies?
There's around 8, I think. I'll try to find link. Good steel too.
 
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