The Quest for the Original Rambo Knife

There is no doubt the phenomenal success of the Rambo movie series created a

huge demand for an

original Rambo knife in particular, and customized survival knives in

general. The internet has been flooded with so much sales pages offering access

resellers of so-called "authentic" Rambo survival knives. To avoid being fooled

by scammers, one needs to learn more about the knife in greater detail.

The knife used in First Blood (1982 movie) was designed by famous knife-maker

Jimmy Lile. The original Rambo knife was manufactured by Master Cutlery of 700

Penhorn Avenue, Secaucus, New Jersey in collaboration with the Holywood

Collectibles Group. According to the ‘certificate of authenticity’ published in

the website of the original Rambo knife, there are only 5,000 serial-numbered

units engraved with John J. Rambo’s signature (the exact replica of the one that

appeared in First Blood) that was released in the market. This signature 14-inch

survival knife with a 5-inch handle, 9-inch blade and 0.25-inch thickness, is

now a collector’s item.

However, Master Cutlery still sells the replica original Rambo knife without

the serial number and John Rambo’s signature engraved in the blade. The brand

name RAMBO and ‘First Blood’ are inscribed on the based of the blade just above

the cross guard.

The knife used in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985 movie) is two-toned black

and stainless blade. It is 1.38-inches longer than the first Rambo knife. The

handle is 5.38-inches long, thickness is 0.25-inches and the blade is 10-inches,

or one inch longer than the knife used in First Blood. Aside from the physical

length, the notable difference between the first and the second knives is the

protruding skull crusher of the cap sealing the hollow handle. The crossguard of

both models, which is a regular and Philip’s screw driver on both ends, remained

the same. Only 5,000 serial-numbered John Rambo signature knives of this model

was released by Master Cutlery, although exact replicas without the signature

are massively produced.

The version of the original Rambo knife used in Rambo III is the longer than

the first two models, measuring 18-inches overall length. Its blade is 13-inches

long and its wooden handle is 5-inches. The saw-teeth at the back of the blade

is not as elaborate as the first two models, but the obvious difference is the

hollow line space in the middle of the blade, which is probably as way to reduce

the knife’s weight. This is a rather bulky design for a survival knife, and

concealing it is something next to impossible. Like the first two models, there

are only 5,000 signature replicas released as collector’s item.

The 2008 Rambo knife is more of a story than a parade of exciting utility

found in a perfect survival knife. Well, in the script, John Rambo did the work

of a blacksmith to produce this knife as he battles the tyrant rulers of Burma.

It is also 18-inches long as the original Rambo knife Rambo III knife, and made

of black carbon steel to produce that primitive or classic look. It is more of a

jungle bolo than a survival knife. The designer probably eyed knife collectors

than real-life utility knife users. Also, only 5,000 signature replicas are

manufactured by Master Cutlery.