Anyone use a Loveless knife?

mogmz

mogmz

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Sep 1, 2002
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I got to thinking this evening.. (oh no!) I don't recall ever seeing a thread in which a Loveless knife was ever used. Now I don't mean a Loveless pattern knife, I'm talking about a blade made by Bob Loveless, the man himself.

And then, as if this wasn't enough, I got to wondering how many makers out there produce knives that have become so valuable/expensive that their masterpieces will never even be put to work.

Now I understand the reasoning behind this. I personally would love to own a piece by Bob Loveless, and no, I don't think I could bring myself to use it either. Remember, I'm not talking about "Art Knives" here, I'm talking about knives that started out their life with the intention that they would make a great user.

It just makes me a bit sad I guess, the idea that there are makers out there producing wonderful blades made to be used that will spend their entire lives on a mantle or in a safe somewhere.

Ok, I'm done venting now.
 
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I once owned a Loveless semi skinner that had been used. I got it from the original owner who knew what it was and used it every year during elk season. I couldn't afford to keep it myself but if I could have I would have used it some.
 
I totally would. I don't really baby any of my knives short of trying not to chip em.
 
They are more like paintings...I would rather use a Bob Dozier knife, fiddleback forge or Bark River or something to get the same performance. It's like owning a 10 million dollar exotic car from the 30's you can't really use it too much.
 
mogmz said:
It just makes me a bit sad I guess, the idea that there are makers out there producing wonderful blades made to be used that will spend their entire lives on a mantle or in a safe somewhere.
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There's a lot of truth to that. I think Bob made his knives to be used but we have art makers producing knives meant to spend their lives in a case.
 
Give me that Buster Warenski King Tut dagger, I'll use it. I do not purport to know the men's thinking, but I think that every article I've ever read about Bob Loveless and Bill Moran, the most well known knife makers to non knife people, quoted them as saying their knives were made to be used.
 
I remember reading that Bob hated that his knives were destined for display cases instead of being used,like they were intended.I'm sure he didn't hate the premium they brought in though.:o;)
 
Okay, if I'm ever able and willing to shell out 10,000 for a knife, I'll sure as heck use it, value vs. perceived value is an odd duck for ten grand I could have my pick of whatever steel, whatever design I want AND have it custom fit to my hand. So why is a generic knife worth so much? Name, yeah, I'd use it like any other knife but why would I want it in the first place when it doesn't fill a need or want on my part.

It's like buying a yacht and never sailing, utterly stupid, especially if you can afford to sail.
 
Meh, I'd love to purchase an older used Lawndale Loveless that had some character. If I could get one sub-2.5k, hell I'd skin deer with it just out of principle. Doing the same with a mint-condition piece worth 3k+?

The values have driven up the likelihood of safe queendom, unfortunately, which is ironic as Loveless' designs for the most part were born of utility. They are viewed more as investments nowadays. My Loveless pieces have appreciated far better than an mutual funds I've had over the years.

Prof.
 
What is the big deal about using or not using? Is that important?
If my rich twin from parallel universe decides to spend 10 grand on a knife - that would be quite unlikely he does that because he is short of knives he wants to use in the first place. And I do not know that guy anyway, what to expect from him... He may just drop it into the see one evening - during some crazy party he throws every week on his big yacht he sails all the time around Mediterranean... :D
 
I'm really torn about this paradox. For instance, I have a T. Bose knife in my posession, and I carry it in my pocket sometimes but just can't get myself to use it. I think Im working towards it, the process is like therapy:) Detachment from the material world in a way. This knife has a spirit.

I hear what makers are saying--- the late Loveless and Tony himself, who says people drive forty or fifty thousand dollar+ cars so why not afford yourself the pleasure of using a three thousand dollar knife. I totally agree with this. But some of us own these knives as an investment in art, and makers should take that as a compliment. Once you use the knife, it is a luxury. When Bob Loveless knives were and are going for 5-10k, and Tony's go for 3k and up, I think they realize the issue at hand. If Loveless wanted to make knives to be used, he would've followed the Dozier way of doing things--- keep the knife affordable with economical materials on an ultra high quality product but still turn a profit. Don't mirror polish every knife. Loveless probably got pleasure from SEEING his knives used like Tony does. It validates their work on a non-monetary level. It is a tool. I bet one of the major reasons Tony collaborated with Case is that layman can have access and that is extremely admirable.


Even if I scored a Loveless drop point, I'd take my Dozier hunting. I'm not on a financial level that affords me the luxury of using that knife, but if I was rich I'd be singing a different tune...
 
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