Question on Lile Knives

[marknga]

I remembered the gentleman's name yesterday on the way home from work-Lamont Combs. I never got a firm price, as I was reluctant based upon the $1000-$1500 figures that were being tossed around. I think the ones on E-Bay went for around $800-$900. Personally, if I was already spending that kind of cash, then I would move ahead and get a real LILE. Now I don't know the particulars or legalities when it comes to repoducing any of Jimmy's works. I do not know if Marilyn knew of this venture. All I know was that he had an original set of blue-prints, and was going to make run of 100 (just like the original), and were sort of a modern tribute to the real thing. Now this was only for the First Blood model-not Sly II's or Mission bowies. I seroiusly doubt he would make you a one-off or replica without a substantial price. I think $750 was a break even price for him.

Like others that have previously posted, NOTHING compares to a real LILE. I own a few; and fit, finish, and balance for such a large bowie are second to none. I own both dot and no-dot versions. If you are serious about purchasing, PM me and I can give you some more particulars.

Mr Combs list several knives for sale on the Makers Forum. Very good looking blades. Here is his latest posting:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539567
Mark

 

[Jeop86]

On the Jimmy Lile website they are offering 100 new numbered First Bloods for $3500 each. It is not clear who exactly is making them from the info on the site, except that they will be closer in design to the Lile "Family" knives, with 14 sawteeth. They are requiring $1500 down payment. A link to an alleged picture of the design does not actually bring up a picture of the knife: http://www.jimmylile.com/detail.php?image1=next_fb.jpg

Our NEW LILE FIRST BLOOD knives are similar in features to the first 13 knives that Jimmy made in 1981 and '82. The Blade and screwdriver guard are made from 1/4" Crucible CPM D2 steel. The Hollow Handle is machined from 303 Stainless Steel Round Stock. The Butt Cap is machined from 6061 Aluminum Round Stock that houses a small quality Precision Liquid Field Compass. The Butt Cap seals with a watertight O ring. The Hollow Handle is double wrapped with Nylon Decoy Leader Line. The above photo of our New “Next Generation” Lile First Blood is our prototype that we introduced in N.Y. at the N.Y. Knife Collectors show. Our 100 Lile First Blood knives will differ slightly from the prototype - the difference being the grind which will begin at the last sawtooth. The Lile name is being added by Laser Engraving in the same style as the Original Lile First Blood Knives. Numbering will be identical to the numbers on the original #'s 7 of 13 thru 13 of 13. All 100 First Blood knives we are offering will be done in the same numbering fashion, 1of 100 thru 100 of 100. All 100 of our Lile First Blood knives will include 14 sawteeth like Lile's intial First Blood knives. Our New Lile First Blood Sheath will have a matching number and differ from the original designs done by Jim Buffaloe and Lile. It will be our design and will be unique to this new edition of Lile First Blood knives. We assure you that high quality will be maintained with our new Lile First Blood Sheath. It is our way of making a statement and separating the Original Lile First Bloods done by Jimmy Lile in the early 1980's from our New "Next Generation" Lile First Blood being done today. All of the 100 Lile First Blood Knives and Sheaths are being made in the U.S.A.

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

There are a couple of former Lile employees still making knives. One of them is Stephen Lynn and you can definitely see the Lile influence in his knives. www.slynnknives.com

 

[ironclad]

My favorite Lile was the Deathwind and I owned a no dot at one point. I've still got a small stag boot knife, no dot, which came from the NY Show in 1991.

Good luck in your quest for Liles, I see some showing up on Ebay, don't discount that as a source!

Win

I have a deathwind, that I bought back in the early 90's directly from Jimmy Lile. I agree that it was on of his coolest models. I also bought a Rambo II "Rambo the Mission" knife from him before I had bought the deathwind. Both are examples of Jimmy's excellent skills with the blade.

 

[John T. Jeffery]

Knives are being made in China as authorized reproductions of at least three Lile patterns (L1, L2 and L7). These knives are identifiable as authorized reproductions by the name "LILE" stamped on the tang with a cirle around it.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Knives are being made in China as authorized reproductions of at least three Lile patterns (L1, L2 and L7). These knives are identifiable as authorized reproductions by the name "LILE" stamped on the tang with a cirle around it.

Thank you for the very valuable information.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Copied and pasted, 07/3/18
"About Lile Knives, LLC.
Hi, I’m John Hill, owner of Lile Knives, LLC. Some years ago, I and a former partner purchased all rights to the Lile brand from Marilyn Lile. I have always had the ultimate respect for Marilyn and Jimmy and their products.

My goal is to deliver the best custom knife of this type in the world. Our current maker, Vaughn Neeley, is a 30-year, veteran, custom knifemaker. Vaughn uses only the finest materials in the world. Everything is made in his shop with the exception of the compass and twine. They’re all hand-ground, perfectly fitted and finished – custom style. Other people copy Jimmy’s knives, some are okay. We are not the cheapest, but we are the best.

Jimmy Lile crafted the legendary First Blood Knife used in Rambo. In honor of his iconic creation, we have continued to produce Jimmy Lile’s knives to the hightest standards of custom knife making today. We call these tributes to the Lile legacy, “Next Generation” Lile knives.

Jimmy Lile’s life has also been comemorated in our book James B Lile, The Arkansas Knifesmith – Knife Maker to the World."

Old thread, but the question endures.