Rambo Knives

I've never known a serious outdoorsman that would own a "Rambo" knife even if it came as a gift.

The Lile version was superb for what it was designed for. A movie prop.
 
The REAL Commander said:
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.
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I think I understand where your coming from about the knives.

Gil Hibben is currently engaged in an "intellectual property" challenge in the Kentucky Western District Federal Court with Master Cutlery and a couple of others over the Rambo III and Rambo IV knives. I also have never read anything regarding Lile's design.
 
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Ben Dover said:
I've never known a serious outdoorsman that would own a "Rambo" knife even if it came as a gift.

The Lile version was superb for what it was designed for. A movie prop.
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I've always thought of the Lile Rambo as a expanded Hollywood version of the Randall hollow handle but never asked, were the Randall's in heavy use during the Vietnam era?

Please, if anyone is offering Lile or Hibben made "Rambo" knives I would be honored to have them as a gift. Nothing like a display of the real thing.
 
Right, I forgot about the Rambo IV knife, it is a Hibben design too. I bet Gil has a solid case against MC, and will likely see some money at last.

What was the standard issue knife for U.S. troops in 'Nam anyway? You always see the handle of it sticking out of the sheath, often pointing downward from the chest area webbing, not sure if this is just hollywood stuff or what. Being Canadian, I have little knowledge of the U.S. troops or equipment of that era.
 
There were no standard issue knives in VietNam as far as I know. MACV SOG had some. Most carried Gerber MKII's and Kabars. Randall's were also popular.
 
FYI, everyone should check out the Rambo IV DVD.
There's a DVD extra segment on Rambo's Weapons.
It would apppear that Sly had originally figured that Joun Rambo would use the Rambo II knife to puncture some fuel can's and then set alight the "pirate" river gunboat. And as he's steering away in his wooden boat - throws the knife angrily into the fire... It seems he had enough of it.
 
I read somewhere on the 'net a long time ago that a soldier had his own knife, but something about it made it illegal under a certain act (dunno which one). Had something to do with being a sawback and it is deemed a savage weapon and not allowed in war. Any truth to this?
 
GIRLYmann said:
...throws the knife angrily into the fire... It seems he had enough of it.
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Yes, the mono filament fish line, in the hollow handle, was tangled into a bird's nest... rendering it useless.

The cheap compass on the butt didn't work with a damn.

The rubber o-ring failed and the "survival" matches were wet, plus the blade was a bitch to sharpen.

He was also tired of carrying the extra weight around and the overall length of the knife on his hip hampered movement when pursuing bad guys. :D

Later he retrieved the POS from the charred flames and used it as an anchor for his dugout birch bark canoe. :eek:

For his next mission he opted for a Chinese interpretation of the Tom Brown Tracker. :p
 
Okay, I have a number of knives of various quality and yes I admit the Rambo III steel is inferior (420). BUT let me say this. The rambo III knife is an excellent chopper when it comes to cutting up chickens! I am serious! I have used this knife for at least 8 years now and have abused it to no end chopping up raw chickens slamming it over and over into the chopping board. I know that chicken bones are not the toughest bones around, but I prefer this knife over a cleaver any day (for this task anyway). The amount of chopping force combined with the weight of the blade is enough to cut through the bone in one medium force swing. I have sharpened this thing over and over and at one stage I split the wooden handle, but made a new one (looks better too) and its back on the job cutting its daily 5kg of raw chicken. I really have abused this knife but I am not ashamed to say I do like the look of it. I contemplated buying a real replica from Gill but the price was too high especially considering its a rat-tail tang. Its too big IMO for camp or general use, but as a chopper (and sticker I suppose) its awesome.
 
GIRLYmann said:
FYI, everyone should check out the Rambo IV DVD.
There's a DVD extra segment on Rambo's Weapons.
It would apppear that Sly had originally figured that Joun Rambo would use the Rambo II knife to puncture some fuel can's and then set alight the "pirate" river gunboat. And as he's steering away in his wooden boat - throws the knife angrily into the fire... It seems he had enough of it.
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Nowhere in the DVD it is mentioned that Gil Hibben design the knife...actually Sly say's that he design it, correct me if I'm wrong...
 
Many of the sawbacks were for cutting out plexiglass canopies in choppers/aircraft.


I know that the Geneva conventions meant that a saw-back knife got into serious problems if you were caught by the enemy and couldn't explain it away as a tool. You may have been shot in WW1. In short if it is a brutal weapon you were in shit if you were against geneva convention opponents.

The Vietnam war was not Geneva conventions. I wouldn't know if many people would really have cared since Naphalm is not Geneva conventions. If I wanted a small saw I would look to a SAK or a SOG revolver.
 
Don't try and understand classing of weaponry in Geneva conventions. Can't have soft points but 303 were unstable and caused grevious wounding????
 
Treg said:
Nowhere in the DVD it is mentioned that Gil Hibben design the knife...actually Sly say's that he design it, correct me if I'm wrong...
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Yeah, I couldn't beleive that crap on the DVD. I don't know if Sly was talking in character or if he is claiming that he actually designed and made the knife. I don't know why, but I thought Sly had a little more integrity than that.

I can tell you that Gil DID design and make the knife becuase I was there and watched him do it. That's also why the patents are in Gil's name and not Sly's. Also notice that Gil is listed as the knifemaker in the movie credits.
 
I think you must always look beyond appearance and study the steel and features and maker reputation before mentally depending on a knife. Granted I have had some knives from cheaper makers that have surpised me but I will never depend on a knife that is marketed to only draw attention. I have discovered when it comes to knives, guns and gear you get what you pay for.
Besides if you get out and train a little you will understand that the movies are not something to base anything tactically on.
 
"...Nowhere in the DVD it is mentioned that Gil Hibben design the knife..."
-Treg

I thought so too...
Certainly left me confused, with so many past articles about Gil and that up coming Rambo IV movie.
But then, I did read later on that there was some legal problems regarding who had been given the rights to mass produce the latest Rambo knife (???)


"...I don't know if Sly was talking in character or if he is claiming that he actually designed and made the knife..."
-MisterSat

It sure sounded like he meant it.
But then again, perhaps there wouldn't have been a Rambo 4 knife in the first place if he didn't first plan to make the movie?!
I suppose seeing that it wasn't a particularly highly complex knife (and REAL UGLY at that), he must have figured that Mr Hibben probably wouldn't have wanted to be reminded of having anything to do with it's final design...
Give credit where credit is due, the DVD did claim that Sly pounded on that steel bar for the shots though;
even if it may or may not be the actual knife/prop eventually use throughout the shoot.
I must have missed the creditline (BTW, that must have one of the longest creditline rolls ever) for Gil Hibben, Knifemaker.
 
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