Gil Hibben
Encyclopedia
Gil Hibben is a custom knifemaker
from Wyoming
who is based in La Grange, Kentucky
. Hibben designed the first line of Browning
hunting knives in 1968, the American Kenpo
Knife for Ed Parker
, and the Rambo Knife
for the film
s Rambo III
and Rambo
. Hibben's "Fantasy Knives" have been used in over 37 films and television shows, particularly science fiction, earning him the title "Klingon Armorer" from the Star Trek
franchise. Hibben currently serves as a President of the Knifemakers' Guild
, a post he has held for five years.
at age 15, Hibben decided to make his own out of scrap metal and files. He did not make another knife until his discharge from the US Navy in 1956 when he took a job in Seattle, Washington as a machinist for Boeing Aircraft
and started making knives in his spare time after he sold another handmade Bowie knife to a friend for $45.
to become a full-time knifemaker. His blades were primarily 440C stainless steel
and Hibben was the first knife maker to use that steel in his knives. While in Sandy, Hibben partnered with another knifemaker named Stuart Benedict and these knives were sold under the name "Ben-Hibben". The knives from this time period were fixed-blade Bowie knives, hunting knives, fishing knives and some early fighting knives.
In 1965, Hibben left Sandy for Manti, Utah
to open a larger facility where he operated as "Hibben Knives". One of his knives was written about and featured on the cover of Guns & Ammo in an article titled The Versatile Gil Hibben, expanding his reputation beyond that of a local knifemaker. This recognition lead him to the attention of Browning firearms, who had Hibben design the company's first line of knives in 1968 consisting of 3 fixed blade knives and a folding hunting knife. That same year, Hibben sang Tenor
for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
.
A lifelong martial artist with black belt rankings in Aikido
, Judo
, and American Kenpo, Hibben designed and built a knife called the Kenpo Knife as his Black Belt Thesis under Ed Parker
in 1968; his thesis and knife design led to Long Form VIII ("Double Dagger Form") which uses two knives in mock combat.
In 1970, Hibben moved his shop again. After a brief period in Springdale, Arkansas
, he relocated to Alaska
for five years working as a knifemaker and a hunting and fishing guide. In 1975 he moved his shop again to Silver Dollar City
, Missouri and four years later to Louisville, Kentucky
.
to make a modern version of a Bowie knife for the film Rambo III. After the release of the movie, Hibben began a long-term partnership with United Cutlery of Taiwan who released factory versions of the "Rambo III Knife" and a subsequent annual factory "Art Knife" each based on one of Hibben's custom designs every year afterward. United has made versions of Hibben's Kenpo Knife, Alaskan Guide Knife, and throwing knives
. Hibben previously partnered with knifemaker Dr. Rob Charlton of Damascus-USA to produce smaller Damascus steel
versions of the Rambo Bowie. In 1991, Hibben relocated to the Louisville suburb of La Grange, Kentucky.
The popularity of Hibben's mass produced fantasy designs led to Hibben's knives being used in other films such as Spawn
, Mortal Kombat
, The Perfect Weapon
, Natural Born Killers
, Under Siege
, Babylon 5
and the Star Trek franchise. Hibben's "Jackal" knife appears on the poster for Star Trek Nemesis. Hibben made another "Rambo" knife for Stallone's Rambo and the Bowie knife and Arkansas toothpick
used in the film, The Expendables
. Paramount Pictures
has given Hibben the title Official Klingon Armorer for all the weapons he has made for the Franchise's villains.
since 2006 and is a member of the Blade Magazine
Cutlery Hall of Fame.
Knifemaking
Knife making is the process of manufacturing a knife by any one or a combination of processes: stock removal, forging to shape, welded lamination or investment cast. Typical metals used come from the carbon steel, tool, or stainless steel families...
from Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
who is based in La Grange, Kentucky
La Grange, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,676 people, 2,216 households, and 1,502 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,514.8 people per square mile . There were 2,330 housing units at an average density of 621.8 per square mile...
. Hibben designed the first line of Browning
Browning
-Places:* Browning, Illinois, USA* Browning, Montana, USA* Browning, Wisconsin, USA* Browning, Missouri, USA* Browning Hill, in Brown County, Indiana; sometimes called Browning Mountain* Browning, Saskatchewan, Canada* Browning No...
hunting knives in 1968, the American Kenpo
American Kenpo
American Kenpo or Kenpo Karate is a system of martial arts created by Ed Parker, characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent...
Knife for Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
, and the Rambo Knife
Survival knife
Survival knives are knives intended for survival purposes in a wilderness environment, often in an emergency situation when the user has lost most of his/her main equipment. Military units issue some type of survival knife to pilots in the event their plane may be shot down. Survival knives can be...
for the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s Rambo III
Rambo III
Rambo III is an American Action film released on May 25, 1988. It is the third film in the Rambo series following First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II...
and Rambo
Rambo (film)
Rambo is a 2008 German/American Action film starring Sylvester Stallone returning and reprising his famous role as legendary Cold War/Vietnam veteran John Rambo. Stallone also co-wrote and directed the film. It is the fourth and most recent installment in the Rambo franchise, twenty years since...
. Hibben's "Fantasy Knives" have been used in over 37 films and television shows, particularly science fiction, earning him the title "Klingon Armorer" from the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
franchise. Hibben currently serves as a President of the Knifemakers' Guild
Knifemakers' Guild
The Knifemakers' Guild is an organization made up of knifemakers to promote custom knives, encourage ethical business practices, assist with technical aspects of knife making, and to sponsor knife shows...
, a post he has held for five years.
Early life
Hibben was born in Wyoming in 1935. Unable to afford a Bowie knifeBowie knife
A Bowie knife is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. Since the first incarnation was created by James Black, the Bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its...
at age 15, Hibben decided to make his own out of scrap metal and files. He did not make another knife until his discharge from the US Navy in 1956 when he took a job in Seattle, Washington as a machinist for Boeing Aircraft
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and started making knives in his spare time after he sold another handmade Bowie knife to a friend for $45.
Knifemaker
In 1964, Hibben relocated to Sandy, UtahSandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
to become a full-time knifemaker. His blades were primarily 440C stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
and Hibben was the first knife maker to use that steel in his knives. While in Sandy, Hibben partnered with another knifemaker named Stuart Benedict and these knives were sold under the name "Ben-Hibben". The knives from this time period were fixed-blade Bowie knives, hunting knives, fishing knives and some early fighting knives.
In 1965, Hibben left Sandy for Manti, Utah
Manti, Utah
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,040 people, 930 households, and 742 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,560.2 people per square mile . There were 1,010 housing units at an average density of 518.3 per square mile...
to open a larger facility where he operated as "Hibben Knives". One of his knives was written about and featured on the cover of Guns & Ammo in an article titled The Versatile Gil Hibben, expanding his reputation beyond that of a local knifemaker. This recognition lead him to the attention of Browning firearms, who had Hibben design the company's first line of knives in 1968 consisting of 3 fixed blade knives and a folding hunting knife. That same year, Hibben sang Tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
.
A lifelong martial artist with black belt rankings in Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, and American Kenpo, Hibben designed and built a knife called the Kenpo Knife as his Black Belt Thesis under Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
in 1968; his thesis and knife design led to Long Form VIII ("Double Dagger Form") which uses two knives in mock combat.
In 1970, Hibben moved his shop again. After a brief period in Springdale, Arkansas
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
, he relocated to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
for five years working as a knifemaker and a hunting and fishing guide. In 1975 he moved his shop again to Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City is a theme park in the state of Missouri. Opened on May 1, 1960, the park is located between Branson and Branson West, Missouri, on Highway 76...
, Missouri and four years later to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Movie knives
While in Louisville, Hibben was contacted by Sylvester StalloneSylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
to make a modern version of a Bowie knife for the film Rambo III. After the release of the movie, Hibben began a long-term partnership with United Cutlery of Taiwan who released factory versions of the "Rambo III Knife" and a subsequent annual factory "Art Knife" each based on one of Hibben's custom designs every year afterward. United has made versions of Hibben's Kenpo Knife, Alaskan Guide Knife, and throwing knives
Knife throwing
Knife throwing is an art, sport, combat skill, or variously an entertainment technique, involving an artist skilled in the art of throwing knives, the weapons thrown, and a target.-A throwing knife:...
. Hibben previously partnered with knifemaker Dr. Rob Charlton of Damascus-USA to produce smaller Damascus steel
Damascus steel
Damascus steel was a term used by several Western cultures from the Medieval period onward to describe a type of steel used in swordmaking from about 300 BCE to 1700 CE. These swords are characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water...
versions of the Rambo Bowie. In 1991, Hibben relocated to the Louisville suburb of La Grange, Kentucky.
The popularity of Hibben's mass produced fantasy designs led to Hibben's knives being used in other films such as Spawn
Spawn (film)
Spawn is a 1997 American superhero film loosely based on the comic book of the same name, by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé , the film stars Michael Jai White in the leading role...
, Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
, The Perfect Weapon
The Perfect Weapon
The Perfect Weapon is an action 1991 film starring Jeff Speakman. It tells the story of a young man, Jeff, who is trained in the martial art of Kenpo, and his fight against the Korean mafia families....
, Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...
, Under Siege
Under Siege
Under Siege is a 1992 American action film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Steven Seagal as a former Navy SEAL who must stop a group of mercenaries, led by Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey, on a U.S. Navy battleship...
, Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
and the Star Trek franchise. Hibben's "Jackal" knife appears on the poster for Star Trek Nemesis. Hibben made another "Rambo" knife for Stallone's Rambo and the Bowie knife and Arkansas toothpick
Arkansas toothpick
The Arkansas toothpick is a heavy dagger with a pointed, straight blade. The knife is balanced and weighted for throwing and can be used for thrusting and slashing...
used in the film, The Expendables
The Expendables (2010 film)
The Expendables is a 2010 American ensemble action film written by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, and directed by Stallone. Filming began on March 28, 2009, in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, and the film was released in theaters on August 13, 2010 in North America.The film is...
. Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
has given Hibben the title Official Klingon Armorer for all the weapons he has made for the Franchise's villains.
Knifemaker's Guild
Hibben has been President of the Knifemakers' GuildKnifemakers' Guild
The Knifemakers' Guild is an organization made up of knifemakers to promote custom knives, encourage ethical business practices, assist with technical aspects of knife making, and to sponsor knife shows...
since 2006 and is a member of the Blade Magazine
Blade (magazine)
Blade is a long-running consumer magazine about knife collecting.First published in 1973 under the title American Blade by Southern House Publishing Co. with Blackie Collins as the editor, the magazine's title was changed to Blade in 1982 after its purchase by Jim Parker and Bruce Voyles...
Cutlery Hall of Fame.
Further reading
- Hibben, Gil. The Complete Gil Hibben Knife Throwing Guide. United Cutlery Corp., 1994. (ASIN-B0006FAV9E)