Entry No. 36 — the Louisville file — filed under: knifemaking
Hibben Knives
Legendary knifemaker Gil Hibben—weapon designer for Rambo III and official armorer of Star Trek's Klingon Empire—hosts intensive knifemaking classes with his sons.
The story
You wouldn't expect the man who designed Rambo's survival knife and forged blades for the Klingon Empire to be running a quiet shop off a rural lane in Oldham County. But Gil Hibben—former President of the Knifemakers' Guild and the custom bladesmith responsible for the weapon Sylvester Stallone swung in Rambo III—works right out of LaGrange, Kentucky.
Instead of keeping his techniques behind closed doors, Gil and his sons host hands-on bladesmithing workshops directly in the family shop on Winters Lane. This isn't a gift shop with a demonstration window; it's an operational metalworking facility where raw steel stock is cut, shaped, hardened, and fitted into working custom blades.
Spending a day here strips away any Hollywood romanticism about metalwork. You learn the real physics of heat-treatment, the muscle memory required for freehand blade grinding, and the patience needed to stitch a fitted leather sheath. By the time you leave, you'll never look at a piece of folded steel or an edge tool quite the same way.
What it's like
Expect a dirty, loud, fully functioning shop environment filled with metal band saws, heavy belt grinders, forge heat, and the smell of hot steel and leather. You will be doing the heavy lifting yourself under direct instruction—operating band saws, freehand grinding blade bevels, heat-treating metal, and hand-stitching your own leather sheath. Wear closed-toe work boots, fitted clothes you don't mind coating in iron dust, and prepare for a physically demanding day.
The move: Spend time in a master bladesmith shop operating metal band saws, freehand grinding blades, heat-treating steel, and hand-stitching leather sheaths to craft a custom working knife.
- 📍 LaGrange
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2914 Winters Ln, LaGrange, KY 40031
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Kaviar Forge & Gallery — Follow up a workshop in precision blade grinding with a visit to Craig Kaviar's Clifton forge to see heavy WWII air hammers in action.
- Urban Astronomy Center — Trade the high heat and flying sparks of metal grinders for deep-space stargazing out of a historic root cellar observatory in Lyndon.
- KULLI Atelier — Balance out a day spent smelling burnt shop steel and leather dye by formulating a custom fragrance at Mellwood Art Center.
Good to know
Where is the Hibben Knives shop located?
The shop sits at 2914 Winters Ln in LaGrange, Kentucky, roughly a half-hour drive northeast of Louisville.
What movie and television props is Gil Hibben known for?
Gil Hibben designed the iconic custom knife used in Rambo III and served as the official weapon designer/armorer for the Klingon Empire blades in Star Trek.
Do I need prior metalworking experience to take a knifemaking class?
No. The intro workshops are designed to walk beginners step-by-step through metal sawing, freehand grinding, heat-treatment, and leather sheath crafting.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21