Hibben Knives – Precision, Craftsmanship & Legacy

The Legacy of Gil Hibben – Master Bladesmith

Gil Hibben’s journey began in Wyoming, where at the age of 15, he crafted his first Bowie knife from scrap metal after being unable to afford one. However, it wasn’t until after his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1956 that he revisited knifemaking.

Gil Hibben’s Navy Experience & Transition to Knife-Making

• After his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1956, Hibben began making knives part-time.
• His first post-Navy sale was a handmade Bowie knife for $45, marking the start of his professional career.
• He took a job as a machinist at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, where he learned about metal properties and machining.
• In 1964, Hibben transitioned to full-time knifemaking in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• He pioneered the use of 440C stainless steel in custom knives—an innovation influenced by his exposure to advanced materials at Boeing.

Rise to Fame

Browning & Kenpo Karate

Hibben’s reputation soared in 1968 when he designed Browning’s first line of hunting knives. That same year, he created the “Ed Parker Fighting Knife” as part of his Kenpo Karate black belt thesis, further establishing himself as a master craftsman.

Alaska & Survival Knives

From 1970 to 1975, Hibben lived in Alaska, where he worked as a hunting guide. His experience in the Alaskan wilderness influenced his knife designs, leading to specialized tools like the Alaska Pro Guide Hunter and Alaskan Survival Knife, both of which were endorsed by professional hunters.

Hollywood Breakthrough

The Rambo Knife – A Cultural Icon

In 1988, Sylvester Stallone personally commissioned Hibben to design a modern Bowie knife for Rambo III. The result was an instantly iconic knife that became one of the best-selling production blades ever, with over 250,000 units sold.

Hibben Knives in Movies

Hibben’s designs have appeared in over 37 films and TV shows, including:

• The Rambo series – Rambo III, Rambo, Rambo: Last Blood
• The Expendables series
• Star Trek films & TV series – earning him the title “Official Klingon Armorer”
• The Fifth Element, Natural Born Killers, Spawn, and more.

Hibben Knives & The Vietnam War

Hibben's knives played a crucial role during the Vietnam War, where they were valued by American servicemen for survival and combat.

• Hibben personally sent many of his knives to soldiers in Vietnam.
• He received letters from soldiers stating that one of his knives had saved their lives.
• While not officially issued, his knives were sought after for their reliability in combat situations.
• Their effectiveness contributed to Hibben’s later success in designing combat knives for movies like Rambo III.

Though not standard issue, Hibben’s blades were widely used by soldiers who acquired them privately, demonstrating their real-world reliability.

Legacy & Impact

Hibben’s knives have been collected by icons like John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen, and Steven Seagal. Inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame in 1990, his influence in custom knifemaking continues to shape the industry today.

Shop Hibben Knives at Extac Australia

At Extac Australia, we stock an exclusive range of Hibben Knives, ensuring Aussie knife enthusiasts have access to premium, high-performance blades.

Whether you’re after a hunting knife, survival blade, or a collectible showpiece, you’ll find the perfect Hibben Knife in our collection.

Explore our Hibben Knives collection today!