Slot on Rambo III knife - what for??

A

Alex p. Schorsc

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Feb 18, 2003
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I was checking out the Rambo III knife made by Gil Hibben. It's got a nice geometry to it with a nice point. I was wondering if any of you knifenuts could tell me what the slot in the blade is actually for. Maybe it's just cosmetic like a bloodgroove only bigger. I guess you could use it for some sort of prying but maybe somebody who did some pro soldiering would know if it has any specific use. Beats me. Anybody got any ideas?
 
Seeing as it is the "rambo" knife I would say the blood groove was added for cosmetic reasons, however it is in fact a blood groove.

here is a more in-depth definition from the A.G. Russel Knife Encyclopedia Click Here
 
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I have an entirely contrary opinion to yours regarding the quality of the geometry of this and other Hibben designs. That notwithstanding, I suppose you could let your imagination run rampant as to what exactly one would do with the slot in this blade (perhaps you could use it as a makeshift loom), but as far as I can see it is entirely superfluous and cosmetic.
 
It is true that a "blood groove" stiffens a blade. Whether this particular knife requires that stiffening, I tend to doubt. I suspect that for a blade that large built to the minimal standards of a replica, it is not necessary and is, in fact, cosmetic. IMO, if you applied enough stress to the blade to require the added stiffness offered by the "blood groove", something else would break first.
 
Referring to your opinion

"I have an entirely contrary opinion to yours regarding the quality of the geometry of this and other Hibben designs",

I too don't particularly like most of Gil Hibben's designs but this hand made original Rambo III model seems to be well made. I like the design and, as I said, the point geometry. I don't know how the grind is because I have never seen one "in the flesh". Please be more specific. Tell us what's wrong with the design for a Jungle Survival knife? I think it would do the job quite well. I know Mr. Hibben is famous for his fantasy designs but this knife seems quite practical.
 
It was made that way for an added "wing" that was never in the movie...


Hibbens self made knives kick serious A$$ in my opinion and shouldnt be confused with the knockoffs and the licensed stuff
 
You'll find that the bo-hi in Japanese swords ("fuller", elsewhere) is designed not only to lighten the blade, but to also sometimes to cover up imperfections in the metal. It never had (nor has) anything to do with draining away blood. There's still debate about whether cutting out the material to create the bo-hi strengthens or weakens the blade. But, this would be a particularly heavy blade without the bo-hi. BTW, it's made from Swedish powder steel.

Picture197.jpg
 
I think it's worth buying a Gil Hibben knife for the sole reason that I have heard that he practiced karate with Elvis Presley. I mean, is that cool or what?
 
The slot in the blade is so you can stuff $$$ into it, so that each time you look at the knife, it serves as a reminder that there's always a market for pink elephant items. Don't sweat it, I have one I bought years ago when I thought I might actually have a use for it some day. It they'd cut out more steel and made it a bit smaller, perhaps it would have been a little more utilitarian. As it is now, using it without a shield and a helmet is inconceivable.

inconceivable-1.jpg
 
That's an advantage of living in Brazil. You can still walk around with a giant knife and everybody thinks it's a machete. LOL.
 
knarfeng said:
It is true that a "blood groove" stiffens a blade. Whether this particular knife requires that stiffening, I tend to doubt. I suspect that for a blade that large built to the minimal standards of a replica, it is not necessary and is, in fact, cosmetic. IMO, if you applied enough stress to the blade to require the added stiffness offered by the "blood groove", something else would break first.
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Not true about "blood grooves" (proper term = fuller) about them stiffening or strengthening a blade. What it DOES do is lighten the piece without SIGNIFICANT weakening of the piece. Think of an I-beam construction. Is a 4"x4" cross-section I-beam as strong as a solid bar of steel of the same dimensions? Hell no. But it's still quite strong and a whole lot lighter.

What it does impact negatively is lateral strength. For example, katana with bo-hi are more prone towards bending or taking a set if they are used with improper technique (rolling through the cut, improper edge-alignment etc.) To use the I-beam analogy again, try bending an I-beam as compared to an equally-dimensioned bar. A whole world of difference.

Where the confusion comes in is when people confuse removing material to make the fuller with building up material around a thinner blade to make it stronger. There were rondel daggers that have been found with T-shaped cross-sections. As they were intended for use in the gaps of armor or to separate the links of maille, adding the "back plate" to give it a T shape stiffened the blade, as this was added material, not removed.

Hope that clears things up.;)
 
Confederate said:
It they'd cut out more steel and made it a bit smaller, perhaps it would have been a little more utilitarian.
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Actually, Gil does make smaller versions of the Rambo III design and United Cutlery is now making the smaller ones too.

There are two versions of the purpose of the slot:

1. It is a "sighting" slot. (Don't ask, I have no idea)

2. It was for the wing blade to be inserted. Only two prototype knives were made with the wing blade. Stallone has one and Gil has the other.

Before Sly came to Gil Hibben to make the knife, Jimmy Lile made a large bowie prototype with a bigger hole in the blade.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Not true about "blood grooves" (proper term = fuller) about them stiffening or strengthening a blade. What it DOES do is lighten the piece without SIGNIFICANT weakening of the piece. Think of an I-beam construction. Is a 4"x4" cross-section I-beam as strong as a solid bar of steel of the same dimensions? Hell no. But it's still quite strong and a whole lot lighter.

What it does impact negatively is lateral strength. For example, katana with bo-hi are more prone towards bending or taking a set if they are used with improper technique (rolling through the cut, improper edge-alignment etc.) To use the I-beam analogy again, try bending an I-beam as compared to an equally-dimensioned bar. A whole world of difference.

Where the confusion comes in is when people confuse removing material to make the fuller with building up material around a thinner blade to make it stronger. There were rondel daggers that have been found with T-shaped cross-sections. As they were intended for use in the gaps of armor or to separate the links of maille, adding the "back plate" to give it a T shape stiffened the blade, as this was added material, not removed.

Hope that clears things up.;)
Click to expand...

That reminds me of some mall ninja kids saying that people would drill holes in gun stocks to make them stronger.

It's actually kind of funny, the type of logic some people use.
 
Alex p. Schorsc said:
I was checking out the Rambo III knife made by Gil Hibben. It's got a nice geometry to it with a nice point. I was wondering if any of you knifenuts could tell me what the slot in the blade is actually for. Maybe it's just cosmetic like a bloodgroove only bigger. I guess you could use it for some sort of prying but maybe somebody who did some pro soldiering would know if it has any specific use. Beats me. Anybody got any ideas?
Click to expand...

It has the same use as this knife, absolutely nothing.
 
The groove is so that it whistles as you twirl it over your head & scream "Geronimo!" as you charge your opponent..
 
It reduces weight.

I happen to think it's a reasonably attractive large blade. I don't see what everybody's getting so excited over.
 
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