Its a discussion board. People post their opinions. If the best you can come up with is "that's dumb" then you are welcome. If you'd like to show me the error of my ways and convince me that Gil Hibbens designs are great, by all means, fire away. I'm listening and have an open mind.
Chris
OK, you got it.
About Gil Hibben.
It seems like I have to write this about every year or two when some self appointed “knife expert” whose expanse of knife knowledge is limited to a bud-K catalog goes onto some internet forum and starts making ridiculous comments about my friend and mentor, Gil Hibben.
This will be fairly long. If you are sure you already know everything, don’t bother reading.
So let’s begin class with getting this one straight. Every so often some uniformed anonymous keyboard jockey will take some shots at Gil with statements like “Hibben could be a great knife maker but insists on making fantasy knives and bad throwing knives”. Gil does not make cheap Chinese knives. Gil makes top quality knives entirely by hand, entirely by himself, in his shop in LaGrange, Kentucky. He DOES license United Cutlery to make knives
based on his designs. United has the knives manufactured in China and markets them using Gil’s name and likeness as the
designer.
Most are low-cost factory reproductions of a handmade Gil Hibben knife. Gil usually has little or no control over the manufacture of those knives. Yes, these are lower quality knives as they have to be to meet the price point they are targeting. Let’s face it, there is a need and a market for low cost entry level knives. Probably most of us started out and got interested in knives with some cheap knife that we saw in a catalog and thought is was super cool at the time. If you want higher quality bust out the wallet and buy one of his handmade knives.
Those who only know what they read in the catalogs or some internet forums might assume that is all Gil does, or has done. The fact is that Gil has been a professional knifemaker for over 52 years. He was making knives for hunters, soldiers and collectors when many of the internet “experts” were crying for someone to change their diapers. Gil was a full-time professional knifemaker for 30 years before he ever made a movie knife or a “fantasy” knife. Gil is a pioneer in knifemaking and was among the first to adopt the new (at the time) 440C stainless steel as a knife steel back when he had to forge it from round bars because it was not yet available in bar stock.
One of Gil’s knives was featured on the cover of “Guns and Ammo” magazine in 1965. He designed Brownings line of knives in 1968. Also in 1968 he designed and made the “Ed Parker Fighting Knives” as part of his black belt thesis in Kenpo Karate. His thesis became the basis of the Kenpo system's Long Form VIII (the double dagger form) which uses two knives in mock combat. Gil is a 6th degree Kenpo black belt, also holds black belts in Judo and Akido, and is in the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame and the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into Blade Magazine Hall of Fame in 1990. He is also in the Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Gil is currently President of the Knifemakers Guild, the oldest and largest continually operating custom knife organization in the world. These honors are not bestowed upon someone who has not earned respect for his accomplishments as a knifemaker. Those who have learned knifemaking skills from Gil include legendary and highly respected knifemakers like Buster Warenski, Harvey Draper, SR Johnson and many others.
Gil reached a point in his career where he wanted to express his artistic side and decided to make some “art” knives. Some were of his own design and some were designed by others, such as Paul Ehlers, who could draw the design but depended Gil’s skill and craftsmanship to make the drawing a reality in steel.
I know, I can already hear the chorus of “Art knives are silly. I don’t buy anything I can’t use”. That’s fine if that’s how you feel. No problemo. But there is a large market of people who do appreciate, and buy, art knives just as there are people who spend millions on paintings to hang on their wall just because they like them and appreciate the skill and artistry of the creator. People who make art knives simply chose knives as the medium for their artistic expression.
Art knives are nothing new. Highly ornate and embellished knives have been around since ancient times. Buster Warenski’s famous solid gold and jeweled “King Tut” knife is a faithful reproduction of a gold dagger found in Tutenkammen’s tomb. Knives, and guns, with fancy engravings and embellishments have been presented to dignitaries and VIPs throughout history to commemorate special events or as custom gifts.
In 1988, Gil was asked by Sylvester Stallone to make a knife for Rambo, First Blood Part III. Stallone was a knife collector who had several of Gil’s handmade knives in his collection. After the success of the movie, United Cutlery expressed interest in making reproduction of the knife. Gil licensed his design to United and they sold over 250,000 of them over the next 20+ years.
With the huge success of the Rambo III knife, United realized they were onto something. They asked Gil to design, or license his designs, for more knives for United to make and sell reproductions. One of the ideas was an “art” knife, Gil’s “Silent Shadow” dagger which United released in 1990. It too was a commercial success so they decided to make an annual series of art knives, often called the “fantasy series”. That annual series is still ongoing after 20 years and Gil has also designed dozens of other knives that United has licensed for reproductions including hunters, Bowies, throwing knives, throwing axes, folders and yes, art knives. Obviously, people like them and want them.
I absolutely concede that art knives aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. So what? I don’t care for opera or Picasso’s paintings but they seem to survive even without my support. Different strokes for different folks. I don’t get them but I wouldn’t insult those who do by calling them idiots for liking what they do or insult the artists for engaging in their craft.
By the way, Gil Hibben was largely inspired to make art knives by a man many of you have probably never heard of, W.W. “Bud” Cronk. Cronk passed away in 1983 but you can still find a few of his knives available. Be prepared to pay several thousand dollars of them. One of Buster Warenski’s 3 legacy series knives, the “Gem of the Orient” is currently for sale at a dealer. The asking price is $850,000. Buster was a student of Gil Hibben.
Why would a knifemaker waste his time making those silly art knives? Let me answer that from a knifemakers point of view. I can make a “user” knife for a hunter or an EDC that most “users” might pay $200 for. Or, I could make more complex and ornate knives for the collectors who often pay several thousand dollars. Let’s see… that’s a hard decision.
In fact, most makers of art knives do, or at least have, made “users” too. Those who claim that Gil only makes cheap fantasy knives neglect the fact that he always has, and still does, make top quality handmade custom knives that are purchased by hunters, outdoorsmen, soldiers and collectors around the world.
If the keyboard jockey “experts” would bother to visit Gil’s website, read a book, or go to a knife show with real knifemakers and collectors who have gained an appreciation for great knives they would know that. There are even some good knife forums where informed, educated people hold intelligent, civil conversations about knives but the newbies sometimes need to shut up and learn before they start running their mouths.
Even if you scoff at art knives, one who is educated in knives will appreciate the skill and craftsmanship it takes to make one.
Gil Hibben is my friend, my teacher, my mentor, my brother, and one of the finest human beings I have ever met. He deserves far more respect as a person and as a knifemaker than he is given by a few uniformed know-it-alls on some of the internet forums. There are volumes that can be learned from the true masters of knifemaking such as Gil if people will bother to learn.
By the way, the custom etched the bottle in the picture I posted IS the Makers Mark Peoples Choice Award. Since Makers Mark sponsored the award they decided to use one of their bottles as the award. Imagine that.
Class dismissed. See you next year.
That thing's an abomination! Ick! Blech! Ptui!
