Rambo Knives

[Horn Dog]

fly, I'm glad you are enjoying your Rambo knife. Please don't take this hard, we have all made mistakes, but those knives are more for display than hard use.....or any use. I got one during the Rambo craze. I snapped the blade off right at the handle. I was just whacking a little brush, nothing hard. Now the Rambo III is probably much stronger. Don't expect any great edge retention, but it should not break that easliy.

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

Horn Dog, this is the first time I have found someone who said they had one of the handles snap off first hand.

Was it a Rambo I or Rambo II knife? Was it a United Cutlery knife or one of the knock-offs?

 

[The REAL Commander]

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.

Thanks for the warm welcome, glad to be here.

Well we agree at least to a degree. While I certainly would never advocate the Rambo replica knives as being wonderful pieces of engineering, my sole goal in my previous post was to dismiss any myths that a blade is completely useless simply because it is deemed "cheap" or is not made by a famous custom bladesmith. The reference to "any cheap machete" is not well thought out, imo. I have tried the cheap machetes, and they bend when you swing them, and stay bent. Slightly more expensive machetes are not much better, the still bend (although they have a mild memory) but the handle come unriveted. A good, REAL Machete will cost you all of $150.00 minimum, although you might find a good used military machete at a surplus store for less. A true machete is almost a sword, and not a "cheap tool" by any means.

Sharpening a can lid, nice, heheh... :thumbup: I suppose you could do that alright, but when you take the can up the hill, my money is on the idea that you count on the can to keep your food inside, and not cut stuff with the discarded container. By way of similar thought, again, my money rests on the idea that when you take a knife somewhere it is to be used to cut, and not store food. In my previous post, I was merely applying a practical method of thought, nothing more. As far as "rather have a knife", obviously, same here... and a good knife too; one that I don't mind paying some cash for, or having made for me that I can pound, smash, pry, dull up... Hey, we all have dreams, goals, and realities, but not everyone can make those things arrive in order, heheh. Believe it or not, the Rambo "replica" knives are still knives. If they weren't originally featured as a movie prop to begin with, I highly doubt they would have ever received so much criticism, and would not even be called "replicas".

In any event, my main focus is to shed a bit of positive light on the Rambo knife for those who have one, are thinking of buying one, or know someone with such a blade. Almost all reviews make this piece out to be a lump of garbage, and that really is not true. Sure, there are countless better blades, but ultimately, the "Rambo" knives can actually be useful. The best way to test it is to bring your trusty blade with you on your next expedition, but also bring a Rambo to try out. Use the Rambo as much as you can, and see how far it takes you. If you bugger it up, then hey,m you have your old trusty sidekick as a backup anyway, so nothing to lose right (except $75.00 on the busted Rambo). Still, good way to test. I will do this myself on my next trek, and hopefully I will have the opportunity to work with the CBC again and actually have it aired.

Commander

 

[JTC]

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.

I agree, I have never seen or heard of anyone breaking a hollow handle knife at the handle blade junction. Although it is often cited as a criticism for this type of knife.

I think it all comes down to what you like and what you are comfortable with. If you are happy with your equipments unique characteristics and limitations (and everything has some sort of trade off) then I think thats great.

 

[22-rimfire]

For a cool BIG knife (that does not require you to mortgage the house) that I personally have limited use for, watch Ebay for a SOG Tigershark that does not have the partially serrated edge. Folks like these as I believe most were made with Cabon Steel (SK-5, I believe) and are easier to sharpen. If you like the partially serrated edge look, the watch for a regular Tigershark that were common as dirt on ebay. I don't know much about the new one SOG introduced this year. It is not my cup of tea. I have two Tigersharks; what can I say? (One carbon non-serrated and one from a couple years ago partially serrated or standard issue then)

Anyway, one of these knives will run you around $100-$125. They are big heavy knives and every time you remove it from the sheath, you'll smile and say "woooo... big knife!" They are also pretty well made and can be used as a survival knife, chopping, attacking grizzlies.... whatever. Have fun! That is what buying these big knives is all about!

With regard to the Rambo knives, I have been tempted so many times to buy one when they first came out after the movies. I resisted the urge for a wall hanger as I knew they were not great knives. My brother in law has the Rambo II (or is it III?) that Hibben made for the movie. He had Gil Hibben put big stag handles on his for his big hands. And yes, it is now a cool knife! Old brother in law never ceases to amaze me actually. He had a Bill Moran knife that he bought from Moran years ago. He'd cut stuff with it from time to time.... not me; it was a $10,000 knife.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

If you think you have to spend $150 to get a good machete, then you obviously have limited experience with machetes. Any real machete is spring tempered, and will flex to a great degree but return to true. I have a collins that costed me $5 in the late 90's. Great knife. For the price of the Rambo knife, I could get a half dozen good machetes.

Airing a show that would encourage people to invest in a dangerously unsound and overpriced knifelike object would be a big step in the wrong direction- "It must be good, I saw it on tv"

 

[Ramm9]

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.

If I may ask, what are "savards?"

 

[zignal_zero]

having never used the UC Rambo replicas, i cannot comment on them. i doubt i would ever take a chance putting one to any real use, though.

i have to speak up in defense of UC, though. years ago, my 2 yr old got me a UC ninja style short sword for Christmas. the kind that is matte black with a wrapped handle.

i've cut off the handle wrapping and am in the process of making one out of linen phenolic that will be riveted on. i've also removed the matte black finish and put a high polish on the steel.

i only decided to customize it AFTER it had proved itself. i know UC is bottom line, but this little sword is a true cutter and holds up to my training. as soon as i'm finished with it's transformation, it will be in the car full time.

btw- that 2 yr old is almost 7 now and, in that time, this sword has impacted several hard targets and halved many 2liter bottles filled with water.

 

[Horn Dog]

Horn Dog, this is the first time I have found someone who said they had one of the handles snap off first hand.

Was it a Rambo I or Rambo II knife? Was it a United Cutlery knife or one of the knock-offs?

I honestly don't know if that one was a UC. It might have been a knock-off of the Rambo I. The tang separated from the aluminum? handle and off went the blade. I do remember that the tang was quite short.

 

[kgd]

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.

$80 - yikes. I bought two custom knives, one of 440C and another O1 steel for $120. In the latter case, I got to choose everything from handle materials, handle thickness and blade length.

 

[3wolves]

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 had a hollow handle knife that broke there.

 

[Confederate]

I think people are being a bit hard on the knife. Yes, it is for display and play; it also would make a formidable weapon if you had to use it in an emergency. For defense, blade steel isn't all that important in a knife like this. What is important is that it not break and that it remain, not sharp enough to cut wood, but sharp enough to cut people and light brush, and the Rambo knife will do either with aplomb. Even if the blade was a solid piece of sharpened S30V stainless steel, I don't think it would be an improvement for what the knife was designed for.

Rambo used his knife as a weapon and a hacking device. The United Cutlery knife should fine if you need to confront someone in your home and didn't have a gun. I think if I were an intruder, I might want to leave.

 

[The REAL Commander]

If I may ask, what are "savards?"

Heheh, I believe it is a French word (?) which loosely applies to someone who professes expertise in a certain area. "Wiseman", "Expert", "Guru" etc would be similar I suppose.

In response to Rat Finkenstein, you are correct. I have limited experience with machetes in terms of what they are meant for. I live in the Boreal North, and I don't often have the opportunity to slash soft undergrowth or thickets with a Machete. The Machetes I have used may prove quite useful in the rainforest, but not so much in a forest of pines, hardwoods, cedars and tough shrubs. I have found that affordable machetes
dull quickly and bend when striking anything solid. I used a $7.00 machete to carve up an aspen poplar to try and build a shelter once, and it did the trick, but the blade was in real rough condition afterwards. By way of comparison, I also did the same with a rope saw that was stuffed into the handle of a $5.00 mail-order knife, only the rope saw was quicker and didn't compromise the knife when it finally broke. I have found that military machetes are well rounded for use in the boreal parts of North America. I have seen some for as little as $30 (dull and pitted, however), and some for as high as $200.00. Since a machete has no pointed tip, it is difficult to use for refined works, and beyond this, stabbing or etching is not an option. Also, the generally crude handle often leaves blisters on a bare hand. But, enough about machetes, not many folks class them as well-rounded multi-use tools anyway (rainforest farmers maybe?).

QUOTE by Rat Finkenstein: "Airing a show that would encourage people to invest in a dangerously unsound and overpriced knifelike object would be a big step in the wrong direction- "It must be good, I saw it on tv"... "

Airing a show to suggest that a knife which is proven inferior, or "dangerously unsound" be recommended would indeed be folly. I certainly have no intention on buttering things up, just using the knife myself to show others how it goes, and we'll see what happens. As I stated in my previous post, I have had good luck with these kinves, no breakage, good reliability, and decent functionality. If it breaks on me, well, that'll be in the clip too. If not, then that's how it goes. I certainly won't backpedal and overdub just to make a certain knife look good, c'mon man, heheh! There has been little or no evidence so far to suggest that these knives are "dangerous" as you say they are. I don't think this is being misleading in any way on my part, but instead simply being informative. Until someone documents the actual use of the knife, without bias, there is no substantial ground for discredit. I too admit I speak prematurely until the test is done, but I have actually tested these blades to what some may call a 'limited extent' (shelter construction, fire construction, accidental water submersion, practical durability etc), just not yet in a real survival scenario where I fear for my life. When I bring this unit out, I will of course have more than enough tools to get me through safely shouild it fail, but I will honestly try to use the Rambo as much as possible and really put it through the ringer. Results will come, since I expect to try this in late summer to early fall in the interior of British Columbia Canada.

In any event, I wanted to come to Bladeforums since it was recommended to me by a few others based on the level of maturity and level-headedness of the members. So far I am quite impressed, people here are quite knowledgeable and treat members and guests alike (even newcomers such as myself) with respect. I look forward to future discussions with all here, and I am certain I can learn a great deal of knowledge from you all. Quite the nice relief after having visited countless other forums where people use profanity on a constant basis and go out of their way to insult others just because opinions vary.

Cheers folks,
Commander

 

[tenman]

On the sheath repair question- I have a very sharp, appx. 3" custom fixed blade that, on returning it to the sheath, made about a 1.5" slice through the backside of the leather about 2/3rds of the way down. Worked some black duct tape down into the sheath to cover the slice from the inside, then applied some epoxy glue to the slice; dabbed a very small amount around the area that would be covered by the tape. I let the glue set up until it became tacky, then placed a piece of duct tape over the outside of the glued area- kind of a duct tape/epoxy sandwich. Cleaned excess glue, found a piece of wood that fit the sheath well enough to hold its shape and locked it down in a vice- just enough pressure to press it all together. Removed it from the vice occasionally to be certain the wood did not become glued to the inside of the sheath. Had some trouble getting the tape to stay in place on the inside of the sheath (not much room to work with) so before it was totally dry I pulled it out. It isn't pretty, but it worked- the knife is a user and the repair is on the back of the sheath so it doesn't show. Have carried and used it since then with no problems- duct tape is great stuff This may not help on a display knife, but for a user or beater it works.

 

[Ramm9]

Heheh, I believe it is a French word (?) which loosely applies to someone who professes expertise in a certain area. "Wiseman", "Expert", "Guru" etc would be similar I suppose.

Yes, sorry, I realized after I posted you were going for "savant".

Visit the Wilderness and Survival Forum ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=692 ) if you haven't already.

As for the "Rambo I" style knife, I have to agree with "Rat F" who is displaying an amazing amount of self control. Aside from display, a no dot Lile made knife doesn't "cut it" as a design. A knockoff is worse than junk because it is just plain dangerous to use.

I should think anyone with your experience knows better than to suggest differently so I keep asking myself why you would do so. Often times we have posters with an agenda to subtly promote or market their products. I hope that is not the case here and I'm just missing the point you're making.

 

[The REAL Commander]

Thanks for the correction, 'Savant' is likely what I was looking for!

Sorry for the delay in response, I was out of town for a few days... Anyway, Ramm, please have no worries about myself trying to pedal wares here, that is not in my interest, but I surely understand your concern. My sole point was to shed a bit of light on a kinfe that many many people I meet seem to own, and who are dismayed by folks telling them they bought a worthless lumpy. Ultimately, indeed there are better knives, but if one happens to own one of these so-called "collectors pieces" (Master Cutlery Rambo I, II III), I hope their intent is not to get rich 20 years down the road with these "numbered & autographed knives". Unless (as you make mention of) one has a real Lile (or even a dotted Lile), or an original Gil Hibben, then the Rambo knife is not really a collector piece... nor the United Cutlery ones either, IMO. I think someone else made reference to the Franklin Mint collection, which is quite an accurate analogy. Then again, I am really not too familiar with collecting knives, I only know what little my friends have told me and have read a few snippets from collector forums and mags alike

With this in mind, I urge people who own Master Cutlery Rambo knives to try them out, use them, and put them to the test. So far, it seems most of the criticism concerning these knives has been purely hypothetical, with little evidence to support any claim, be it good or bad. Since (imo) these blades are not worth collecting, one might as well put it to the test and actually see what happens when you use it as a knife. Remember that I strongly suggest a "survival knife" not be used or tested as a hunting blade; it is a completely different tool.

Again, nice to chat with the folks here, it is always a pleasure.

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

If you are going to try one of the production Rambo knives, I suggest United Cutlery instead of Master Cutlery. At least United pays royalties to the designer instead of just ripping them off.

 

[The REAL Commander]

I was under the impression that (A) UC did not/does not exist anymore, and (B) the Lile knives were never an issue so far as design rights go with MC, only the Rambo III, which is a Hibben (and Gil is choked). I always thought the Hibben design was the big controversial one with MC, whereas the Lile designs were more or less left unchallenged. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

 

[Tim-Gabz]

I would classify myself as a fundimentalist. I have had the opportunity to try a few survival knives. The principle is unsound unless in light of being able to grab one thing on the way out, however well thought out the bits and workmanship. Rather like the 1st aid kits with all the instructions. Experience and basic skills are most important and that leads to doing things like 1st aid courses and making up a situation orientated BOB that includes a SAK.

Having said that I am saving for a Chris Reeves survival knife as he effectively tackled the hollow handle/tang failure issue. It's value was demonstrated by my fishing friend hiding his spare cigs and matches in the handle of for a very rainy day.

 

[GIRLYmann]

The latest Rambo movie saw John Rambo with a nasty full tang blade with no sawteeth, no hollow handle and no point; but I'll be damn, it wasn't even a Bowie much less American...
The whole idea of having the Rambo knife in the movie was to impress upon the movie going audience that John Rambo had a "do-it-all" knife. And I am guessing that he was able to pull it off because he was a decorated Green Beret vet.
So, basically the sawback knives became central to the character of Rambo, in that it represented a lone tool (much like it's owner) the battle harden vet who could wage war single handed and live off the land. It served the purpose of being a spectacular movie prop meant to shock and awe. A movie not easily forgotten and an unlikely knife made into legend.