James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Gil Hibben Immortal Knife Dagger, Autographed Limited Collectible | Fantasy Knife of the Year United Cutlery
1 min read
United Cutlery sponsors a Fantasy Knife of the Year series designed by former Alaskan hunting guide Gil Hibben, and this Immortal Knife was 2007’s featured blade. No longer in production, the knife was limited to only 3,000 pieces. Each knife includes a sheath and a Certificate of Authenticity autographed by Hibben, creator of the famous Rambo Bowie.
The Hibben Immortal Knife features a 15-9/16-inch, double-edged willow leaf blade of high carbon 420J2 stainless steel, polished to perfection. The knife’s rat tail tang passes through a chrome-plated cross-guard of solid cast metal and terminates in a matching spiked “skull crusher” pommel. Ornamentation on the cross-guard emphasizes its rectangular shape and contrasts with the spiral hand grip of synthetic amber bone. Three sets of barbs near the base of the blade show the same symmetrically-ground false edges as the main part of the sword. It’s a well-balanced short sword with a very lethal appearance and would make a fine display piece. Each section of the knife shows fine detailing — such as the silvered wire braid inlaid in the spiral grooves of the knife’s grip.
The black stitched leather belt sheath, embossed with fantasy symbols and reinforced with black lacing, also shows the outline of a Gil Hibben Bowie knife on the security strap. No display stand is included with the purchase, but showing off this short sword shouldn’t be a problem. This one’s good enough to keep where people can look at it closely.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
United Cutlery sponsors a Fantasy Knife of the Year series designed by former Alaskan hunting guide Gil Hibben, and this Immortal Knife was 2007’s featured blade. No longer in production, the knife was limited to only 3,000 pieces. Each knife includes a sheath and a Certificate of Authenticity autographed by Hibben, creator of the famous Rambo Bowie.
