Moved from General Knife Discussion: Gil Hibben is selling his latest Rambo knife.

I don't mean to slam Gil Hibben across the board. He is responsible for many fine designs over the years, maybe that is why people are scratching their heads on this one. And I understand the movie context of the knife. I just am befuddled by the asking price for something that really doesn't seem to warrant it. Remember, this is a forum where folks are invited to express thier opinions on knife news...
 
It's funny, they finally come up with a knife that has some plausability of him using if it was a real situation and people whine about it. Yeah, it looks like it was made in a barn from a piece of scrap metal, because that IS how it's made in the movie.

What do you want? "Yep, just like the one in the movie, except this one has a different sheath and is mirror polished with ebony scales. Just like the piece of scrap and cord in the movie. . ." :rolleyes:

What did you think it would cost? He's selling collector's items, not stuff for Cheaper Than Dirt or US Calvary.
 
Hibben is a hack. Whatever good work he's done is totally invalidated by the cheesy UC knives he licenses. Anyone with any integrity would NEVER put their name on stuff that bad. Nor would anyone try and sell some sharpened prybar as a "collectors" item
 
The problem is the absurd overkill of hiring Gil Hibben to design a machete-kind-of-thing that looks believably like it was cobbled together from scrounged materials by a desparate, sleep-deprived soldier on the fly.

Rambo knives I-III bestowed the abiliity to fight off the Red Army, survive in the jungle, knock helicopters from the sky, find love and, most importantly, look good doing it. This knife falls short of that most important quality, and so it is a disappointment to knowledeable knife knuts.

The price may make sense from the standpoint of Hollywood collectibles, but it's a bit of a stretch when you know what kind of knife you can get for $1200.
 
STAGE 2 said:
Hibben is a hack. Whatever good work he's done is totally invalidated by the cheesy UC knives he licenses. Anyone with any integrity would NEVER put their name on stuff that bad. Nor would anyone try and sell some sharpened prybar as a "collectors" item
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That United Cutlery deal probably made him a millionaire, I bet 1/2 the knifemakers on Bladeforums would kill for a deal like that.

Also, you have to admit that those United knives probably brought tons of new collectors into the hobby, I can count off dozens of new collectors I know who's collecting started with the United/Hibben stuff.


:).
 
I imagine if his detractors actually knew the man some of these posts would change. He is a good man in every respect that I have witnessed over the years. I have not seen many makers who have spent as much time as he has with kids over time. I try to spend a little time with him every chance I get and without a doubt he is a gentleman who has given much to hour hobby.

I do not have a problem with this knife and it's price considering it's background and the background of the man who made it.
 
Gil is a close friend and I have followed the development of this knife for over a year. You have no idea how much time and work has gone into it. Gil made several different designs and a couple of dozen prototypes before they arrived at the final knife.

The bottom line is that Gil made what the customer wanted. The knife, and the forging of the knife, is an intregral part of the movies script as is the sheath.

As for the price, collectables are worth what collectors are willing to pay. If Gil sold it for $500 it would be selling the next day on Ebay for $1250 or more. Why shouldn't Gil get the money instead of they guys who flip it for a profit?

There will be a feature article about the knife in the next issue of Blade Magazine. Maybe if you read it you will have a little better understanding of the process and the reasons for the knife being what it is.
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I think this post puts it pretty well, people who are really hating on this seem to be judging based on their aesthetic sense (and I agree the knife is ugly) or what other types of knives are available for $1250. This is a limited edition replica of the knife used in the movie, as such it is in a completely different category than other non-movie related knives, whatever their beauty or quality. What buyers of this piece are paying for is that it is a replica, limited edition, made by the guy who made the actual movie prop, and the certification saying so.

Someone paid HUGE money for the ruby shoes worn by Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz--would you say jeez, you can get much MUCH better shoes at Zappos.com for 1/100th the price? Or why pay so much for used shoes? You would be technically correct but really not understanding what the people are actually buying.

Personally I don't like the knife but different strokes for different folks.
 
STAGE 2 said:
Hibben is a hack. Whatever good work he's done is totally invalidated by the cheesy UC knives he licenses. Anyone with any integrity would NEVER put their name on stuff that bad. Nor would anyone try and sell some sharpened prybar as a "collectors" item
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You obviously don't know the man or you would not question his integrity and make such a statement.

It's amusing how 20 years ago a few people dismissed Gil for "selling out" to UC. Now, dozens of knifemakers who have made a name for themselves have a licensing deal to have their designs factory produced.

Bob Bowie has it right that the UC products has spawned a lot of collectors and knifemakers including me. There is an obvious need and market for lower priced mass-market knives. UC sold 250,000 copies of the Rambo III replicas and Gil's annual series has been selling for 17 years. It's absurd to say that it is junk that nobody wants. They are actually pretty good quality for what they are. The fit and finish is surprisingly good for Taiwan manufacure and 420J stainless steel has it's place.

Sure, the UC stuff is not going to be hand ground knives of the most expensive materials and be able to make an under-$100 retail price point.

I can asssure you that Gil is no millionaire. He has made a decent living through 50 years excellent and very hard work. Like all knifemakers that I have ever known he also gone through some extremely lean times.

He is still a one-man shop and at 72 years of age still spends every day making his knives entirely by hand, one at a time, with no automated equipment. He can only make a very limited number of knives each year and that is why they are highly sought by collectors around the world.

For the new Rambo knife, as I said he has invested over a year and dozens of handmade knives into the project. The knives are hand ground, properly heat treated and the sheaths are hand made. Who wouldn't want to get a return and make some money off of that? It is not a pretty knife but it is what the customer wanted and as one who has actually handled one I can attest that it is a quality piece.

Gil112307%20009.jpg


Obviously I am a fan of the man and his work. I have limitless respect and admiration for Gil, what he has accomplished, and what he has done for the knife industry. He has taught me more than I could possibly describe here both about knives and about being a good and giving person. He has taught and influenced some of the biggest names in knifemaking and is justifyably highly repected by those who understand how hard it is to make it as a custom knifemaker.
 
Its a movie knife!!!!! Rambo is a movie character!!!!! It a Hollywood movie!!!!!! Does anyone think it was designed with any functional practical purpose in mind besides selling it to Rambo wannabees?
 
Oh shucks. It's a collector's piece and the price therfore has no relation to the intrinsic worth of the knife. At the same time, Gil Hibben originals are known to be well made items.

Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure many serious collectors of memorabilia will want one.
 
randy6679 said:
The Rambo IV sheath is retro fitted from the Rambo III sheath, according to the movie. I own #4/100 of the Rambo IV knife and I don't care if it were made of aluminum; it will never see the outside of a glass case. It would have been completely stupid to see Rambo forging a piece of steel in the jungle and then cut to a scene of him holding a mirror polished work of art. The knife FITS the context!!
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Randy, can you post some pics?
 
MisterSat, let me understand this, are you selling these knives or have some role in selling these knives?
 
Bastid said:
I imagine if his detractors actually knew the man some of these posts would change. He is a good man in every respect that I have witnessed over the years. I have not seen many makers who have spent as much time as he has with kids over time. I try to spend a little time with him every chance I get and without a doubt he is a gentleman who has given much to hour hobby.

I do not have a problem with this knife and it's price considering it's background and the background of the man who made it.
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Sell the sizzle, not the steak.
 
Psycho_Boy_Jack said:
I think it is clear that anyone with a sense of practicality would not purchase this knife. Period.
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I dunno. Seems like that isn't clear at all to many of the people who have posted in these threads ... some of them seem to be completely clueless.
 
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