Lile Next Generation First Blood

Lile, Jimmy

Hi, I’m John Hill, owner of Lile Knives, LLC. Some years ago, I and a former partner purchased all rights to the Lile brand from Marilyn Lile. I have always had the ultimate respect for Marilyn and Jimmy and their products. My goal is to deliver the best custom knife of this type in the world. Our current maker, Vaughn Neeley, is a 37-year, veteran, custom knifemaker. Vaughn uses only the finest materials in the world. Everything is made in his shop with the exception of the compass and twine. They’re all hand-ground, perfectly fitted and finished – custom style. Other people copy Jimmy’s knives, some are okay. We are not the cheapest, but we are the best. Jimmy Lile crafted the legendary First Blood Knife used in Rambo. In honor of his iconic creation, we have continued to produce Jimmy Lile’s knives to the highest standards of custom knife making today. We call these tributes to the Lile legacy, “Next Generation” Lile knives. Jimmy Lile’s life has also been commemorated in our book James B Lile, The Arkansas Knifesmith – Knife Maker to the World. Discussing not only his unique approaches to perfecting his knife designs, the book also gives insight to the upcoming of this amazingly talented knifesmith. Jimmy passed away in 1991.

Neeley, Vaughn

Hinderer, Rick

In the mid 1980’s Rick Hinderer began his knife making journey making art knives in a small 14′ x 18′ turkey coop with none of the modern amenities, like heat or running water! Art knives are a far cry from the tactical scene which Rick is so deeply entrenched in now. Over the years his meticulous attention to knife design and knife making, coupled with his real world experience as a Fire Fighter / EMT sets him apart from the rest. Rick’s design philosophy is deeply rooted in his experience with using his knives as part of his first responder tools. That catalyst of change from art knives to hard use tactical was after Rick joined the rescue dive team. He really began to look at knives and designs more as hard use tactical tools than works of art. Rick began changing over from old world knife making techniques to modern CNC precision manufacturing. With the combination of designing art knives, and his real world experience as a first responder, this unusual perspective allows him to design hard use tactical folders that are not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but extremely comfortable in the hand. All of Rick’s products are engineered to go the distance when it counts the most whether it be when life is on the line, or you just need a good cutting tool! Visit this maker's website: Rick Hinderer Knives.