The "Real" Knives

Cougar Allen

Cougar Allen

Buccaneer (ret.)
Joined
Oct 9, 1998
Messages
76,860
The "most owned knife" thread got me thinking ... I see a good many Buck 110-size cases on belts here in New England, and when I find out what's in it, it's much more often a Buck than an imitation. I've often heard the question, "Is that a real Buck?" I hear that question asked about only a few brands:

"Is that a real Buck?"
"Is that a real Boy Scout knife?"
"Is that a real Swiss Army knife?"
"Is that a real Spyderco?"

And among a limited subculture:
"Is that a real Randall?"
"Is that a real Ka-Bar?"

Seems to me that's a measure of achievement for a knife company. Not just being imitated -- there are other brands that are imitated, and custom makers whose designs get imitated, too, but they don't have that kind of name recognition with the general public. (Nobody has ever asked me if my 4" drop point hunting knive is "a real Loveless?")


I don't think I've heard that question asked about any other brand. Are there any other "real" knives?

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Cougar,
I think that outside the Hard-core knife world. Gil Hibben, is probably the best known knife maker. I have never heard is that a Real Gil Hibben? I've only recently become aware of Gil's custom work. I think his Rambo knife, and his Star Trek pieces through United Cutlery, have made him more famous than some other Legends. Gil Hibben is a living Legend, and he does make Real Knives.
 
Nobody will ever ask, "Is that a real United Cutlery?" though.
smile.gif


I think many people are surprised when they find out the Gil Hibben name on a knife doesn't always mean it's ... um ... at the moment I can't think of a word to describe United Cutlery knives that has much chance of getting past the censorship software....

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Not trying to start anything, but the Rambo knives were all made by Jimmy Lile, a fine gentleman I had the honor to meet once or twice. He has moved off of this plane of existence, but he made real knives as well as movie stuff (in fact, those were real too).

------------------
A dedicated ELU
Buck Collectors Club Member
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)


 
How about, "Very popular, with a lot of people!"? Would I personally like a United Cutlery knife? No. Would I like a custom Gil Hibben? You bet!
 
Someone is mistaken.
From: Gil Hibbes-The man and his knives
by, C.Houston Price

"When asked about the Rambo III movie Knife, Hibben explains, "It was luck." Since meeting a few years ago, Sylvester Stallone has purchased over twenty Hibben knives for his collection. Still, there was real excitement around the Hibben household when Stallone called him one evening and asked if he'd like to make the knife for the new movie. They began discussing designs and agreed that a large bowie made by Hibben many years ago should be a good basic design. The success of the movie is now history, but the knife featured in it continues to establish new records; the Rambo III knife could well be the best selling knife of this decade. Hibben's association with United Cutlery has resulted in many thousands of knives, factory made to his design and specifications, selling throughout the world."
 
The only time that I had a knife instantly recognized was my Randall at some Scout outings. Some of the more snotty told me that I wasn't supposed to carry a sheath knife, but several were very excited to spot the Randall and wanted to look at it and to know how I liked it. I told them that I loved it (I still love it) and that I had owned it since 1961.

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia

 
I own a Mad Dog ATAK and it has received instant recognition on quite a few occasions.
My Dad's Cold Steel Tanto gets quite a few "Wow, is that a Cold Steel?"
remarks too.
Horse
 
Cougar,

I guess "is that a real rambo knife?" can be added to your list
 
I love Randall Made Knives. I plan to buy a Model #12 Smithsonian Bowie, next year. Would I rather have a Real custom Gil Hibben "Rambo" knife? Of course, what am I brain damaged? They are probably worth ten Randalls, or 100 real Ka-bars. There may even be some United Cutlery pieces that are selling for the price of a Randall, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
 
Well, no one really ever asks me if something is a "real" so-and-so; like I've said, I don't know any other knife-people 'cept for you guys. Occasionally I do get asked what brand something is, though.
I also (jokingly) ask if something is a genuine/ original Swiss Army Knife. Victorinox, as you know, makes "The Original SAK", and Wenger makes "The Genuine SAK"... Of course no one ever knows, so they shrug and say they grunt-like contraction for "I don't know". It is often neither, but one of the SAK-types with the Q and a star.
 
Not to whip a dead horse, but...
quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
...On top of my tv rests the entire Gold version Gil Hibben collection from United including prototypes and real fantasy pieces from Gil.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike Turber
 
Every now and then I get asked, "Is _that_ a Benchmade" when I take out my AFCK. In the Portland, Oregon area, many people have heard of Benchmade but not seen one up close. The question is not "Is that a REAL Benchmade (though BM's stuff has been copied in several cases), but just, "Is that a Benchmade?"



------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
one time I was looking thru a knife booth at the mall and asked the young salesman if he wanted to see a nice knife. I pulled out a $550 stag handled JW Smith folder and handed it to him to try. After opening it a few times, he said "smooth, cost as much as a Benchmade?". LOL I almost pissed my pants laughing so hard but thats the way it is in the non-knife world.
BTW, A.T., I think Jimmy Lile only made the first Rambo and Gil the other 2. Gonna look it up.
Also guys, Gil H. makes normal hunting and fighting knives too.

------------------
lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ


 
Lile made the first 2 and Hibben the 3rd now my question. What happened after the first 2 did Lile not sign or get involved with any rights and royalty issues? Whenever the 3 are featured for sale the Liles are always refered to as Rambo 1 and 2 but Hibben always has his name there. Was what happened to Jimmy market wise the reason that other makers like Hibben and Crain who do movie knives get royalties now. It seems a real shame that the first 2 Rambos are never marketed using Jimmys name. After all he started the whole hollow handled revival craze back in the early 80's.
Bob
 
Once I took out my Livesay LP to cut tape(I wear a lab coat at work, and it was faster to use the LP rather than unsnapping my coat, etc.) and a co-worker asked, "Is that a real knife?" Not "Is that a real Livesay?" but "Is that a real knife?" I was tempted to say let me cut you with it and let's see if you bleed real blood, but I was in a good mood.
wink.gif


I also showed my cousin my Crawford KFF, and after playing with it, he said that he had seen a whole bunch of knives 'just like it' at the local swap meet for $17 each, and then asked me how much I paid for mine. When I told him, he said I got ripped off!
Another buddy of mine got one of those Spyderco Ladybug rip-offs at a gas station for $3.99, and then compared his to my REAL Ladybug, and he said that he couldn't tell any difference whatsoever. Then he said his was probably the real one, and mine was the copy, and I got ripped off paying $20!
Another discussion at work with the guys about knives told me how much non-knife people are mis-informed. According to general opinion, the 'REAL' knives are being sold on the Home Shopping Network!

Uh oh. What if they're right, and we're wrong?
smile.gif


[This message has been edited by MrG (edited 13 December 1999).]
 
Hey guys, UC stuff sells, it fills a niche in the market, think of how many are hanging on walls all over the country.
 
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