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 Recon Knife HTF | United Cutlery Hunting Tactical Drop Point Fixed Blade
1 min read
Master Knife Maker Gil Hibben’s HTF Recon Knife, produced by United Cutlery, intends to cover both the tactical needs and hunting needs of any owner. Much less fanciful than some of Hibben’s creations, the HTF Recon still has the trademark flair of a Hibben knife and does manage to be practical.
The HTF Recon isn’t a minimal hunter/skinner. Mr. Hibben worked in Alaska as a big game hunting guide for several years, and the experience shows in this 10-inch-long heavy hunting knife with 5-1/4-inch blade. It certainly has the heft needed for big game. The drop point blade has an exaggerated convex cutting edge well designed for slicing and skinning and a jimped section on the blade’s spine for thumb pressure. The tactical aspect of the knife is a little harder to detect. The drop point features a false upper edge for better penetration, and the oversized dropped bolster and heel could be as much punching weapon as grip insurance. The grip design keeps fingers inside the guard — a concept not always standard with Hibben designs. Capping off the rat tail tang with a steel hex nut makes the knife a good striker as well as cutter.
The Recon is a knife you’d be proud to show off around the campfire or display at home with a high polish on the 420 J2 high carbon stainless steel and a finely detailed laminated wood grip. That’s a little shiny for a tactical knife. This is actually much more a hunter’s knife than a recon weapon. Even though the 420 steel will need some loving upkeep to stay razor sharp, it’s a knife to treasure.
The HTF Recon comes with a custom fitted belt sheath of top grain leather.
Gil Hibben also designed a larger hunting blade, the Alaskan Survival Knife. Although it’s a little unusual for a hunter/skinner, you may like it.
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.
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Master Knife Maker Gil Hibben’s HTF Recon Knife, produced by United Cutlery, intends to cover both the tactical needs and hunting needs of any owner. Much less fanciful than some of Hibben’s creations, the HTF Recon still has the trademark flair of a Hibben knife and does manage to be practical.
