Making Knives, the History of the Bowie Knife, and the Rambo Knives

Learn about the art of knife making, the history of the Bowie knives, the history of the Rambo knives, and a little about knife making itself.
Here are the bowie knives we have currently available: bit.ly/2X5bFAO
This is an older video which we play in our Retail Store sometimes, but we thought we'd share it on KZbin.

[@Nick-te4ey]

Extremely well done. Outstanding contributors to the clip, the industry and the legacy . Thank you for creating and sharing this wonderful video.

[@gregf8167]

Legendary. Rambo knives are a huge part of being a kid in the 80's

[@JohnBoy973]

So true!!!

[@codyhooker1895]

I agree.

[@adamimberti6948]

People bad mouth white southerners as racist and unsophisticated etc.... but I see a group of humble, hard working and honest people with skill, ingenuity and life experience that you can apply to your own life no matter when or where you find yourself.

[@festushaggen2563]

adam imberti Those people doing the bad mouthing are the real unsophisticated racists. Two old adages sum it up. People often accuse each other of the things they do themselves and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

[@JohnBoy973]

Very well said. Southerners are bashed even though they’re referring to a very small minority of the actual culture.

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

And they completely forget a lot of NASA is in the southern states. Add things like the food. Music. Family values. Hospitality. Yeah, totally unsophisticated!

[@john_youtube1178]

I love how everyone who blade smiths and anyone who loves blades agree the Rambo films saved the knife industry

[@Impuritan1]

Dozier’s shop looks like OSHA’s worst nightmare. It’s glorious.

[@vaughanellis7866]

Its a shop where things get done and the safety is in the hands of the man doing the work, not by rote and regulations.

[@paulhuston9991]

By their very nature a Smith shop can't be made OSHA safe lol. EVERYTHING is stupid hot, stupid sharp or poisonous. No amount of signs and no guard will allow a Smith shop to function lol. Besides OSHA is for commies and stupid people who either deserve it or are better off not in the gene pool Haha. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OSHA: "Remember folks, have your loved ones spaid or neutered!"

[@gretashapiro4118]

Hahahaha

[@JohnBoy973]

As do most knife shops!!! I love it!!

[@franfernandez7838]

I do not understand English very much but I enjoy this, I am using the translator to write all this ...

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

A.G. spent some time showing my son and me his favorite knives in his store months before he went to glory.

[@JohnBoy973]

Wow! That’s awesome! All these men were and are legends!

[@fullretardcustomguns837]

Thank you, I really enjoyed that. I just moved as a lifelong Arkansan to NM and while I love it out here, I do miss our people. I don't miss the humidity, the Clintons, or mowing my yard in the summer, but I miss the "folks" that made the state a great place to live. I know Jimmy Lile made knives for the 39th "Bowie Brigade" leadership. CSM and O5, I believe. I was a 2LT in C Battery 2/142 in Iraq from Jan 07-08. Our call sign was Cold Steel, so I carried a Cold Steel Trail Master Bowie in my IBA to support AR.

[@prophez23]

I've been a custom knife maker and blacksmith for over 14yrs I've had the pleasure of meeting a few of these fine gentlemen over the years. This trade is something I'll pass down to both my sons. And one thing I've learned over the years is no matter how bad the economy is someone is always willing to buy a knife if its built good and works for life as it should.

[@JohnBoy973]

Lmao! Awesome!

[@donaldpruett852]

Love watching knife making. Never attempted it. Didn't want to insult the trade. In September last, my wife bought me the last available "Alamo Bowie" made by Western Cutlery. It is an exact replica of the one they made for Richard Widmark in his role as Jim Bowie in John Wayne's epic 1960 film, "The Alamo". Immediately after I showed it to her on-line she ordered it for my birthday. A day later the ad was red stamped; "No Longer Available". It is a thing of beauty for sure. I'll build a antique board to mount it on for display. Much too pretty and irreplaceable to use and scratch up. It will make a good display with the Kentucky flintlock squirrel rifle.

[@hanspepper3453]

Lucky man 😉

[@chunglow7646]

Western Cutlery in Colorado made Fine blades. Maneuverable and not massive Heavy & took a Nice Edge.

[@nitewing3271]

I never met Mr. Lile before he passed, but I grew up in Russellville and did tour his shop/museum before it closed....not only knives, but he also displayed vintage wooden toys that were very interesting. I think his wife enjoyed talking about all this stuff just as much as I enjoyed listening. It had been years since he passed, but his passion for this artform could still be felt in the room.

[@LizzyTexBorden]

I was lucky enough to meet Jimmy Lile and his wife out to the Pony Express gun shop in the San Fernando Valley back in the 80's. Super nice folks and fun to handle one of his Rambo knives. Yep.

[@WinStunSmith]

Very interesting. I began collecting back in the early 80s, when I was a kid. Over time, I became aware of every knife maker mentioned, but I never knew the details, how much these old timers contributed to the industry we know today. Pretty cool bunch of guys. 👍

[@carlkrebs1]

jerry fisk , i remember going into one of his first shops in locksburg arkansas in the late 80s i think . just listening to jerry talk it was really easy to tell the man worked a passion and skill even back then making him a master in many ways , mentally . he had a mindset and a thirst to continue in what he did , no matter what . when i came through there , it was late summertime , hotter than hades in that tin walled shop . but not a single complaint from him , even when he took a break . i watched him for well over an hour , working on a knife he was just getting started good on . just listening to him talk on what he was going to forge out of that piece of steel told you everything you wanted to know about his work . when he finished it , just onenlook told you right away that you had a work of art , not just a knife . im blessed to have met him in his earlier years of his work , and my earlier aircraft cabinetmaker days . it was a good time . jerry does really fine work , unrivaled by anyone i know of in the south doing the level of quality that he does , particularly with his camp knife and his sendero . i cant afford one now , but mabye one day i will buy a new camp knife or sendero knife , since mine was stolen many years ago at deer camp .

[@wullgrew1]

Man, I miss AG. I wish I had been able to see him again before he left us.

[@txgunguy2766]

I'm glad to see them pronouncing "Bowie" correctly. It's "Boo-ee". I get sick and tired of hearing people talk about the "Bow-ee" knife. "Bow-ee" was a British rocker.

[@phantomthiefirwin9631]

America when it became a very hard gun culture in the 60s-90s we really lost a part of our heritage in these old classic blades. lad to see it gettin more love and attention these days.

[@gretashapiro4118]

I hope America stays a hard gun culture and is a gun culture. It's always has been. Knives have been a part of it.

[@phantomthiefirwin9631]

I looooove me some guns, don't get me wrong. Just wish blades got more respect.

[@gretashapiro4118]

@@phantomthiefirwin9631 they are gaining a lot of attention and popularity. Mostly for the wrong reasons, like Islam, the UK knife attacks and alternative self-defense because of 2A restrictions

[@gretashapiro4118]

@@phantomthiefirwin9631 but I love knives ,I collect but for the quality knives from makers like above, out of my budget

[@phantomthiefirwin9631]

@@gretashapiro4118 I'm a collector myself. Mostly practical budget options Like the trambotina machete And the Glock 81 field knife

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

There was something I always found truly beautiful about old-timer bone handle hunting knives with leather sheaths, my pocket jackknife is like such, what I would really love is to get a fixed blade one to match, either a Customizable 916 Bowie or 119 Special Knife by Buck, but admittingly I too was inspired by the Rambo series with regards to knives, still eyeing may f those military-style knives, Love it, very well done video

[@JohnBoy973]

I like the Buck general 120. As seen in the Scream movie franchise.

[@mikethomas5412]

Excellent information on the history of knives. Thank you.

[@mixflip]

Thanks for the education.

[@gregf8167]

I love knives because of the Rambo movies in the 80's. Thank you

[@markhamilton3215]

Thanks Jimmy

[@hartonoX69]

Me tooooooo 😀

[@TheAngryHusky]

I remember having a Rambo Knife in the 80s. It was awesome to play in the woods with it.

[@JohnBoy973]

Yes it was sir!

[@dominiphillip]

Loved this video , learned so much !!!!

[@robertbrunston5406]

I love knives! Thank you.

[@KevinHallSurfing]

21:40 had this exact knife from my father who got it in the US navy. Sadly stolen long ago in late 60's 😢What I mean to say is I appreciate these guys and the legacy of their work.

[@CONEHEADDK]

I once traded an ordinary bajonet for an old 4-5 inch bladed Bowie(?) with deer antler handle a blade that could rust and a very nice etched indian on it. The very same night some a-hole stole it.. I know the feeling of getting something special stolen, even though it wasn't a family thing. My dads carpenter tools (he was born 1924) that I had been promised as long back as I remember, somehow seem to have dissapeared. Pretty sure the nephew has them - they didn't ever tell my dad, that he was an a-hole, and I sure as f*ck did...

[@KevinHallSurfing]

@@CONEHEADDK Oh no. My dads chisels, files and rasps, a big vice and some saws he got from the Navy after the war ended, were also stolen. The metals used in WWII were top quality. Yes they would rust but polish up nicely. Rotten thieves.

[@HouseBladeDesign]

Dozier is a good man an great makers...I have been lucky enough to own one of his grinders an talk to him one many times

[@graemel3069]

Thank you very much for the incredible work you have done...Cheers Mates!

[@lxemergency]

That was wonderful. thank you so much for sharing that.

[@user-bz3hl1lm2f]

Wow... first time to see this history..A great channel!!!!!

[@jorgefernandez6407]

What a GREAT VIDEO!!! Learned a lot watching it. Gonna have to see it "again"!!!

[@EmperorProtects4848]

thank you for this great video which was brought to my attention by dutch knifemaker a.noot

[@fretfancollingsd2]

Good video. The main complaint I have is the almost continuous background music that is as loud as the vocals. Ruins an other wise great video.

[@terrillschneider3778]

Rewatching this now Just subscribed This is one of the best presentations I have seen on KZbin Thanks Zac Have long been a fan Now a follower This has inspired me to to remember how I got to the be the arms enthusiast I am It was due in part to the TV Westerns but to a great degree by reading great historical stories from childhood on up to studying history in college This has set me on a quest to not only gift my grandkids pocket knives but to give those avid little readers great historical books of American heroes that I know they aren’t getting in school such as Bowie Crockett Boone Carson etc Not sure what you think but you helped put it in motion and you now have me for better or worse lol

[@joshglover2370]

Jimmy Lyle made some bad ass knives! 😀 I love the Rambo knives, the one from the 2nd movie is my favorite!

[@Apex_grind562]

Beautiful knife

[@Biblicalgiants]

Great upload! Thanks!

[@KowboyUSA]

I've carried a Bowie knife for well over a half a century - sure would be nice to have a good one before I'm gone.

[@jcam1776]

I love these history bids you upload keep them coming. love a.g. knives

[@isaacs_knives_and_knowledge]

This was great to watch

[@seyahznarf]

Arkansan checking in. Thank you for posting 😊

[@user-neo71665]

Another here

[@abnergaldos8695]

Excellent

[@NoMoneyHubby]

Love the knives... really LOVE the accents! Reminds me of my grandparents

[@87_North]

Awesome vid! Wish there was more of this in Upstate NY!

[@1pcfred]

New York state is where the American knife making industry was.

[@onewheadon9933]

great show thanks guy's....

[@thomasgarrison3949]

Thank you for sharing your video.

[@guycalgary7800]

A knife that I’ve owned forever since whenever RAMBO 3 came out , it’s never been used but it’s pretty.

[@JohnBoy973]

The Rambo 3 is somewhat different though. Is it an original Gil Hibben or authorized reproduction?

[@jamesharris1493]

My idea of a Bowie is a knife with an over extended guard to protect your hand can while retrieving the knife from plunging not to mention the extent of the blade.

[@512bb]

True American treasures, much thanks from a proud American soldier.

[@fredde90210]

Much appreciated video sir

[@paulwainwright8149]

fredde90210 d

[@kipperwhite2976]

TY very much LuV- knife, Lore& History so important 2 pass on to Younger Gerneration ATB

[@twagner6155]

In about 1987 I saw at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas what was supposed to be the first Bowie knife. It wasn't anything like a fancy Rambo knife. It was not stainless or more than about 10". It had tool marks, rust and pits like was shown in the video. A real knife doesn't come from a CNC machine. To know what Jim Bowie did with it would be cool.

[@JohnBoy973]

There are also handmade FB knives an the such. The original Bowie was made in the early 1800’s, so fit and finish took a backseat to function then! Lol

[@twagner6155]

@@JohnBoy973 I agree.

[@outlawgt3045]

I just got my first handmade knife from Nepal. Its an 8inch Kukri. This handmade knife convinces me that commercial knives are garbage compared to a good handmade knife. This Kukri can be passed down from generation to generation... Now Im interested in collecting quality handmade knives...

[@AGRussellKnivescompany]

Handmade knives are fantastic and I've always said so. Glad you found a good one! agrussell.com/knives/handmade

[@JohnBoy973]

Very well stated! People who bash the large batch movie replicas should at least once hold a handmade version of these or any knives and decide!

[@TEXTMANNEN]

crocodile dundee knife? it was also a knife that is a legend.

[@crunkaholic81]

Right in that same era. great reminder

[@markhamilton3215]

12:40sec , its why im here. the Legendary knife that saved the industry. The HOLY GRAIL.

[@jjloewenstein]

Nice history.

[@mouija1450]

A really good documentary. I'd love to see this on PBS, and I hope it inspires future generations to pick up a hammer and learn a craft. That Forged In Fire show is flashy garbage, but maybe someone will click and watch this documentary because that show got them interested in smithing.

[@cha5]

That Forged in Fire show is something of a guilty pleasure for me, but if it can get people interested in blacksmithing (it has gotten some coverage in Blade magazine after all) and lead them to such things as this documentary I wouldn't consider it completely worthless.

[@angelotero7729]

I think that Rambo first blood knife is one of the best looking blades ever made not to mention blacksmith is incredibly hardwork to constantly beat steal over and over for one knife is incredible hats off to these guys

[@nobilismaximus]

its a crap knife. hollow handle trah

[@markthompson8246]

@@nobilismaximus Not the well-made ones.

[@lckgilmo43]

Jim Bowie had a few knives made from different black smith's. One was made by a free slave named Snow in Washington, Louisiana. Ten miles up the road from Jim Bowie's house in Opelousas. Basically a butcher knife with a nine inch blade.

[@dfcvda]

IM a knife collector in England thanks for a very inspirational and interesting video.

[@sooneradmirer4382]

You can own knives in England?

[@JohnBoy973]

Awesome!

[@dick_richards]

I agree about the 2nd GOLDEN AGE OF KNIFE MAKING!!

[@leecolclough2492]

Lengendary knives came out of sheffield including all military pattern bayonets thankyou for the video💪👍👍

[@robertschaeffer5861]

Washington, Arkansas... The beginning for many of today's knife makers...

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Jimmy Lile

[@randall.3189]

I heard that Jim Bowie had his knife made in Arkansas.

[@rescd3336]

Very Classy People.Im glad to try to make knives.

[@Montblanc1986]

Art work

[@davidlarue2492]

Simply awesome, I hope one day to put away enough money to get some basic equipment and start making knives for fun and also find someone or a school to learn, or I’ll just get into it and try to figure it out on my own. I know it ain’t easy so I hope nobody thinks I’m some idiot who saw a few KZbin channels and thought “hey I like blades, I can make a living and quit my job eventually and make money doing that.” Knives, blades, it’s a passion for me. It’s my only hobby, I love it all. Sitting there and sharpening knives by hand is fun to me and I would love to take that next step. Hopefully someday soon.

[@JohnBoy973]

Gil Hibbens knife shop offers classes, I believe!

[@jonnygranville281]

Good luck to you.

[@CagedSUPERMAN]

I’m going to make a Rambo 2 knife in the coming weeks. Can’t wait

[@anncannon1797]

What a great video!!⚔️🗡️⚒️💪💪

[@bentoncushing8693]

Harvey McBurnette, ,best folding knife maker,,,ever...

[@davidblunt3501]

A J I still use my "first blood replica That bought in 1990 and used that on perhaps 2 doz deer and some elk plus a few hogs the knife I've used it for aa # of ways It is carreied by me along with a USAF pilot survival knife that carried in Vietnam for 2 tours.

[@AGRussellKnivescompany]

Nice! If you couldn't tell AG didn't care for the design, but that doesn't mean others can't enjoy it! I'm glad it has served you well! -Jake

[@warrenbrumfield8973]

Nice video sir

[@inregionecaecorum]

The Sheffield tradition never died out. I ordered a Bowie blade over the phone the other day from a manufacturer whose blades I have possesed since I was a teen in the 60s.

[@JohnBoy973]

Which tradition is that? Sheffield England? Please enlighten us!

[@inregionecaecorum]

@@JohnBoy973 The tradition of the "little mesters" independent blade makers in Sheffield England, a city also famous in its time for steel making.

[@gazthebass1]

Great video, I didn't realise the Bowie was created in America, I thought it was a mini Medieval Falchion designed in Europe back in 13-14th Century ??

[@JohnBoy973]

Um, no sir.

[@GyulaJentetics]

Legendary people!! 👀👍💖😉

[@chrislackey2170]

A.G Russell knifes i love that place i'm in there at least once a week

[@kevinAuman1]

R.I.P. A.G. Russel

[@xenaswolf]

Great video! Only suggestion would be to lower the music just a little.

[@gretashapiro4118]

Love knives that I cannot afford

[@simonboughen6496]

Im from sheffield england

[@mofomartianp]

12:56 lmao AG Russell knows the deal.

[@curlywolfone]

Texas is the adopted home of the Bowie knife.

[@jpavlvs]

The "Bowie" as we know it is based on the Seax, Museum examples can be found. This is an interesting video on the US making of these knives. Thanks for posting.

[@Nardz024]

Neat

[@jonnygranville281]

Still have my Rambo 2 knife

[@stevenJEDI3]

Rambo John J

[@longrider42]

First off, no one really knows what the "First" Bowie knife looked like. Or what Jim Bowie carried at the Alamo, since that one vanished with out a trace. That being said, I own several large Bowie knives, my favorite one being my Western W49. I carried that on many a hike in Yellowstone National Park. Not for chopping wood, but for self defense if I needed it. After all a Bowie knife is a Weapon, first and foremost.

[@bohofoto6929]

Jimmy and Marilyn Lile were friends of the family.

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

RIP A.G.

[@rickrolledtruth5834]

The knife is that last weapon you learn to master in the military;

[@mikehoare1338]

There should be a nice coffeetable book about the old west / early frontier american knives

[@AGRussellKnivescompany]

Here's a good book - Mountain men tools: russellsformen.com/product/Firearms-Traps-and-Tools-of-the-Mountain-Men--RBK-SHP602

[@longrider42]

@@AGRussellKnivescompany Yep, great book, I've had my copy for many years.

[@Fardawg]

12:48 Guess these guys never heard of the Randall model 18, AKA the real Vietnam era knife that the Rambo knife was modeled after, featuring a hollow handle with survival kit and a compass. The "sawback" was apparently for stuff like hacking your way out of crashed vehicles, not for sawing wood in your back yard.

[@longrider42]

Right, to cut/hack your way out of a crashed chopper or plane. And even I know about Randall knives.

[@JohnBoy973]

Randall was aproached before Lile to make the movie knives, but turned Sly down. They are well aware of Randalls, but the movie knife provided a major boost to the knife industry all together. Randalls never needed that, they currently have a 6 year waiting list!!

[@randytwidwell7418]

Guy in the service will tell you SOG RANDALL AND COUPLE OF OTHERS TEND TO BREAK.

[@edadpops1709]

Armed then, armed still

[@eskee1]

Badass... now Its all about the otf interceptor...

[@jasonlakey]

I have the knife from the Rambo part 2

[@annapeterson5897]

All well and good but no mention of Bill Bagwell and the Hell's Belle or any of his other fine blades. Why?

[@6nosis]

Anna Peterson I was pondering the same thing.... Jerry Fisk learned a lot of the forge welding techniques from Bill...Mr. Bagwell makes the finest Fighting Bowie in the world...God Bless him.

[@jefff8106]

Well most likely those who know Bill know he tends to rub people the wrong way on occasion. Just a thought. Still one of the great bladesmiths of all time. Should have been mentioned in any discussion on bowie knives.

[@rocksandoil2241]

@@jefff8106 Bagwell and Dozier may not win the charm awards for sure... Jimmy Lile? Class act and died too young

[@1pcfred]

@@rocksandoil2241 a few pounds of metal dust in your lungs tends to weigh heavily on folks.

[@chetyllynnverellen1365]

@@1pcfred I've thought of giving knifemaking a try for years but the other day, realized my jobs for the last several years have been grinding. Grinding scrap polypropylene, grinding (sanding disk) steel and aluminum trailer frames prepping for adhesives, etc. I already cough till I turn purple, use 4 qtips, black snot, black uncleanable calluses and cracks in my hands, continuous eye infections, etc. All the more reason to give it a try

[@thelj3279]

💚💚💚!

[@rocksandoil2241]

I met Jimmy Lile while in college in Russellville and couldn't afford the $35 … I shoulda bought it anyway.

[@fathersonsurvival]

Is this tougher than a Buck 124 in 440C?

[@allandavis8201]

It is quite strange that in America, or at least the perception of America, their is a problem with gun crimes, but knife crime seems to be, by comparison to gun crime, very low, but here in the United Kingdom we have, or has become more prevalent recently, a lot of knife crime, but again by comparison, a low gun crime rate. I know our gun crime rate is low or at least lower than in the USA because after a couple of mass shootings the gun laws were tightened up dramatically and so cut the gun crime rate, not completely but so low as to be not headline news, whereas knife crime is on the rise with kids carrying them for protection. Maybe I am wrong and knife crime in the USA is also a problem, but again not headline news worthy. Thanks for sharing this excellent and informative film, very interesting indeed 👍 🇬🇧 I now understand why people collect handmade knives, they might be designed for practical uses, but they can be very beautiful and almost works of art at the same time. Tx.

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

Dj Phantom :- You are essentially correct, but after fire arms, knives are next most likely method of mayhem in the USA., though you are almost 10 x's more likely to be shot than stabbed.

[@danielrenowski9977]

Witam dla mnie noże Bowie znaczą coś więcej,odwagę braterstwo, wolność przyjaciela w chwilach beznadziejnych to taka broń osobista na której można było polegać w chwilach bez szans na przeżycie to Amerykański symbol ludzi wytrwałych i odważnych pozdrawiam Daniel R...

[@joejones9520]

was he fired because of the article and if so, why did that get him fired? what job was he fired from?