Anybody know who's running the Loveless workshop?

[Kevin Wilkins]

I just visited the Loveless knives website and they seem to be offering knives for sale starting at around $2000. Nothing in stock but it will be made to order. Really? By whom? No info on the site, postal address is R.W. Loveless and a Riverside, CA PO Box. I know Loveless has been gone a while now and I believe Jim Merritt has also passed away. Does anybody know who's running the site? Seems odd that they are showing pics of older knives actually made by Loveless without ever mentioning that he's dead or saying who or how any knife you were to order today would ever be made and actually delivered.

 

[Win Heger]

I'll give you my take on it. It's not a continuation of Bob and Jim, it's a relative of Bob's that just took over. I have no idea who is making the knives, they are etched Loveless Knives instead of Loveless Maker. They are not considered real Loveless, merely someone using his patterns, exploiting his name. I don't think the knives are being bought by true Loveless collectors, Bob's knives still hold their value. On Loveless pages that I follow I never see these knives mentioned.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Strange. Honestly, it kind of looks like a scam website. Copyright date is old. And no real street address or contact person. I wonder who answers the phone if you call? Bob Loveless is one of the most famous and influential of all modern knifemakers. It seems like he deserves more than that website.

 

[Jsega51]

I'll give you my take on it. It's not a continuation of Bob and Jim, it's a relative of Bob's that just took over. I have no idea who is making the knives, they are etched Loveless Knives instead of Loveless Maker. They are not considered real Loveless, merely someone using his patterns, exploiting his name. I don't think the knives are being bought by true Loveless collectors, Bob's knives still hold their value. On Loveless pages that I follow I never see these knives mentioned.

I have a semi skinner marked with the “knives” stamp but it was confirmed by Jim that he made it so it kind of stinks that with the same etch on these newer knives there’s no way to tell them apart. I believe the stamp changed after Bob passed so who knows how many Jim made before retiring himself?

 

[SharpByCoop]

Russell Klaehn has been runiing the business for the past five years. He isn't a scammer and is a VERY personable person. Yes, he's a relative (I forget exactly).

I have not seen the work he is producing, yet he has FULL access to the shop tools. OG Loveless patterns and machines. This is a second job for him and he travels 2 hours to get to the shop.

I wish him well, yet your queries are valid. Reach out?


Coop

 

[DeadPineKnives]

It's Bob's sister's nephew or something to that effect, a not-quite-direct but still respectable relation. I've spoken to him on Instagram a few times, nice guy.

He told me the website isn't updated due to the large amount of money involved in the upkeep

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Russell Klaehn has been runiing the business for the past five years. He isn't a scammer and is a VERY personable person. Yes, he's a relative (I forget exactly).

I have not seen the work he is producing, yet he has FULL access to the shop tools. OG Loveless patterns and machines. This is a second job for him and he travels 2 hours to get to the shop.

I wish him well, yet your queries are valid. Reach out?


Coop

Thanks for the info Coop. I think it was Garrison Kieler who said "Sleeping in the garage doesn't make you a mechanic." Loveless' shop and tools are nothing without the knowledge and experience to use them the way Loveless did. If Mr. Klaehn is stepping into Loveless and Merritt's shoes he should really introduce himself on the website and make that all clear to potential customers. When you're selling a fixed blade for between $2000 and $5000 customers want to know exactly what they're buying. And have a right to know, too. And at those prices, there should be enough money left over to maintain a website. IMO the website that's up now is damaging the Loveless brand, not helping it.