Indeed, I already had a fun moment about it. Imagine yourself trapped in some jungle hellhole, without so much as a knife in your hands, finding some old beat-up forge and quickly making yourself a blade - out of D2!
Where did he get that D2? 
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Moved from General Knife Discussion: Gil Hibben is selling his latest Rambo knife.
- Thread starter EvanBNW
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Indeed, I already had a fun moment about it. Imagine yourself trapped in some jungle hellhole, without so much as a knife in your hands, finding some old beat-up forge and quickly making yourself a blade - out of D2!
Where did he get that D2? 
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Seems to me that if someone who wanted to spend the money would have a knife worth more than they paid for it in a short period of time.
When it comes to 1000+ dollar knives, you better be buying more than a knife aka sizzle (meaning the maker and his reputation) if not over time your collection will be next to worthless. A lot of collectors have to learn this the hard way.
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Ditto. a 12 year old could make that in his garage for $12.50; D2 steel and everything.
We know WHY it is what it is; Its an Easter style chopper for a movie set in the Jungles of Burma. Thats perfectly understandable. Being 1/4" thick more than makes up for D2s brittleness (strider S30V anyone?). In all honesty, The knife would be a great machete. It would also be an awesome fighter. That doesn't make it worth $1250 though.
Cougar Allen
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By the way, the people who associate the name Gil Hibben with the United Cutlery reproductions are people who don't buy high-end custom knives and don't know anything about them. The name Gil Hibben means something very different to people who buy high-end customs.
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It not only takes gall, it shows ignorance of Who is Who in the blade world !
Did you ever stop to think that the new Rambo 4 knife has been crafted, submitted and re-submitted for Stallone's final approval ? It has been crafted for Stallone's pleasure as he envisions it in his movie--not yours and mine !
It is.. what it is.. fellow members...a knife designed and crafted to the "T" on Stallone's discrimintating list of how he wants the weapon to be...sheath and all.
It never amazes me how folks spout off without any real thought. And yes, the price--if you are a true, avid collector of fine craftmanship, the $1250 is a steal. I guess it's just a question of why you collect knives and what you want. True Hibben fans will be happy to wait while their own handfashioned, forged (not punchstamped !!) knife is produced. And to the cynical, have you ever watched a true knifemaker at his wheel and bench perfecting his creation ? Nah, I didn't think so....
Did you ever stop to think that the new Rambo 4 knife has been crafted, submitted and re-submitted for Stallone's final approval ? It has been crafted for Stallone's pleasure as he envisions it in his movie--not yours and mine !
It is.. what it is.. fellow members...a knife designed and crafted to the "T" on Stallone's discrimintating list of how he wants the weapon to be...sheath and all.
It never amazes me how folks spout off without any real thought. And yes, the price--if you are a true, avid collector of fine craftmanship, the $1250 is a steal. I guess it's just a question of why you collect knives and what you want. True Hibben fans will be happy to wait while their own handfashioned, forged (not punchstamped !!) knife is produced. And to the cynical, have you ever watched a true knifemaker at his wheel and bench perfecting his creation ? Nah, I didn't think so....
Stallone isn't compensating for anything. In the Rambo films, the knife got bigger with each film. The Rambo III knife is huge, so this one had to top it.
I have to say, I think the knife is awesome and if I could afford it, I'd order it right now. Is it expensive? Sure, but that really isn't the point.
And those of you who don't know how the knife will fit into the movie, simply go to youtube and watch either of the two trailers and you'll see Rambo hammering out this knife in a hut in the jungle. Can't wait for the movie.
I have to say, I think the knife is awesome and if I could afford it, I'd order it right now. Is it expensive? Sure, but that really isn't the point.
And those of you who don't know how the knife will fit into the movie, simply go to youtube and watch either of the two trailers and you'll see Rambo hammering out this knife in a hut in the jungle. Can't wait for the movie.
In 1943, Picasso attached bicycle handlebars to a bicycle seat, mounted it on the wall and called it the "Bull's Head." Yes, it did look like a bull. Yes, it is considered great art. And I am a Picasso fan.
However, if I had done that exact same thing, this incredibly expensive piece of art would be worthless. Unlike most of Picasso's other work, the "Bull's Head" had no worth without Picasso's name.
Same with Gil's Rambo IV knife. Gil is a great knifemaker. But if I had built the same exact knife in the same exact way, it would be work almost nothing.
I don't think that most people here are leveling their comments at Gil himself or doubting his ability and integrity. But the Rambo knife has a history. Most of us were hoping for a knife that was state of the art, a thing that pushed the boundaries of function and beauty, not something that depends entirely on Gil and Rambo's name for intrinsic value.
However, if I had done that exact same thing, this incredibly expensive piece of art would be worthless. Unlike most of Picasso's other work, the "Bull's Head" had no worth without Picasso's name.
Same with Gil's Rambo IV knife. Gil is a great knifemaker. But if I had built the same exact knife in the same exact way, it would be work almost nothing.
I don't think that most people here are leveling their comments at Gil himself or doubting his ability and integrity. But the Rambo knife has a history. Most of us were hoping for a knife that was state of the art, a thing that pushed the boundaries of function and beauty, not something that depends entirely on Gil and Rambo's name for intrinsic value.
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Very well put leading edge.
It really bothers me that Gil (who does not know me from Adam) has been bashed here by folks who in general do not take the time to actually inform themselves and apply reason and logic to what they are posting.
Another point that is lost is that Stallone is a collector with some very important pieces in his collection. He is no fool when it comes to knives either.
Sure buy the 12.50 knife made by the 12 year old rather than this one. It will never be worth what you paid for it. Or you could actually do a little homework and make an educated decision based on actual knowledge and have a knife that will hold it's value and quite probably end up being a decent investment when or if the knife is sold.
Custom knives vs factory knives is a whole different ball game. Those who ignore the maker and only consider the knife have a very steep and expensive learning curve if they venture into that area of collecting. To each their own, but knowledge usually turns out to be valid just about every time it goes against knee jerk decisions/reactions based on what is seen at the surface and there are plenty of examples that I have seen over 30 years of collecting.
It really bothers me that Gil (who does not know me from Adam) has been bashed here by folks who in general do not take the time to actually inform themselves and apply reason and logic to what they are posting.
Another point that is lost is that Stallone is a collector with some very important pieces in his collection. He is no fool when it comes to knives either.
Sure buy the 12.50 knife made by the 12 year old rather than this one. It will never be worth what you paid for it. Or you could actually do a little homework and make an educated decision based on actual knowledge and have a knife that will hold it's value and quite probably end up being a decent investment when or if the knife is sold.
Custom knives vs factory knives is a whole different ball game. Those who ignore the maker and only consider the knife have a very steep and expensive learning curve if they venture into that area of collecting. To each their own, but knowledge usually turns out to be valid just about every time it goes against knee jerk decisions/reactions based on what is seen at the surface and there are plenty of examples that I have seen over 30 years of collecting.
Its not only a question of it being a movie knife, its also WHO made it.
Gil is a veteran maker whos made knives a long long time. He started forging 440C from round bars when barely anyone heard of it. He could only find 440C in round bars at that time, that shows how long hes been making knives..
Hes made knives for a long list of well known collectors, but I would like to bring up one name:- the late, great gunwriter Elmer Keith.
Elmer was not only an authority on big bore handguns, he was an avid hunter as well. He probably hunted more than most people did in 3 livetimes, and he used a hunter that he designed and Gil made.(am sure Gil made more than one for him)
Gil also made many knives that made it to the Vietnam conflict.
Brought this up to illustrate that Gil Hibben makes well thought out "using" knives as well.
Just because a maker makes a "movie" knife, does not mean that all his knives are "fantasy knives."
Have always enjoyed talking to Gil and Linda at Solvang and the AKI. They have given a lot to the world of custom knives, much more than most people realize..
Gil is a veteran maker whos made knives a long long time. He started forging 440C from round bars when barely anyone heard of it. He could only find 440C in round bars at that time, that shows how long hes been making knives..
Hes made knives for a long list of well known collectors, but I would like to bring up one name:- the late, great gunwriter Elmer Keith.
Elmer was not only an authority on big bore handguns, he was an avid hunter as well. He probably hunted more than most people did in 3 livetimes, and he used a hunter that he designed and Gil made.(am sure Gil made more than one for him)
Gil also made many knives that made it to the Vietnam conflict.
Brought this up to illustrate that Gil Hibben makes well thought out "using" knives as well.
Just because a maker makes a "movie" knife, does not mean that all his knives are "fantasy knives."
Have always enjoyed talking to Gil and Linda at Solvang and the AKI. They have given a lot to the world of custom knives, much more than most people realize..
Ah, how I love them assumptions.
I, for one, have watched more than just one "true" knifemaker (even one that has never bothered to make non-functional fantasy knives) at his shop, making a new blade by hand. And that makes me even less appreciative of knives like this Rambo thing here. And I'm most likely not the only one here that can say that and still dislike that Rambo knife.
I don't blame anyone who actually collects "movie knives" for liking that - on the contrary, it'll likely be a big film, and so the knife will be a big thing for a collector of that type of item. But that doesn't make it any better as a knife. You see, there are roughly two kinds of collectors. People that collect things for their value or other reason completely unrelated to performance, and people that collect things for their performance. The latter group will never understand the former, and the former is the group that might actually want to own a blade like this.
It doesn't matter how great a knifemaker someone is - if he makes a knife that looks like that out of the materials given, the knife simply isn't worth, in use, that amount of money. The prestige of the maker's name and the limited quantity of the knife might make it more valuable than the sun and the moon, but that's a different thing, and I'm not arguing against that value.
Also, a man can be of good character and pleasant company even if he makes something with little value in practical use. To say that knife isn't a priceless artifact for someone who likes knives for their worth as tools isn't an insult to the maker's person.
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Those assumptions are pretty close to reality and fact.
This particular knife is not aimed at a person who wants a tool.
In this thread Gil has been called a hack, and his work compared to that of a 12 y.o.
Those are insults in any reasonable persons book and they are without validity when it comes to actual knowledge of the subject.
Yes, people are entitled to opinions. Even ignorant ones, but that does not make those opinions valid or even close to accurate.
This particular knife is not aimed at a person who wants a tool.
In this thread Gil has been called a hack, and his work compared to that of a 12 y.o.
Those are insults in any reasonable persons book and they are without validity when it comes to actual knowledge of the subject.
Yes, people are entitled to opinions. Even ignorant ones, but that does not make those opinions valid or even close to accurate.
there's too much 'I buy better quality than United' going on, these knives are coming straight from the hands of a Guild member. Seems to also be a taste of film snobbery, like the title has anything to do with the maker as well.
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As much as some people seem to think that knives are only tools that are meant to be used, this is far from the truth. There is a whole section of the knife community that collects knives without ever intending to use them. This is just as valid as purchasing knives as tools. If you don't think the knife is worth the money, fine, but that deosn't have bit of significance to those that do. It is your opinion, and you are welcome to it.
Gil Hibben is an outstanding knifemaker, and a great businessman. He has been able to turn his love of designing and making knives into a very lucrative profession. He makes a large sum of money from selling collector knives and designing for United Cutlery, and good for him.
There is nothing wrong with stating that you don't like this knife, or that to you it isn't worth its selling price. Using it as a way to malign Gil Hibben reflects poorly on the person doing so.
Gil Hibben is an outstanding knifemaker, and a great businessman. He has been able to turn his love of designing and making knives into a very lucrative profession. He makes a large sum of money from selling collector knives and designing for United Cutlery, and good for him.
There is nothing wrong with stating that you don't like this knife, or that to you it isn't worth its selling price. Using it as a way to malign Gil Hibben reflects poorly on the person doing so.
Well, not a knife, but there's more than a dozen blades that I would consider worth much more than $ 1200 for their intended use, the use of battle, that is - however old-fashioned the concept of fighting with the sword, one cannot deny the value of a good blade in the task it was meant for.
Perhaps for some, but not all of us "cynical" people. Sure, I don't approve of calling the man a hack. But then again, the poster I quoted directed his assumptions at a group as clearly defined as "the cynical" - and that certainly includes myself, which would give me reason enough to reply, even though I would not call any knifemaker who can make a decent knife a hack or compare his works to anything a kid would manage.