Fashions come and go and knives are no exception.
James B. Lile set up his bladesmith workshop in Russellville, Arkansas, in the
1950’s. Capable of making all kinds of knives, he was soon attracted by one in
particular, the survival knife, which he started to produce in a variety of
styles from the 1960s onwards. A pioneer of the genre, he built a solid
reputation for himself particularly in the military.
Ever since John Nelson Cooper, no other
knifemaker has been so solicited by the film industry. When the film Rambo was
being shot, Sylvester Stallone, its star, had to be armed with a combat and
survival knife. Having heard of Jimmy Lile’s talent, the man who would be known
as Rambo asked him to design and manufacture a model that would be unique in
its kind.
Thanks to Jimmy Lile, knifemakers renewed their
contract with the movies kicking off a new and hopefully long collaboration,
with many different craftsmen being asked to produce knives for other films,
starting with Jack Crain for Predator.
The whole world was submerged the survival knife
craze, thanks to the movies. This contributed to the rise in popularity of the
art knife, particularly since Jimmy Lile did not neglect to present a “First Blood” model to the president of
the United States, Ronald Regan.
The name of Jimmy Lile has certainly become a
legend, and although he passed away a few years ago, the man named “Gentleman
Lile” by his peers left behind him other models that are no less famous. Including
a folding model with a completely new and patented blade-blocking system with an
interframe handle.
Whenever this gentleman sold you a knife, he had
the unforgettable particularity of warmly shaking your hand and, looking you
straight in the eyes, pronouncing a “thank you” full of gratitude.
Jimmy Buel Lile was born August 22, 1933, the son
of a coal miner. He made his first knife at he age of eleven by grinding an old
file into a blade. Jimmy Lile passed away on May 5, 1991, at the young age of
57.
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