Jimmy Lile
| James Buel Lile | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 22, 1933 Russellville Pope County, Arkansas, US |
| Died | May 5, 1991 (aged 57) |
| Occupation | Knifemaker, Bladesmith |
| Spouse(s) | Marilyn Mathis |
| Awards | Blade Cutlery Hall of Fame |
James Buel Lile, known as Jimmy Lile or The Arkansas Knifesmith (August 22, 1933 – May 5, 1991), was an American knifemaker from Russellville in Pope County, Arkansas, who made the Rambo Knife for the films First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II. As a knifemaker Lile served as a President of the Knifemakers' Guild and on the Board of Directors of the American Bladesmith Society.
A Russellville native, Lile was the son of a coal miner. He made his first knife at the age of eleven by grinding an old file into a blade. He spent his young adult life working as a high school teacher, serving in the United States Army, and as a construction contractor.
In 1971, Lile became a full-time knifemaker and was known as "Gentleman Lile" or "The Arkansas Knifemaker". He was particularly known for his Survival knife designs known as "The Mission" series, created by request for Sylvester Stallone to use in his first two Rambo movies. These designs would go on to influence other knife makers in the 1980s. In addition to creating the Rambo knives, Lile designed and made several Bowie knives that he presented to Governor Bill Clinton and U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Other owners of his work included John Wayne, Peter Fonda, Fess Parker, Bo Derek, and Johnny Cash.
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