Your opinion on Hibben knives

I am curious as to what the general membership thinks about Hibben knives as collectibles. Personally, I love his designs, in the fantasy knife seies. But I see or hear very little about those here. Are they just collecibles because you like the design or are they eventually going to be worth (considerably) more than you paid for them? As far as I know (and I've been known to be wrong), the only special knife in the fantasy custom design series was the gold edition Jackal with 1500 pieces. That's still a lot of knives. What's your opinion?
 
Strider

Strider

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
2,337
Are you talking about custom pieces by Gil or the United repo's? Gil makes an excellent custom knife and has been at it for a long time. As far as the fantasy pieces go its your call as to how much they will ever be worth. The steel used is 440 and I don't mean C and many many knives are produced.As with any so called collectable the price will only reflect how rare they will become and I feel that there is a glut of them to seriously even consider buying them for an investment. Just my ramblings on the subject.
Bob
 
I collect Hibben knives and have about the complete set of knives in the design series from 1990 through 1999. About all the Hibben knives made by United Cutlery were released in a special First Production Run, and Gold Editions. Some of the earlier knives like the Silver and Double Shadow came out in diffent hnadle variations. One reason they may not be talked about much on this forum is that they are not "using" knives. For the most part the are for collecting. The stainless steel used in them is fairly corrosion resistant but not very good for edge retention. Also, the handles are mostly ABS plastic. Not the best handle material ever made. Some of the gold editions are going for a good price on Ebay. A Gold Dragon Lord or Warbird set typically goes for around $400 - $500. Also, some of the earlier First Production runs have gone up quite a bit in value.

[This message has been edited by whalenk224 (edited 02 December 1999).]
 
Bob,
yes, I was referring to United Cuttlery's offerings. I couldn't find a Gil Hibben website, just the UC pieces being sold through the various outlets. Where would I find information on Gil Hibben customs like you're talking about?
 

I will probably get flamed for using this word, but, Hibben knives are "funky"
smile.gif
aka I like em.

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KSwinamer
 
United offering Hibbens designs, is in my opinion a good thing. They help get new people interested in knives. Quality is not there strong point (420 j2 steel), but they are very cool looking. It is also the only way alot of people would be able to have anything like what Gil makes.

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Lynn Griffith-Knifemaker

My website
GriffithKN@aol.com


 
I was never into the fantasy or the Rambo knives, and at one time that's all I thought Gil Hibben made. Then I saw him at a couple of shows, a very nice man. I had a chance to handle a few of his working knives, quality pieces, at a reasonable price, for such a well known maker. In fact aside from us Knifenuts, I believe in the Genral Public, more people would be familiar with Gil Hibben, than a lot of other legendary knife makers. Just from his movie and TV work. There's only one reason a company would keep making his designs year after year, because they sell. If it makes you happy, and it doesn't hurt anyone else, do it. What you collect is a very personal thing, but do it because it makes you happy. I'll never get rich from my knife collection, that's not why I buy them. I buy for the sheer joy of owning.
 
I own both real and United versions of Gil's knives. Gil and wife Linda are good friends and I really enjoy his company at shows. Even though he is a hall of famer and all he is very personable and is a all around great guy.

His knives reflect his imagination and that of Paul Ehlers. Put those too togehter and some really wild designs come out. On top of my tv rests the entire Gold version Gil Hibben collection from United including prototypes and real fantasy pieces from Gil.

Your question is do we think they will increase in value? No I don't think so unless you have a number below 10 or a prototype. The others may hold there value but I doubt it.

Now Gil's real stuff does hold value. I recently sold a automatic knife Gil made called the Shark for $10,000. I paid nowhere near that.

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Mike Turber
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Thank you all for your comments. I'm hoping to come across some "real" Hibben stuff sooner or later - of course I don't think I would pay $10,000 for an auto from anyone. Mike, I think you really made out on that one.
smile.gif
Perhaps he will be at the Blade Show 2000, which I will attend for sure.
Phil, I do buy my knives for the joy of owning them and not to get rich on them (of course if I could get money like MIke for a knife, I might consider it. I was just interested in getting an idea of what I might have aquired and if it would at least hold what I paid for it.
Anyway - thanks all for your comments. I still would like to find a webaddress for "real" Hibben stuff, so if anyone would come across one, I'd appreciate it if you could e-mail it to me.
Cheers!
 
Arizona, I never meant to suggest that you didn't.
Now, if we could all be like Mike Turber, and hang out with Gil, I'd bet every once in awhile we could turn a profit with this knife thing.

Let's start a chant, "I wanna be like Mike!"... "I wanna be like Mike!"... "I wanna be like Mike!"
 
I agree that the United Cutlery Hibben knives are a good way for a beginning collector to start. I basically got hooked on knife collecting after first holding the Hibben Raven. That knife just seemed like the coolest knife to me. The $65 that I paid for it seemed like a lot of money back in 1993, but I had to have one. I could never have afforded a Hibben original. Now, after several years of collecting, I have a greater appreciation of all quality knives.
As far as these knives appreciating in value, if they do, great. But I bought them because I like Hibben's designs.
 
...On top of my tv rests the entire Gold version Gil Hibben collection from United including prototypes and real fantasy pieces from Gil.
Click to expand...

Mike, how big a TV do you have??
smile.gif
 
"I wanna be like Mike!"... "I wanna be like Mike!"... "I wanna be like Mike!"
 
saw Gil Hibben at the NY Show last month. He had some nice custom pieces on his table at reasonable prices, especially the Scagel Replica for $350. BTW, his son Wes Hibben makes excellent knives also, I have one of his boot knives and the work is excellent.

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lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ


 
Arizona:

Seems like I posted an inquiry about Gil Hibben some time ago, but, I guess I had to wait for just the right forumites to see it and comment. The very first custom knife I have ever owned (still have it) is a "Joyner drop point". Funny thing, lawyer used to hunt with Gil and I guess Gil designed a drop point 4" hunter for him. As Christmas gifts the attorney would order this custom knife from Gil and give them out to his customers. (I would have to say prized clients and they were too expensive to send out to everyone). I knew when I received mine how special it was so I have never used it or even sharpened it. Highly polished 440C, I think hollow ground, micarta slabs with mosaic pins and file work on the spine. A truly balanced knife by the man himself. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.
 
Mike, any chance you could post a digital picture of the knives on top of your TV? I've got to see this.

Razor

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AKTI #A000845
And tomorrow when you wake up it will be worse.

 
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