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I know what you mean Eric but look at all those that buy Busse's and just look at them !!!
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Rambo Knives
- Thread starter the fly
- Start date
I know what you mean Eric but look at all those that buy Busse's and just look at them !!!
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- Nov 7, 1999
- Messages
- 6,651
Hey Guys..
Pitdog....
To some degree I can understand that..
These people are buying them as an investment...
I've seen many people here over the years asking what their "Franklin Mint" collections are worth...
They are pretty shattered to find out they are worthless..
At least with collecting good quality knives, and highly collectible knives there will be some return in the end...
I wouldn't mind having some of Jerry's knives from the early 80's.. They would be worth a fairly decent return I would think...
ttyle
Eric
O/ST
Pitdog....
To some degree I can understand that..
These people are buying them as an investment...
I've seen many people here over the years asking what their "Franklin Mint" collections are worth...
They are pretty shattered to find out they are worthless..
At least with collecting good quality knives, and highly collectible knives there will be some return in the end...
I wouldn't mind having some of Jerry's knives from the early 80's.. They would be worth a fairly decent return I would think...
ttyle
Eric
O/ST
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
if the cut is not on a stitch line, it will be difficult to repair. i would think it needs to be patched or stitched and that would leave an obvious blemish.
quality leather is not easy to slice. it is possible your sheath is some type of faux leather or vinyl lined.
the leather sheaths i own are almost exclusively from armorall leather. i have many knives and leather sheaths. all of them have very sharp tips. i have never had a sheath split or cut through with any edge. and i am pretty hard on my stuff.
i dont like to tell people what they like is junk regardless of what i think. i say buy what you like and what fits your price range. however, what you have is a decoration, not a usable tool.
united cutlery is known for gimmick and replica items, and their quality is at best, questionable. they market, or used to, many gil hibben "production" and fantasy knives. if you look at hibbens custom knives, they are priced on par with most other production makers, ie, about 10x the united stuff.
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- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
dude, if you had some of his very early stuff, you could retire with the proceeds from the sales!!!!
I'm also a fan of the Rambo movies and when I was (much) younger, I got myself a Rambo knife and carried it for a couple years (I was working as a forrester). I don't know who the maker was, but it was not an United Cutlery. The steel is much better, a carbon steel which holds a good edge, although the corrosion resistance is close to none. It also has the sharpening stone in a small pocket attached to the sheath.
As much as I love this knife, I found that it is not exactly what I'd carry outdoors. Now don't get me wrong, the thing does its job fine, you can cut branches and open cans if you like, you can dig in the ground and even try to cut wood with the back saw (well, this if you have patience and you are addicted to masochism), and yes, I guess one can survive in the wilderness with this one, especially if the hollow handle is filled with the regular gear: fishing hooks, safety matches and who knows what else.
However, since I no longer venture into the woods for more than a day or two, I'd rather pick now a smaller knife, lighter and better balanced. Two slabs of gritty G-10 attached to the full tang blade are more comfortable than the cylindrical handles. Also, I found a shorter, full flat grinded blade to fulfill my needs better.
I guess it all depends on the usage you intend for the knife in the end.
As much as I love this knife, I found that it is not exactly what I'd carry outdoors. Now don't get me wrong, the thing does its job fine, you can cut branches and open cans if you like, you can dig in the ground and even try to cut wood with the back saw (well, this if you have patience and you are addicted to masochism), and yes, I guess one can survive in the wilderness with this one, especially if the hollow handle is filled with the regular gear: fishing hooks, safety matches and who knows what else.
However, since I no longer venture into the woods for more than a day or two, I'd rather pick now a smaller knife, lighter and better balanced. Two slabs of gritty G-10 attached to the full tang blade are more comfortable than the cylindrical handles. Also, I found a shorter, full flat grinded blade to fulfill my needs better.
I guess it all depends on the usage you intend for the knife in the end.
i gues thats the same as collecting stamps,coins,art and stuff.
some people only collect,and thats cool.
i wouldn't do it however.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
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- 2
is the knife a real working knife or is it just for show
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2008
- Messages
- 278
Well here is a rather plain review of the Rambo II knife, from myself. Before anyone pipes up, it should be known that I am a survival expert whose limited wisdom was learned through Mr. Bert Haynes, and has gone on to be recognized by the likes of Les Stroud and Neil McCormick. I have led expeditions of up to eight men through the Canadian Rockies, and also into Alaska. I also guided a small squad of Canadian soldiers through an unexpected snow storm across the US Canada border into Montana in the spring of 2000 after the training instructors becam ill (yeah right, 'ill', meh). Enough about me.
Perhaps I should let it be known that knives generally have a few groups of owners: Collectors, woodsmen, and artists (makers), folowed by the enthusiasts and savards alike. I am only a woodsman, and while I have many collector and artist friends, I cannot comment on these areas of the Rambo knife. I only speak about the woodsman apect, or perhaps the "survival" aspect, if this is the term you prefer.
So, let's get down to business. Will the new Master Cutlery Rambo II knife allow you to survive in the boonies should you get stranded? A simple answer is yes. This knife will get you through the thick and thin of it should you land your arse in a heap of trouble. Is it the best knife to have? No, but then again, sometimes and old rusty lawnmower blade is the "best" tool to have depending on the circumsatnces. Do not discount the traditional Rambo knife design, especially the one from Master Cutlery. Just because it is not a piece of indestrucible steel forged by the so few knife legends on this planet does not meant the knife is useless. In fact, it ultimately means it is MORE useful. By this, I mean that one can use the 420 steel of this kinfe as a knife, and not risk destroying a collector's piece. The knife is cheap enough to risk damaging, yet durable enough to actually use.
As far as a practical instrument of survival is concerned, I suppose it is important to evaluate the situation and determine where exactly you are trying to "survive" , and what are your chief concerns. Often, people think only of nature as being the opponent. Others think solely of combat vs another human. The truth is, when stranded, you never know what one will come up against. Your ultimate opponent is yourself, but with a good knife, you can make a bad situation favorable. The Rambo knife allows you to do this (but remember that mower blade? It could too!). If you were to engage in close combat with some drunk hillbilly who wants to make you his new wife, then perhaps a mower blade is not so handy, if you get my drift. If you want to have the ability to manufacture shelters in a big hurry, then a saw would be more desirable. In a nutshell, a "Rambo" knife, even the one by Master Cutlery, will help you out in any of these scenarios. Would I recommend it? Yeah, I would. OK, this is where all the knife nuts start rolling their eyes and thinking I am full of it, but, hold on, allow me to explain. The Rambo knife is big. Big is good, because it gives you more blade. More blade means you can allocate a certain part of the blade to certain tasks. For example, the lower part could be charged with cutting larger pieces, while the tip would be used for refined works. The center portion can be used as a general cutting area, for rope, sinew, leather, spark stone and the like. Only examples, but fact remains, the more blade, the better. Also, should the need arise where one must defend himself against an attacking animal (or person!), again, bigger is better. That is obvious. Of course, there comes the point of a blade being so big, it becomes cumbersome (Rambo III touches the limit). Also, don't go boning any bagged prey with these Rambo knives, they aren't for hunting, they are for killing and whittling. Hunters know how specific a blade must be in order to pry and rend a kill. "Survival" knives are not meant to do this, even the most expensive ones. Never confuse a survival knife with a hunting blade!
Ultimately, the question remains "are the Master Cutlery Rambo I & II knives practical knives in terms of wilderness survival?". The answer, quite simply, is yes. For the price, you get a large knife with a working edge, The edge is not difficult to maintain, although it does dull somewhat easily. Nothing a stone and a patient hand can't rectify. The knives are cheap enough to beat up, light enough to carry, and are made of more than acceptable sharp steel to get you through tough times. Are the Master Cutlery knives worth collecting? Cripe no, just use them, they are better knives than they are collector pieces, as well as anything else you will get for the price. Buy two if you are worried about breakage.
The bottom line is that the point of a survival knife is not to be the all-in-one stand alone tool that determines whether or not you live or die. Instead it is meant to be an instrument that allows one do to perform a wide variety of tasks in acceptable moderation. The Rambo knife does in fact allow one to do just that, nothing more. If cool looks are high on your list, then chalk one up for the Rambo in that column too. My next TV clip will undoubtedly feature the Master Cutlery Rambo II knife, just to show people that knives are chunks of metal, and when used as such, they perform well. When displayed as art, well, just don't use them or expose them to air ok?
Commander
Perhaps I should let it be known that knives generally have a few groups of owners: Collectors, woodsmen, and artists (makers), folowed by the enthusiasts and savards alike. I am only a woodsman, and while I have many collector and artist friends, I cannot comment on these areas of the Rambo knife. I only speak about the woodsman apect, or perhaps the "survival" aspect, if this is the term you prefer.
So, let's get down to business. Will the new Master Cutlery Rambo II knife allow you to survive in the boonies should you get stranded? A simple answer is yes. This knife will get you through the thick and thin of it should you land your arse in a heap of trouble. Is it the best knife to have? No, but then again, sometimes and old rusty lawnmower blade is the "best" tool to have depending on the circumsatnces. Do not discount the traditional Rambo knife design, especially the one from Master Cutlery. Just because it is not a piece of indestrucible steel forged by the so few knife legends on this planet does not meant the knife is useless. In fact, it ultimately means it is MORE useful. By this, I mean that one can use the 420 steel of this kinfe as a knife, and not risk destroying a collector's piece. The knife is cheap enough to risk damaging, yet durable enough to actually use.
As far as a practical instrument of survival is concerned, I suppose it is important to evaluate the situation and determine where exactly you are trying to "survive" , and what are your chief concerns. Often, people think only of nature as being the opponent. Others think solely of combat vs another human. The truth is, when stranded, you never know what one will come up against. Your ultimate opponent is yourself, but with a good knife, you can make a bad situation favorable. The Rambo knife allows you to do this (but remember that mower blade? It could too!). If you were to engage in close combat with some drunk hillbilly who wants to make you his new wife, then perhaps a mower blade is not so handy, if you get my drift. If you want to have the ability to manufacture shelters in a big hurry, then a saw would be more desirable. In a nutshell, a "Rambo" knife, even the one by Master Cutlery, will help you out in any of these scenarios. Would I recommend it? Yeah, I would. OK, this is where all the knife nuts start rolling their eyes and thinking I am full of it, but, hold on, allow me to explain. The Rambo knife is big. Big is good, because it gives you more blade. More blade means you can allocate a certain part of the blade to certain tasks. For example, the lower part could be charged with cutting larger pieces, while the tip would be used for refined works. The center portion can be used as a general cutting area, for rope, sinew, leather, spark stone and the like. Only examples, but fact remains, the more blade, the better. Also, should the need arise where one must defend himself against an attacking animal (or person!), again, bigger is better. That is obvious. Of course, there comes the point of a blade being so big, it becomes cumbersome (Rambo III touches the limit). Also, don't go boning any bagged prey with these Rambo knives, they aren't for hunting, they are for killing and whittling. Hunters know how specific a blade must be in order to pry and rend a kill. "Survival" knives are not meant to do this, even the most expensive ones. Never confuse a survival knife with a hunting blade!
Ultimately, the question remains "are the Master Cutlery Rambo I & II knives practical knives in terms of wilderness survival?". The answer, quite simply, is yes. For the price, you get a large knife with a working edge, The edge is not difficult to maintain, although it does dull somewhat easily. Nothing a stone and a patient hand can't rectify. The knives are cheap enough to beat up, light enough to carry, and are made of more than acceptable sharp steel to get you through tough times. Are the Master Cutlery knives worth collecting? Cripe no, just use them, they are better knives than they are collector pieces, as well as anything else you will get for the price. Buy two if you are worried about breakage.
The bottom line is that the point of a survival knife is not to be the all-in-one stand alone tool that determines whether or not you live or die. Instead it is meant to be an instrument that allows one do to perform a wide variety of tasks in acceptable moderation. The Rambo knife does in fact allow one to do just that, nothing more. If cool looks are high on your list, then chalk one up for the Rambo in that column too. My next TV clip will undoubtedly feature the Master Cutlery Rambo II knife, just to show people that knives are chunks of metal, and when used as such, they perform well. When displayed as art, well, just don't use them or expose them to air ok?
Commander
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2006
- Messages
- 1,357
I could get a razor edge on a butter knife, a rambo knife would be easy. It would also hold it for a while and then not require much to resharpen. Just have to zero grind it, thats all. Having said that, my users are both entrek, a force recon and a destroyer (sold to a mate but I am getting it back) which are made of well heat treated 440c. What is this tv clip you are talking about. Are you on tv or something?
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- Jul 24, 2007
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- 3,285
If you want a good knife the same size and range of use as that Rambo knife AND you have the money for it, get yourself a Busse!
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 23,018
Welcome to bladeforums!
That is a long winded way of saying that in a pinch, any bit of sharpened metal will do. I could sharpen up a can lid and do many cutting tasks with it. But then again, I would rather have a knife. While I agree with you in the abstract, this is Bladeforums, not "sharpenedbitsofpotmetalforums" So we tend to prefer real knives. And when choosing a knife, you can get a far better and more durable knife than a wall hanger replica (For a fraction of the price.) Any cheap machete will outperform the Rambo knives, and after hard use, the blade will still be on the handle.
JTR357
Gold Member
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- Sep 10, 2007
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Welcome the fly
I agree with Raining...a few months from now you'll look back on this post & laugh
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- May 18, 2005
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- 23,018
Welcome the fly
I agree with Raining...a few months from now you'll look back on this post & laugh
It has already been more than a year.
And the fly has not been on the forum since May.
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- Dec 9, 2003
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- 3,130
Well said, i agree
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- Jan 15, 2006
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I am a long time fan of the Rambo knives and I have collected them for years. I even put together a pretty compreshensive history of the evolution of the knives on wy website here: History of Rambo Knives.
A couple of things always come up in any discussion of Rambo knives.
1. The myth that the hollow handled knives will break where the handle meets the blade. I understand why this is perceived as weak point due to the way it is constructed but in many years of talking to collectors, reading reviews and forum postings, I have yet to find a single case of this actually happening. Not one first hand account of the knife breaking at the handle.
I would suspect that if someone really tried to break one at that point they could, and probably will now that I have written this, but I have never seen one documented case of this happening under normal use.
2. United / 420J is junk: Again, this is always thrown in. Obviously a $80 mass produced knife of 420J is not going to perform like other knives of superior steels. That said, most United knives will perform fine under light to medium normal use. Yes, you will have to sharpen it more often than a higher grade stainless or a good carbon steel blade in most cases but you can get a decent edge on it and it will perform OK. 420J also happens to be one of the most stain and rust resistant steels that you can get so if appearance is important, and lets face it, it is in this case, then 420J is understandable.
Much like that handle breakage thing, I always hear people repeating what they have heard but seldom hear someone who actually had the knife fail to perform in first hand personal use.
A couple of things always come up in any discussion of Rambo knives.
1. The myth that the hollow handled knives will break where the handle meets the blade. I understand why this is perceived as weak point due to the way it is constructed but in many years of talking to collectors, reading reviews and forum postings, I have yet to find a single case of this actually happening. Not one first hand account of the knife breaking at the handle.
I would suspect that if someone really tried to break one at that point they could, and probably will now that I have written this, but I have never seen one documented case of this happening under normal use.
2. United / 420J is junk: Again, this is always thrown in. Obviously a $80 mass produced knife of 420J is not going to perform like other knives of superior steels. That said, most United knives will perform fine under light to medium normal use. Yes, you will have to sharpen it more often than a higher grade stainless or a good carbon steel blade in most cases but you can get a decent edge on it and it will perform OK. 420J also happens to be one of the most stain and rust resistant steels that you can get so if appearance is important, and lets face it, it is in this case, then 420J is understandable.
Much like that handle breakage thing, I always hear people repeating what they have heard but seldom hear someone who actually had the knife fail to perform in first hand personal use.
mystical woodsman
BANNED
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- Nov 11, 2007
- Messages
- 280
Deleted.
Good catch! That one got right by me. :jerkit:It has already been more than a year.
And the fly has not been on the forum since May.
I need to pay more attention to the dates on these posts.