A Truly Elegant Gentleman's Knife from Italy: Fantoni Dweller

Thanks, Stefan. Another great review!
Even your music is top drawer. :thumbup:
 
I love the looks of the Dweller. I considered buying one after watching your review, but I already have the City Knife and the small Chambriard in the same general size.

Thanks again for doing the reviews. I have enjoyed every one you have done and am always looking forward to the next one.
 
Based upon this review, I began researching Fantoni knives, a brand which is new to me.

I found a model, the HB 02, that is a Bill Harsey design. It has pretty much everything I want, including 3-inch, S30V blade. But the reviews are mixed. In particular, the Neptune Knives guy (I know he is controversial here) has a decidedly negative YT review.

Does anyone have long-term experience with that folder? PM me, if you want. These models are very interesting but there is little in the way of reliable hands-on reviews. Thanks.
 
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Always something new & informative in your reviews.

Much food for thought thank you! And a fine looking snack at the end of it....

Regards, Will
 
The blade (not handle) is a direct copy from the Lone Wolf City knife designed by Bob Loveless, not by Fantoni. Fantoni made the knife for Lone Wolf, but it's a Loveless design. He's used that blade shape for a long time.

Looks like Fantoni kept the blade but changed the handle. Too bad they don't give credit to Loveless and claim the design as their own. But then, IMHO, they goobered up a good design with the "new" handle design, maby Loveless wouldn't want his name on this knife.
 
brownshoe said:
The blade (not handle) is a direct copy from the Lone Wolf City knife designed by Bob Loveless, not by Fantoni. Fantoni made the knife for Lone Wolf, but it's a Loveless design. He's used that blade shape for a long time.

Looks like Fantoni kept the blade but changed the handle. Too bad they don't give credit to Loveless and claim the design as their own. But then, IMHO, they goobered up a good design with the "new" handle design, maby Loveless wouldn't want his name on this knife.
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They do give credit in their catalog. The idea behind the handle change is 1. to cover the corner of the back of the knife sticking out when closed and 2. to remove the integral bolster so it can be manufactured cheaper.
 
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Interesting, I have the knife and the corner is not bothersome and "in the tradition." The integral bolster is classy, too bad they dumped it. The Loveless version has jimping on the "wrong side" i.e. edge side, compared to other knives. I asked Lone Wolf why, and they said Loveless wanted it that way since it was optimal for skinning fruit.
 
In their catalog, Fantoni credits 8 other designers, including Bob Loveless. They credit Loveless because they still offer four Loveless designs, including the City Knife. They specifically state that the Dweller is a revised City Knife.
 
Their catalog lists the designer of the Dweller as M. Fantoni, they mention the city knife as the origin of the knife, but don't mention the designer of the blade shape...Bob Loveless. Bob's modified warncliffe has been a classic for many years and it appears to be unmodified in the Dweller.

The other Lone Wolf knives in the catalog have not been available in this country for many years. The steel listed in the Fantoni catalog is not the same as the steel used in the original Lone Wolfe production runs. I've seen a number of Lone Wolfe knives in the US over the years, but all from the initial production.
 
They are not Lone Wolf knives, they are Bob Loveless designs and stated as such in the catalog. Same as the Harsey HB01 and 02 are not Berettas and the Blackie Collins dive knife is not a Gerber. Fantoni was the OEM for them and they are in Italy, with very limited avilability in the US.
 
Not sure what you mean by "They are not Lone Wolf knives". The knife being reviewed is a Fantoni re-do of a Lovelss/Lone Wolf knife. The original city knife, and the other Loveless designs in the Fantoni catalog, Bob designed them for Lone Wolf who contracted with sandavik to develop a special steel for them and contracted with Fantoni to make them. A spyderco designed by Bob Terzuola but made by Moki in Japan is still a spyderco and still a Terzuola.
 
They are not Lone Wolf knives because they are Loveless knives. They are not Lone Wolf knives because they are not Lone Wolf knives. Lone Wolf, a Benchmade brand, is not selling these knives. http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_list.aspx?page=0&category=54&sort_order=2

A Bob T knife is a Bob T knife, which can be made by Moki and sold as a Spyderco, but it is a Bob T design. Speaking of Terzuola, his CQB series has been sold as Meyerco, Camillus, and Gryphon. So, which manufacturer lays total claim to it? None of them do. Darrel Ralph is not making custom or mid-tech versions of Camillus Mad Maxx's, they are his designs. The HTM folders are mid-tech Ralph designs, not mid-tech Meyercos.
 
You are incorrect about Lone Wolf's history. Lone Wolf was an independent company before they were bought out by Benchmade. Their first knives were designed by Loveless, contracted to Fantoni, and built with special steel created by Sandavick with Loveless for Lone Wolf. It was a deisgn, materials and fabrication "special event" to launch the new company. IIRC this series of knives was Loveless's last production company collaboration and the first time for the city knife desgin as a production knife. The city knife design existed as a Loveless straight knife, but IIRC this is the Lone Wolf version was the first as a slipjoint. It was quite popular for Lone Wolf and was released in different handle materials and as a "canvas" for customization by others.

Sure you're right, it is a Loveless design, but concerning the knife in this review, the blade of the "Fantoni" design is clearly a direct rip-off of the Loveless city knife and they don't give credit where it is due.
 
I just ordered on of these with micarta scales. I've been looking for a knife in 19c27 or its analogs (cts bd1, mbs26) and seei g this video made look for one and buy it. Ive been impressed by fantoni fod a while because of their hest treat, its one oc the best in production knives along side microtech anx this knife isn't any different. They run 19c27 at 61-62 hrc which is perfect for that steel, should be a great edge holder and take a very keen edge. It also looks to be ground rather thin which is another bonus, well done Fantoni. I wish more companies made their knives like Fantoni and microtech do, ran nice and hard and ground rather thin. I know why they don't but I wish they picked one or the other instead of doing both. Id prefer a bettef heat treat, you can regrind a knife but its very hard to change its hardness.
Just my 2 pennies.
 
David Boye used the design and paid to do so as I understand. It was expensive for such a small knife so they were probably paying per knife unit sold.
 
FWO said:
David Boye used the design and paid to do so as I understand. It was expensive for such a small knife so they were probably paying per knife unit sold.
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Can you point me to a picture of the David Boye knife that is based upon this design? The only folders of his that I know of are his own design. Thanks.
 
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