Bob “The Axe Man” Hildebrand

Bob “The Axe Man” Hildebrand is the goofiest guy in the marketing department at Airsoft GI. With him in the office, there are no boring moments. It is our blessing that Bob is actually an actor who has been on numerous commercials and a few TV shows. However, Bob feels extremely blessed because a lot of actors and actresses wait tables or work at other jobs that they do not like. Bob is fortunate enough to work at his dream job while pursuing his acting career. To show you what kind of person Bob really is, I have conducted an interview with Bob.

Currently, Bob has a Tokyo Marui M3 spring shotgun. Bob also has a G&G M16A4 which he uses as a designated marksman rifle. He also has a custom CA M4 CQBR as a back up rifle. However, Bob rarely use those 3 guns. In fact, Bob’s main work horses are the KWA KMP9, KWA ATP, KWA 1911 MKII, Nerf Tomahawk and of course, his infamous AXE. According to Bob 25% of his kills in airsoft games are with his Axe. His armor package is as heavy as it looks. Bob has a Guarder CIRAS Plate carrier with a triple m4 pouch which can hold up to 6 magazines, shotgun shell pouch, 2 utilities pouch, dual pistol pouch, an admin pouch, a hydration pouch, a shotgun scabbard on his back, 2 fake SAPI plates, a radio pouch and an integrated shoulder sling. Bob also runs a dump pouch on his belt, 2 G-Code Thigh Platforms and a Pantac weapons catch.

Q&A:

GITV Blog: What does Gangnam Style mean to you?

Bob: When I hear that song, I think of some South Korean guy riding a bull and screaming at a girl’s ass, just like the video. What Gangnam style refers to is an area in Seoul, South Korea named “Gangnam”, which is an overly flashy, really expensive part of town known for its night life. It is a very cool song and the video is a lot of fun to watch, sort of like the new Macarena song. I only wish the singer PSY wasn’t so anti-American.

GITV Blog: How long have you been active in the world of airsoft?

Bob: I have been playing airsoft since 1996, that’s more than a decade and a half. I was one of the few people that participated at Lion Claw I, which was only about 80 players, and in fact I was a squad leader on Col. McKnight’s Alpha team. I knew the field we were playing at exceptionally well because it was the field I grew up playing paintball on right along Poso creek. Part of my job was making sure our command elements (officers, NCOs, and Col. McKnight) knew where the choke points and bunkers on the battlefield were and as well as where the creek would allow us to get behind Bravo team. My local knowledge certainly gave us an advantage, especially during the night games, but it didn’t always work out in our favor.

GITV Blog: What other job did you have before?

Bob: I worked as gas station cashier, a summer camp counselor, a fencing teacher for children as well as adults, product support representative for Califresh Farms (my family’s farm) for about 4 years. I have also been working as a professional actor from 2006 to the present. I have acted in numerous commercials and TV shows, including, Taco Bell, Playboy TV, Re-Max, Hotwire.com, and Manswers from Spike TV. You can also find me in Taken in the birthday party scene near the beginning of the movie. It was actually the last extra gig i ever did.

GITV Blog: What is your favorite Airsoft Gun? (If you have unlimited funding, what would you build?)

Bob: As much as I like AK, I still would love to have an LM4 from KWA, and trick it out as much as possible. I have played airsoft for so long, and over time I realized that Gas Blowback guns are much more realistic than AEGs. The KWA LM4 is the most realistic airsoft gun I have ever used, and I would love to own one and use it for all my airsoft games and operations.

GITV Blog: Did you go “all the way” to acquire an acting job?

Bob: Yes, if they treat me right and if there’s dinner involved, but seriously no.

GITV Blog: Despite your appearance, is it true that only “hot” people can be in commercial and movies?

Bob: Ouch, not true at all. I’ve got a fair few fat friends finding work in the entertainment industry. In fact, I have a slightly overweight friend that just got booked for a national Budlight commercial which is currently on TV and I can tell you from experience that a commercially like that pays VERY well.

GITV Blog: In the Taco Bell Commercial, how did the commercial go?

Bob: It was my first big job and overall it was amazing! The only surprising thing that happened on set was meeting the new girl roommate. I got frustrated that the girl they chose for that commercial was not nearly as attractive (or well prepared) compared to the other 20 girls I auditioned with. There were a number of much hotter girl candidates for the commercial that spoke French but apparently the casting director saw something in this girl that i didn’t because they even had to hire a French dialogue coach just so she could get the accent down. Honestly, I do not know how she even got the job.

Also, I had a chance of eat a lot of steak taquitos from Taco Bell while on the set. They even told me that they had a bucket for actors/actresses to spit out the taquitos if they got sick of them. As excited as I was I told them not to worry because I love taquitos. However, by the time I was eating taquito number 60, I couldn’t take it anymore and I had to spit it out. They were seriously delicious but having to eat the same thing over 100 times in a couple hours made me get bored with tacquitos for a few weeks.

GITV Blog: I heard you were in the movie “Taken” during the “horse scene”, did you cry because you are a guy in the “horse scene”?

Bob: No, I exclaimed. I got happy because I had the chance to meet Liam Neeson. He is one of my favorite actors.

GITV Blog: Did you meet Liam Neeson? Did he threaten to kill you if you look at his daughter funny?

Bob: Yes (no he did not threaten me). But honestly, I just got a handshake from him. He is one of my favorite actors. Famke Janssen was always with her dog and on her phone, so I decided not to bother her.

GITV Blog: To be honest, I have a thing for Maggie Grace, did you meet her? What is she like in real person?

Bob: No. She looked underage at the time so I steered clear. Plus, I usually try not to disturb the lead actors and actresses unless they come over to say hi.

GITV Blog: If you could date any celebrities you want, who would she/he be and why?

Bob: Taylor Swift, just to piss you off. But seriously, Sofia Vergara before she gets off the market. She is quite a bit older than I am, but she’s very beautiful, and she also has the perfect ratio of boobs to butt (think hourglass figure).

GITV Blog: What is in your go-bag for zombie apocalypse or the end of the world situation?

Bob: Well, let see, I would have a machete, duct tape, first aid kit, 3 day supply of food and water, my trusty water balloon launcher, a couple thousand rounds of .22lr, a semi auto .22 rifle, 12 gauge Remington 870 and my 40 cal Springfield XD handgun. Also, I would have my flashlight and my handy dandy call of duty night vision goggles.

GITV Blog: In a Zombie Apocalypse, or an end of the world situation, which gun(s) would you take with you?

Bob: I would take my semi auto Ruger 10/22 and my Benelli semi auto 12 gauge shotgun with me. A 12 gauge shotgun is an all around great weapon. My Benelli is fairly light weight, and I can shoot it fairly quickly. A lot of people think 10/22 does not have enough power; however, for zombie killing it is perfect. It can penetrate one side of the skull and it usually won’t have enough power to go through completely, so it will just bounce around inside the head, guaranteeing a kill. Plus, it is always good to know that I can carry thousands of rounds without having to worry about weight. And it is very quiet.

GITV Blog: Have you had any experience with real firearms?

Bob: I grew up in a farming family, and every since I was ten, I had a gun. I grew up with shotguns, pistols, and bolt action rifles. Ever since I was ten I was very well acquainted with shotguns specifically. My first gun was a Ducks Unlimited 20 gauge pump action shotgun. To this day, I still have it at Bakersfield.

GITV Blog: In a Zombie Apocalypse, or an end of the world situation, which person(s) would you take with you and why? Celebrities included.

Bob: I will fight through Hell on Earth to get to my sister. I love her to death even though she’s a ginger and doesn’t have a soul.

GITV Blog: In a Zombie Apocalypse, or an end of the world situation, which car(s) would you take with you (Money not an issue)? How would you set it up? Why?

Bob: In the perfect world, a 4×4 jeep with a cupola so I can mount a machine gun on it. The gun I would want would be an M240 bravo. In reality, I already have everything I need in my 4 wheel drive SUV. So I don’t have to set up my vehicle except to add a cupola and machine gun mount.

GITV Blog: In a Zombie Apocalypse, or an end of the world situation, where would you go and why?

Bob: I have a good friend who lives in Merced, CA who has one of the biggest ranches I’ve ever had the pleasure of hunting on. He has enough ammo to start his own insurgency if he wanted to and enough food to last at least a few years. There is fish to catch, game to shoot, and shelter to stay warm. His place is as good a place as any to live out the rest of the apocalypse.