This is a Samurai Sword made by Jimmy Lile. Very rare and one of only two made. The blade is 18-1/4" long wtih an overall length just over 23". Script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile - No. 1 - Aug 1975".

A very rare Tanto / Short Sword made by Jimmy Lile. Blade length is 6-3/8" with the overall length at 11-3/8". Removal of the pin releases the handle -- the hidden tang is stamped LILE and 4.

Three very early Lile Cleaver / Mule Skinners. Two of the handles are osage orange wood (bois d'arc), and one is black micarta. All three bear the "Handmade by James B. Lile" script signature.

Here is another rare Lile "Deerslayer" with a 6-7/8" script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile" blade. Overall length of this beast is a hair under 12-3/4" -- these models are a handful as they're made from 1/4" stock.

This is a heavy-bladed Lile Cleaver. The blade measures 7" long -- the knife is fitted with a single brass hilt and pinned black micarta handle drilled for lanyard.

This is a really neat knife that I know next to nothing about. I've no clue if it's a special order model, some type of prototype hunter / elk knife, or a very early diver. What I do know is this: the knife is 100% "right" as it was given to the late Tom Clinton by Jimmy himself.

This is another knife with a unique / non catalog blade grind made in the late 1960's. The knife has a 6-1/4" blade, double brass fighting hilt, and black micarta handle with brass pins. It could be some type of a custom fighter... I'm not sure.

This is a super nice, early 1970's Lile model 2 with a 5" blade, brass hilt, fingered cocobolo wood handle, and brass butt cap. The blade is script signed, "Hand Made by James B. Lile" -- the knife is unused with original edges. The previous owner purchased this knife from Lile Handmade Knives at the BLADE SHOW in 1998

This is a new addition recently purchased from the original owner that I'm proud to have in my collection. It's a very lightly used Lile model 2 that was originally purchased from Jimmy at a knife show in the late 1960's or early 1970's

This is a very early Lile Model 4 with a 4" blade, brass hilt, and shallow cut fingered stag handle. A brass thong has been installed in the butt end of the stag. The blade is script signed "Hand Made By James B. Lile - 1968 - 1 Only"

This is really nice Lile Model 4 with "Hand Made By James B. Lile" script signature. The knife has a 4-5/8" blade which is unusual for this model. (normally 4") The knife is fitted with a brass hilt, red and brass spacers and gorgeous crown stag handle. (note: sheath shown is not correct as it belongs with a Lile Model 18 Alaskan Skinner)

This is a Lile Model 6 with a script signed 6" blade, single brass hilt, fingered walnut handle, and a brass butt cap. This is a great all-around hunting knife first offered in the 1969 catalog. The knife is paired with a very rare sheath with attached side stone pocket.

Lile Regular 7 / Lile Script / All Metal
This is a very early Lile "All Metal" Regular 7 with a "Lile" script signed blade. The blade is 3-1/2" long -- overall length is 7-3/4". The knife has not been used or resharpened -- excellent condition with a few light handling marks on both sides of the handle.

This is one of the earliest Lile Regular 7 Interframe knives I've seen -- script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile" on the front, and engraved "Prototype 1972" on the back. The knife is has an Elepant ivory handle -- the blade is 3-1/2" long and the overall length of the knife is 7-1/2".

This is an early Lile Regular 7 Interframe with the "Lile" etched blade and Elephant ivory handle. The blade is 2-3/4" long -- overall length is 7-1/2". The knife has not been used or resharpened -- near mint to mint condition.

This is an early Lile Regular 7 Interframe with the "Hand Made by James B. Lile" etched blade and Elephant ivory handle. The blade is 3" long -- overall length is 7-1/2". The knife has not been used or resharpened

This is another early Lile Regular 7 fitted with a single brass hilt, brass pins, and Elephant ivory slabs drilled and lined for a lanyard. The blade is 4" long and script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile". Overall length is 8-5/8"

This is a rare late 1960's Lile Regular 7 with the early "James B. Lile" script signed blade. This knife was made with a 4-1/4" blade and pinned stag handle -- note the large brass pins and lack of a hilt -- it's a very neat and unique in this regard.

This is a Lile Regular 7 with the "Hand Made by James B. Lile" script signed blade. This knife was made with a 4" blade and pinned stag handle that is drilled but not lined for a lanyard.

This is a really cool combination consisting of an early Lile Regular 7 and tooled ambidextrous pouch sheath. The sheath is sterile (unmarked), and I have no clue who did the tooling.

This is a very early Lile Regular 7 fitted with a single brass hilt, brass pins, and black micarta slabbed handle drilled but not lined for a lanyard. The blade is 4" long and has the "James B. Lile" script signature on one side with "Walter L. Irwin" engraved on the reverse. Overall length is 8-1/2"

Two Lile Regular 7's -- one with the LILE stamped blade and one with the "Hand Made by James B. Lile" script signature. Both blades are 3-1/8" long -- overall length of each knife is 7-1/2"

This is one of my favorite post-1976 or "stamped" knives -- an absolute beauty fitted with a silver hilt, silver pins and Elephant ivory handle. The hilt and pins were engraved by James Stewart

This is a very early Lile Big 7 with a rare clip point Bowie-style blade. The knife has a 3-13/16" blade, brass hilt / brass 2-piece pins, and wood handle drilled and lined for a lanyard.

This is another early Lile Big 7 with a rare clip point Bowie-style blade. The knife has a 3-13/16" blade, brass hilt / brass 2-piece pins, and micarta handle drilled and lined for a lanyard.

This is a Lile Big 7 drop point with a 4" blade, brass hilt / brass 2-piece pins, and black micarta handle drilled and lined for a lanyard. The knife has not been used and has its original edge

This is a Lile Big 7 drop point with a 3-3/4" blade, brass hilt / brass 2-piece pins, and walnut (or possibly maple) handle drilled and lined for a lanyard. The knife has not been used and has its original edge

This is a Lile Big 7 drop point with a 3-3/4" blade, brass hilt / brass pins, and elephant ivory handle drilled and lined for a lanyard. The knife has not been used and has its original edge

This is an interesting Lile Big 7 drop point with a 3-15/16" blade, brass hilt / 2-piece brass pins, and jet black handle slabs drilled and lined for a lanyard. To this day, I'm still guessing as to what the handle slabs are made of -- quite possibly fiberglass.

This is an awesome "1-Only" Lile Big 7 with a 3-7/8" narrow blade, brass hilt / 2-piece brass pins, and custom / special order brown fiberglass handle slabs drilled and lined for a lanyard.

This is an early Lile Big 7 with a 3-3/4" script signed blade, engraved brass hilt and pins, and carved ivory micarta slabs. The knife has it's original edge and has not been used or resharpened -- Jimmy made this one with a tapering tang and red tang liners.

This is a nice looking Lile Big 7 scrimmed and engraved in 1976 by someone with the initials "JMK". The knife has a 3-7/8" blade -- overall length of the knife is 8-3/8".

This is a fantastic Lile Big 7 scrimmed and engraved by James Stewart. The knife has a 4" blade -- overall length of the knife is exactly 8-1/2". The knife has a nickel silver hilt and pins -- vintage Westinghouse micarta slabs over a tapered tang with black tang liners.

This is a 10 knife set (5 fixed blade / 5 large lockback folders) made in 1972 for the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. I've no clue how many sets were completed -- each piece in this set is script signed with the serial number 03 of 50.

This is a Lile "Companion Pair" consisting of a Regular #7 & Model #8. Both knives are fitted with brass hilts and black micarta handles with old style brass rivets.

This is a Lile "Companion Pair" consisting of a Regular #7 & Model #8. The Regular 7 has a nickel silver hilt, stag slabs and nickel pins -- the Model 8 has a brass hilt, stag slabs and brass pins.

This is a very early model 8 -- late 60's to very early 70's. Jimmy made the knife with a D2 tool steel blade, brass hilt, walnut slabs, and a brass butt cap drilled for a lanyard.

This is an old pair of Lile model 8's with brass furniture and pinned black micarta handles drilled (unlined) for lanyard. The blades are both script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile"

This is a pair of interframe model 8's -- one script signed "Lile" with ebony handle, and one LILE stamped with an Elephant ivory handle. Neither of the knives have been used or resharpened and both are pretty much mint.

This is a Lile model 9 Elk Knife made in 1968. The knife has a 6.5" blade of 1/4" stock, single brass hilt, gorgeous stag slabs, and a brass butt cap. The label on the handle was written by Marilyn and reads, "1968 Elk Model - Springdale Knife".

This is a rare example of a Lile Model 10, which the Lile catalog states is "a scaled down version of the Lile Bowie". The knife has a 7" blade, single brass hilt, fingered stag handle, and silver butt cap.

This is a really neat model 12 with custom deep choil. This knife has 4.75" blade, reduced brass hilt, and pinned black micarta handle. Beautiful grind lines on a blade that is script signed "Hand Made By James B. Lile".

Like the knife above, this is an early Lile model 12 with the engraved "Hand Made by James B. Lile" script signature. This model 12 has a 4-3/4" blade, brass hilt, and black micarta slabbed handle with brass pins.

From the first Lile Catalog: 7" blade of 3/16" stock. Hollow brass handle for storage, waterproof butt cap, and double brass guard are standard. Back (of blade) is sharpened approximately 3". Raised lug on back of blade for hammering.

This is pair of Lile Model 18 Alaskan Skinners. One knife is fitted with a brass hilt and fingered stag -- blade with the solo "James B. Lile" script signature. The other knife has a brass hilt and crown stag.

Here are a couple of very early skinners made by Jimmy back in the 1960's. The blades have serial numbers below the script signatures -- a method of serializing knives that the Lile's did away with as it was too time consuming / labor intensive.

This is a beautiful example of an early Lile Model 19. This knife has a 5-1/2" blade, brass hilt and very thick stag handle. The blade bears the "Hand Made By James B. Lile" script signature -- the stag handle is fabulous.

This is a great example of a post-1976 Lile Model 19. This knife has a 5-1/2" blade, single brass hilt, and an exceptionally thick stag handle. The LILE stamp is on the ricasso -- the knife has not been used or resharpened.

This is a neat old Lile Chute Knife that has obviously been carried a good bit. It's certainly not perfect, but... it sure has some character. The blade is a hair over 4-1/2" long -- script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile".

Two extremely nice Lile semi-skinners with original sheaths. One walnut and one stag -- both knives are in unused / near mint condition. The walnut handled knife has a blade that is 3-3/8" long -- the stag handled knife with a blade that measures 3-1/2" long.

Jimmy made this one way back when and I'm not sure what the hell he intended it for. If only knives could talk. This one looks to be some type of carving or kitchen utility knife -- mostly flat edge that sure would look good slicing through pie on Thanksgiving day.

Some knives / sets just stand head and shoulders above the rest, and this is one such set. Both pieces in this Companion Pair are drop dead gorgeous with flawless elephant ivory slabs.

Here are four very early belt / boot / utility knives. All are a bit different -- they're quite unique due to the fact that they were never sharpened! All bear the early "Lile" script signature that dates back to 1968.

Ok... here's one set I can comfortably say you're not going to see anywhere else. This is a set of 6 steak knives with antler handles made by Jimmy and given to Marilyn as a gift.

These are three L1 "Backpacker" prototypes with different blade grinds. There are a couple of stickers on one of the knives that say "Not For Sale" and "Prototype 4-Set" -- apparently, this was originally a four knife prototype set. No clue where the fourth knife snuck off to -- hopefully it's here and not in someone else's collection!

This is a Lile L1 "Skeleton" Backpacker knife -- all steel. The blade is 3" long -- overall length is a hair over 7.5". The knife has the LILE stamp and is in mint condition.

This is a Lile L1 Backpacker knife with a unique blade grind and fingered wood handle with lined lanyard hole. The blade is stamped LILE -- the knife has not been used or resharpened. One wood slab is chipped at the lanyard hole, and the blade has some pitting on one side.

This is a fabulous English-style Bowie knife with a polished 6" blade, polished hilt, and beautiful Mother of Pearl handle. LILE stamped on the ricasso -- the top of the blade has been file worked between the hilt and clip bevel.

Another Lile small English-style Bowie knife. This knife has a 6" blade with full length pinned Elephant ivory scales -- the knife measures out just a hair under 10". The hilt is engraved all the way around -- there's also a relief floral enraving on the ricasso opposite side of the LILE stamp.

This is a small English-style Bowie knife. This knife has a 6" blade with pinned Elephant ivory scales -- overall length is a hair under 10". The blade is engraved on one side -- Jimmy polished the hilt, bolsters and butt cap.

Well documented on pages 114 and 115 in the book, "James B. Lile - The Arkansas Knifesmith", this set is considered to be one of the most valuable and prestigious of any of the Jimmy Lile Commemoratives offered for sale. They were 5 years in the planning and making -- deliveries began in 1976.

This is a really neat boot knife I just picked up -- the owner passed away and his brother was selling some of the knives. The original owner had written notes about this knife -- the story goes like this: this boot knife was purchased from Jimmy at a show in Texas in 1979.

This is a Lile boot knife with a 6" blade, engraved nickel hilt, and pinned elephant ivory "coffin" handle. The knife is stamped LILE on the ricasso and is paired with a very rare boot / concealment sheath made by Jim Buffaloe. Mint condition -- it's a fabulous piece.

This is a Lile boot knife with a 6" blade, nickel silver hilt, and pinned elephant ivory "coffin" handle. The knife is stamped LILE on the ricasso and is paired with a very rare boot / concealment sheath made by Jim Buffaloe. Mint condition.

Another very cool old mid-length boot / concealment knife made by Jimmy back in the 1974. The blade is 5" long and script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile - 1974" -- overall length of the knife is a hair over 9"..

This is a knife that was made in the Lile shop but not necessarily by Jimmy Lile. The double-edged blade is script signed "Made In Lile Shop" -- I've seen a couple of these in the past but I can't imagine many of these "shop made" knives exist..

This is a fantastic little 4" boot knife that has been embellished by James Stewart. Jim did the work in 1980 -- one side of the Westinghouse micarta handle has been scrimmed with a horse drawn cart / paddle wheel ship scene..

This is a boot knife made by Jimmy in the late 60's or early 70's. This script pre-dates the more common "Hand Made by James B. Lile" signature, and was made years before they ever started stamping blades..

This is early model 22 boot knife with a flat sided stag handle and script signed blade. The script is unique in that it reads "Handmade by James B. Lile" vs. the typical "Hand Made by James B. Lile"..

This is a trio of early script signed boot knives with different builds. None of these knives have ever been carried -- all three have original edges and have not been resharpened.

This is really neat old short-bladed Lile boot knife with "Hand Made by James B. Lile" script signed blade. The blade is 3-3/4" -- the hilt appears to be nickel silver.

This is an early #22 Lile Boot Model first introduced in the 1971 "Red, White & Blue" catalog. These boot knives were originally offered with either a single or double edge with ivory or wood handles.

This is an early #22 Lile Boot first introduced in the 1971 "Red, White & Blue" catalog. These boot knives were originally offered with either a single or double edge with ivory or wood handles.

This is one of a few knives I have in my collection that was scrimmed by Jim Laymon. Jim did a little bit of work for Jimmy back in the early to mid-1970's -- this piece is really neat with some type of mythical dragon scrimmed on one side.

This is a double-edged interframe boot knife scrimmed by Jim Laymon. The knife has a 3-1/2" blade -- overall length is 7-1/4".

This is a unique interframe boot knife with a 5" double-edged blade that is script signed "Hand Made by James B. Lile". I'm assuming this was some type of special order -- the initials "DWJ" scrimmed on one side of the elephant ivory handle.

This is a very interesting double-edged Big 7 / boot knife hybrid with a script signed 3-3/4" blade, shortened double brass hilt, and walnut handle with large 2-piece Loveless-style fasteners.

This is a very early Lile "All Steel" Skeleton knife that, based on the engraved "Lile" signature, was made in the late 1960's. I'm not sure if this was a prototype / experimental grind of some sort, or just something Jimmy put together on a long, rainy Russellville afternoon.

This is an "All Steel" bird & trout knife made by Jimmy back in 1972 or 1973. As per the letter that accompanies this knife, Jimmy made about four each of these knives in three different blade grinds.

This is an "All Steel" bird & trout knife made by Jimmy at some point after 1975. The knife has a clip point blade that is stamped "LILE" -- unused with it's original edge. The sheath is the original and made by Galco.

This is a matching pair of "All Steel" bird & trout knives made by Jimmy at some point after 1975. Both knives have similar blade grinds and are stamped "LILE" -- both are unused with original edges.