Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977, but it was only three years earlier in 1974 that Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Gil Hibben got to spend some time with the rock ‘n roll legend.

    Along with Phil Lobred, coordinator of today’s Art Knife Invitational, Hibben gained an audience with Presley and Ed Parker, grand master of American Kenpo karate. It was only for one evening but Hibben and Lobred spent quality time with Elvis talking knives, music and more.

    It was, of course, an evening neither Hibben or Lobred will ever forget.

    Hibben has made knives for Sylvester Stallone in two Rambo movies and two Expendables movies. The second Expendables film, Expendables 2, is in movie theaters nationwide now, and the new knife Hibben made especially for it is the cover piece for the November BLADE®, on newsstands NOW.

    From left above are “The King” striking a pose while holding a Hibben knife, Parker and a young, lean Gil Hibben. Kenpo is spelled incorrectly as “Kempo” in the caption below the picture. I tried to crop it out but as a computer layout artist I am a miserable failure. (photo courtesy of Gil Hibben and Mike Carter)

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