Rambo Part One Knife — First Blood Hand-Forged Survival Blade

Rambo Part One Knife — First Blood Hand-Forged Survival Blade with Full-Tang 5160 Spring Steel and Leather-Wrapped Handle

The Rambo Part One knife (also known as the First Blood knife) hand-forged in Kathmandu, Nepal from 5160 high carbon spring steel reclaimed from truck leaf springs. 10.5-inch blade in the iconic 1982 First Blood survival design — clip-point Bowie profile, leather-wrapped metal handle, full-tang construction, hand-stitched leather scabbard with optional matched colour. Inspired by Jimmy Lile's original First Blood survival knife, rebuilt as a modern full-tang working blade. Matched scabbard and handle wrap colours, free engraving up to 30 characters. Worldwide shipping via DHL Express & FedEx International. 30-day satisfaction guarantee. 6-month warranty.

The Rambo Part One knife is the original Rambo blade — the survival knife John Rambo carried in First Blood (1982), the film that launched the franchise and defined the modern survival-knife genre. Designed by Arkansas master knifemaker Jimmy Lile, the original featured a hollow handle packed with survival kit, a sawback spine, and a 9-inch clip-point Bowie blade in 440C stainless steel. It became the most influential survival knife of the 20th century — copied by every major knife brand within five years of the film's release.

This Everest Forge Part One knife is a hand-forged tribute to that 1982 design, built in our Kathmandu workshop from 5160 high carbon spring steel reclaimed from real truck leaf springs — the same battle-grade material we use for our combat Roman gladii and Viking swords. Water-tempered for the right balance of edge retention and impact strength. Leather-wrapped metal handle for a secure, classic survival-knife grip. Hand-stitched leather scabbard. The 10.5-inch blade is slightly longer than Lile's original 9 inches — a deliberate choice that gives the blade more chopping reach and a more substantial presence in the hand without losing the recognisable First Blood silhouette.

Unofficial hand-forged Rambo Part One tribute knife. Not affiliated with Lions Gate Entertainment, MGM, StudioCanal, Sylvester Stallone, the Jimmy Lile estate, Hibben Knives, Gil Hibben, Master Cutlery, United Cutlery, or any film studio or licensed knifemaker. Inspired by the design language of the 1982 First Blood survival knife for collectors and survival enthusiasts seeking a real hand-forged version.

Hand-Forged vs Original Lile Design — What's the Same, What's Different

Honest comparison matters. The 1982 Jimmy Lile First Blood knife was a specific design with specific construction choices. Our hand-forged tribute keeps the iconic First Blood silhouette while making targeted improvements based on 40+ years of survival-knife evolution. Here's what's faithful to the original and what we changed.

What's the same: The clip-point Bowie blade profile. The overall survival-knife visual language. The leather-wrapped handle aesthetic. The hand-stitched leather scabbard. The "Rambo Part One" silhouette that anyone who has seen First Blood recognises instantly.

What's different (and why):

• Full tang construction instead of hollow handle. The original Lile design used a hollow aluminium tube handle that stored a survival kit inside — matches, fishing line, a compass in the butt cap. It was a brilliant idea for 1982, but the hollow handle is structurally weaker than full tang under heavy chopping or batoning loads. Our version is full tang — the 5160 steel runs from blade tip to handle butt as a single unbroken piece, and the leather wrap covers a steel core. You lose the survival kit storage; you gain a knife that won't break under hard use. Modern survival knife philosophy generally favours full tang for this reason.
• 5160 high carbon spring steel instead of 440C stainless. Lile chose 440C specifically for rust resistance in jungle conditions. We chose 5160 because it's tougher under chopping and batoning — the same steel used in our combat swords. Trade-off: 5160 will surface-rust if neglected; 440C will not. Anyone who actually uses a survival knife oils it as a matter of habit, so this trade-off favours real users.
• 10.5-inch blade instead of 9 inches. The slightly longer blade gives more chopping reach and a more substantial presence — popular among buyers who want the iconic look at a slightly larger scale. The First Blood silhouette is preserved.
• No sawback spine. Lile's original had serrated sawback teeth. Ours has a smooth strong spine. The sawback was always more useful for the survival aesthetic than for actual sawing — the tooth geometry is wrong for cutting wood. We optimised for blade strength and clean batoning over decorative serrations. More on this in our Rambo Blade Guide.
• No compass. Lile mounted a compass in the hollow aluminium butt cap. Our full-tang construction doesn't have a hollow butt to mount a compass. If a built-in compass is essential for your use case, the licensed United Cutlery / Master Cutlery First Blood reproductions retain this feature. If you want the iconic look in real hand-forged steel, this is the right knife.

For collectors who want the 1982 hollow-handle design 100% faithful to Lile's specifications, look at the licensed Master Cutlery First Blood reproductions ($200–$600 range). For a real working hand-forged knife in the First Blood design language built to outlast the original by decades, this is the right tier.

What Makes This Hand-Forged First Blood Knife Different

The First Blood knife market today is crowded. Amazon and BUDK sell licensed United Cutlery / Master Cutlery factory replicas in the $80–$200 range — these accurately reproduce Lile's 1982 hollow-handle design and include the compass and survival kit, but they're machine-finished display pieces with cast or stamped components, often in 7Cr17 stainless. Pakistani makers flood eBay and Etsy with generic "First Blood Bowies" in unspecified Damascus-pattern steel of inconsistent quality. Cheap Chinese stainless replicas at $30–$80 are stamped, glued, and vinyl-wrapped — pure costume pieces.

This Rambo Part One knife is in a different category. Hand-forged from a single billet of 5160 high carbon spring steel reclaimed from a truck leaf spring — the same battle-grade steel we use for our combat swords. The full tang is drawn from the same billet. Water-tempered for edge hardness and impact resistance. The metal core of the handle is wrapped in real leather, hand-stitched and pinned. The scabbard is hand-stitched leather with reinforced corners and belt loops. Nothing is stamped, cast, or laser-cut.

Hand-forged 5160 spring steel knives sit in a different price bracket than factory replicas because they're built to be used and to last decades. Buyers who want the 1982 Lile design 100% faithful with built-in compass will prefer the licensed reproductions. Buyers who want a real working hand-forged survival knife in the First Blood design language will appreciate this.

Product Specifications

Customise Your Rambo Part One Knife

Every Rambo Part One knife is hand-forged to order in our Kathmandu workshop. Specify your customisations in the order notes at checkout.

The 4-Step Forging Process

What's Included

• Hand-forged Rambo Part One knife in your chosen blade finish and matched leather colour
• Hand-stitched leather scabbard with belt loops and securing strap (matched to handle wrap)
• Free engraving if requested in your order notes (up to 30 characters)
• Care and maintenance guide with oiling instructions for blade and leather
• Certificate of origin identifying the Kathmandu workshop and date of forging
• Worldwide tracked shipping via DHL Express or FedEx International
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee — not happy, return for refund or rebuild
• 6-month craftsmanship warranty covering forging or fitting defects

Shipping, Returns & Warranty

Processing. Every Rambo Part One knife is made to order. Forging and finishing takes 3–5 business days from order confirmation. Custom engraving may add 2–3 days.

Shipping. Worldwide via DHL Express and FedEx International with full tracking. Transit time 5–10 business days depending on country. Total time from order to delivery is typically 8–15 business days. Some countries restrict the import of fixed-blade knives — check local laws before ordering.

Returns. Not satisfied? Return within 30 days for full refund or free re-build to different specifications. We cover return shipping for craftsmanship defects.

Warranty. 6-month craftsmanship warranty against forging defects, handle separation, or scabbard failure under normal use. Edge damage from misuse, rust from neglect, and damage from non-cutting impacts are not covered. Full terms in our FAQ page.

Care & Maintenance

Oil the blade regularly. 5160 carbon steel will surface-rust if neglected. Wipe with mineral oil, gun oil, or food-grade camellia oil after every use and once a month during storage.

Care for the leather. Condition both the handle wrap and scabbard with leather balm or beeswax every 3–6 months to prevent drying and cracking. The handle wrap can be re-applied over decades as it wears.

Sharpen with a whetstone. 1000/3000 grit at a 20–25 degree angle on the cutting edge.

Store properly. Sheathed in the leather scabbard or on a display stand. Avoid humid environments. A small silica gel packet inside the scabbard helps in damp climates.

Frequently Asked Questions