Photos Golden Age of Knives....

[RollingThunder51]

Here is an early shot of Jimmy and Sylvester. This would be around 1985.

 

[mackdrvr]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

That blade started the whole big fat combat/survival knife genre.

 

[kwild]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I wanted one of those knives bigtime when I was 14.

 

[Lindy]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I think it's funny that the guy who started the SERE school for the Army, the late Col. James "Nick" Rowe, who survived 5 years in enemy captivity in Vietnam and might be assumed to know something about survival, carried a folder with a low-carbon steel blade of about three and a half inches in length.

 

[Cut]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Thats the second in the Rambo series of knives. Refered to as the "mission" knife.

Cut

 

[Jimmy2Times]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Now why would you be carrying a knife like that?

 

[blksno]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now why would you be carrying a knife like that?</div></div>

"Hunting"

...What do you hunt with a knife? Elephants?"

"NAME IT"

 

[serzant]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimmy2Times</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now why would you be carrying a knife like that? </div></div>
DID YOU SEE RAMBO III, or were you born in the nineties?
The movie is practically an instructional video on how to shoot, move, communicate and cut the throats.

 

[Gordon Nettleton]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I have a Jimmy Lile Hunting Knife, my Dad and I got it from him at a Knife show in Dallas in the 80's. Still Have it

 

[WYK]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think it's funny that the guy who started the SERE school for the Army, the late Col. James "Nick" Rowe, who survived 5 years in enemy captivity in Vietnam and might be assumed to know something about survival, carried a folder with a low-carbon steel blade of about three and a half inches in length. </div></div>


Something tells me the pocket knife didn't help much if he was captured for 5 years...

 

[sturkis]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Got one of those knives still in the box. I always wondered why and every time I see the movie I have to pull it out of the safe and admire it.

 

[Dsparil]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

to the best of my understanding, those knives had NO tang at all. They were simply a blade locked in to an aluminum handle using a bolt and screw. Anyone have any clue how well the Jimmy Lile knives actually held up? I mean were they welded after being screwed in place?

 

[azerious85]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

i DIG that pipe he has!!!

 

[sormi]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Yea go walk down town with that in your belt. You might get picked up..

 

[mgd45]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sormi</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yea go walk down town with that in your belt. You might get picked up.. </div></div>

Nah, cuz any self respecting LEO would simply say, "Dude! Where'd you get that cool Rambo knife?.......can I hold it...?" LOL!

 

[RollingThunder51]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Dsparil, whereas Jimmy Lile did not invent the concept of the hollow handle knife, he certainly did popularize it. You are correct that his survival knives did not have a conventional handle tang, but their stength was excellent. Remember, that by the time he went "full time" in 1969, he had already made more handmade knives that many make in a career. Then Jimmy worked another 11 years(!) full time before making the first Rambo protos.

For the Mission IIs, early blades were 440c (somewhat of a miracle steel back then) with 304 series hollow handles and 440c cross guards (complete with phillips and cross bits on end). It took over an hour just to wrap the handles in nylon line.

The process of putting the blade to handle was a closely held secret then and still remains so today. I can tell you this, the handle flat on blade was .77" long and .61" wide. The four pieces (blade, quillion, handle,fastner) were assembled under considerable force and then both fastened, adhered and sealed from the inside of the handle. I myself destroyed two knives, one a First blood and one Mission. In the second case the blade was bowed laterally a 3/4" (center blade!). Neither knife gave way or even loosened at the handle. I should note that one was 440c and the later, D2. The D2 issue was one of hardening (a very early knife), both went back to Jackie, both got replaced with a note from Jimmy, the later explaining that I should find something else to hold the main cable eye to the anchor of the next bridge I cross. The vast majority of his knives became safe queens so Jimmy paid attention to anybody that used them and was delighted with anybody that used them up or took them to failure. Never a charge, always a smile and a laugh, no finer gentlemen than Jimmy Lile.

 

[skeetlee]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I wanted one of those knives bigtime when I was 14


I remember those days. I actually hunted down and killed a rabbit with mine. I shit you not!!! I was better than Rambo!!! LOL!!! Time sure flies!!!!!

 

[Smallmouth Crazy]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I think we all did.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwild</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted one of those knives bigtime when I was 14. </div></div>

 

[hilbillee]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

The great Sylvester Stallone. One of the most anti-gun people in Hollywood, and never spent a second in the military or Vietnam. But the knife is definitely cool though.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimmy2Times</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now why would you be carrying a knife like that?</div></div>

i actually have one in my pack, makes quick work of clevering small game parts off (head, tails, paws) without dulling up my small blade and for quartering. plus you never know when you have to use it on a wild boar...

 

[Jimmy2Times]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: serzant</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimmy2Times</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now why would you be carrying a knife like that? </div></div>
DID YOU SEE RAMBO III, or were you born in the nineties?
The movie is practically an instructional video on how to shoot, move, communicate and cut the throats. </div></div>

Right over your head, cous.



"Hunting"

...What do you hunt with a knife? Elephants?"

"NAME IT"



I prescribe remedial Rambo movie watching for you. You must watch 1,2,3 and 4 four times each before you can post in this thread again.

 

[Jimmy2Times]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimmy2Times</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now why would you be carrying a knife like that?</div></div>

i actually have one in my pack, makes quick work of clevering small game parts off (head, tails, paws) without dulling up my small blade and for quartering. plus you never know when you have to use it on a wild boar... </div></div>

Another one. Remedial Rambo movie watching for you too.

 

[flounderv2]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sturkis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Got one of those knives still in the box. I always wondered why and every time I see the movie I have to pull it out of the safe and admire it. </div></div>

Youre not the only one.. Saw this thread and went and pulled it just to take pics. Everything is still original including the "gear" in the handle.

I think I bought it when I was around 12..

Not sure why the image tags arent working.

 

[serzant]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimmy2Times</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I prescribe remedial Rambo movie watching for you. You must watch 1,2,3 and 4 four times each before you can post in this thread again. </div></div>

I just watched them before the Holloween '80ies party to get in the character.... Can I please be excused from watching them again?!!! Here I am amberassing as hell!...
[image]http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5171/phototf.jpg[/image]

 

[Falar]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hilbillee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The great Sylvester Stallone. One of the most anti-gun people in Hollywood, and never spent a second in the military or Vietnam. But the knife is definitely cool though.
</div></div>

He is a fucking hypocrite too. Apparently he holds a CHL in Florida so he is one of the elitist "No guns for you, but they're ok for me" types.

 

[malaga2]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Falar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hilbillee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The great Sylvester Stallone. One of the most anti-gun people in Hollywood, and never spent a second in the military or Vietnam. But the knife is definitely cool though.
</div></div>

He is a fucking hypocrite too. Apparently he holds a CHL in Florida so he is one of the elitist "No guns for you, but they're ok for me" types. </div></div>

Yep....straight...ol sylvester could use one in the buttocks...

 

[Arch]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Thanks for sharing the photo and the history.

I have made fun of Stallone a time or two, especially after seeing him in an airport and noticing that he is ony 19 inches tall.

I had read First Blood in HS and the movie came out my first or 2nd year in the Corps. The book ended a bit differently See Link. Fascinating realism in that movie despite the reality that Rambo nor Sheriff Teasle ever experienced RVN. (See Dennehy link). The truth is that I could watch the woodsman scenes again and again. Realer than real, it makes me think of Travels in Hyperreality, by Umberto Eco.

The IMDB website shows that the movie's popularity has went up <span style="font-weight: bold">90%</span> in the last week. As more and more people fill up an extra bookbag with an Altoids can of fishhooks, pork and beans, firestarters and special silent dog whistles in order to combat the wave of zombies or in Rambo's case, National Guardsmen and law Enforcement, I expect the movie will grow even larger.

As a teenager, seeing the self-sufficiency involved with only a canvas tarp and one good knife that had a wound stitching kit, a compass, etc., in it, captured the ingenuity and cowboy spirit of Americans as much as anything. The original should be in the Smithsonian for all to see.

Again, thanks for posting. Every Marine I served with then knew the name Jimmy Lile, but I don't think I had ever seen him before.

It has motivated me to start my own novel which will depict a Rogue Male scenario based in West Virginia. In my story though, the protagonist will be a High School senior, a wrestler, expelled from school for having a .22 shell in his pocket and chased by an elected sheriff, who is hot for the lad's mom now that dad is deployed to Afghanistan for a year with the U.S. Army. In an early scene, the boy is smacked around a bit by the sheriff and then taken home. The sheriff tries to flirt with the mom at the house and this enrages the boy. Soon afterward, the boy photoshops the sheriffs head onto bodies of men wearing corsetts and such, and sends it to every business in town using a fake name. Now angry, the sheriff follows the lad and meets up with him as he is loading his dogs back into the truck after an evening of coon hunting. Trying to confiscate the boy's hunting rifle, one of the Blueticks mangles the sheriff's hand and the game is on.

 

[Rust]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

First time I saw a "Rambo" knife it occured to me the sole use of such a thing was to be more visible on the movie screen. I about fell out laughing when I saw it.

And Stallone? The closest to combat he's ever come are the early pornos he did. His acting wasn't very good and hasn't improved since.

 

[He Shoot Me]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WYK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think it's funny that the guy who started the SERE school for the Army, the late Col. James "Nick" Rowe, who survived 5 years in enemy captivity in Vietnam and might be assumed to know something about survival, carried a folder with a low-carbon steel blade of about three and a half inches in length. </div></div>


Something tells me the pocket knife didn't help much if he was captured for 5 years... </div></div>

Best laugh of the day!

-Pat

 

[Lindy]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Rowe was captured, survived five years in captivity, and then escaped. It's a very interesting story - for those with the sense to read it, and heed the lessons. The Rambo knife wouldn't have helped. Rowe was a real hero, not some anti-gun Hollywood actor.

He started the SERE school at the Army's request after Vietnam.

 

[Arch]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

"Five Years to Freedom" was a good read. He used insects to play an imaginary baseball season, did he not?

 

[hilbillee]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Sounds like it will be a dang good book. Hurry & finish it and get it published.

 

[c ward]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

The book has been out since the mid 80's , IIRC , Col . Rowe was the real deal with out a doubt . He ended up KIA while stationed in the Philippines and his car was ambushed by terrorists .

The knife was a collaboration with Al Mar after he escaped from the Viet Cong and started the SERE school .

 

[sturkis]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

Saw him in the Italian Stallion back in the 70's. He could act better then!!!!

 

[MikeDraper]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I was reading a biography about him. He is a life long Republican, and called for the banning of all guns in the U.S.A. after one of his good friends was murdered, "I imagine it was by a man who had a gun".

 

[netranger6]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

I still have mine too! I won it at some crappy ass carnival game, instead of getting a giant Mickey Mouse, I opted for the pig-sticker!

Now, this doesn't compare to my Reeves Pacific, in terms of quality, but is neck and neck for "fuck that's cool!" factor.

 

[popapi]

Re: Golden Age of Knives....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mackdrvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That blade started the whole big fat combat/survival knife genre. </div></div>Your right!!