Curious, but how many use a Loveless knife for it's intended purpose?

G

ginzu

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
51
Sad to hear about his passing and read the obituary that was posted, but odd thing was a passage in the story and something he said.

"A knife is a tool and I make'em to be used. It burns me up that they end up in velvet boxes and priced so high your average deer hunter or cowboy can't afford them."

Now this was said in 1981 and not sure what a Loveless knife sold for back then, but his recent prices were $5,000 - $20,000

Priced at a level that your average deer hunter or cowboy could afford today and and contradicts his quote from 1981.

If his knives were meant to be used. Why price them out of the range of those he intended to make them for and instead for the very owners he didn't (collectors/investors).

So the question is.

Who owns a Loveless knife and uses them for hunting etc.

Thanks

DON
 
I know of no one that uses a Loveless at this time but I am sure there is someone somewhere useing one
 
ginzu said:
Sad to hear about his passing and read the obituary that was posted, but odd thing was a passage in the story and something he said.

"A knife is a tool and I make'em to be used. It burns me up that they end up in velvet boxes and priced so high your average deer hunter or cowboy can't afford them."

Now this was said in 1981 and not sure what a Loveless knife sold for back then, but his recent prices were $5,000 - $20,000

Priced at a level that your average deer hunter or cowboy could afford today and and contradicts his quote from 1981.

If his knives were meant to be used. Why price them out of the range of those he intended to make them for and instead for the very owners he didn't (collectors/investors).

So the question is.

Who owns a Loveless knife and uses them for hunting etc.

Thanks

DON
Click to expand...

Check this post for one....
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=772668

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
The after market price of a Loveless makes the use of the knife very unlikely, and now after Bob's passing even less so.

I imagine 25 or 30 years ago a pretty good number of his knives saw use within days of the time they left his shop, and even at that they have probably been retired in order to maintain the value left in favor of using a lesser valued knife.

It's kind of like the fact that you don't see much manure hauled in the back of an Escalade.

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
...
It's kind of like the fact that you don't see much manure hauled in the back of an Escalade.

Paul
Click to expand...


Paul I have hauled manure in the back of one, top soil, rocks, cedar planks, plants... I also blasted off the decals/paint with an industrial pressure washer while trying to clean it. :foot:


:D:D:D:D
 
A.G. Russell once showed me a Loveless at the Blade show that he personally had basically "wore out" working around a farm in Arkansas.
 
That's what I meant. Many years ago I assume the knives were used as Bob intended, but as anything collectible and valuable.

They're put on displayed to be looked at.

I'm sure there's many out there with a Loveless in the glove compartment or an old cowboy or two just beating the crap out of them and not even caring as they only see an old knife.

Nice knives.

DON
 
ddd said:
Check this post for one....
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=772668

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
Click to expand...

Kevin Jones said:
I had an unexpected opportunity come up three weeks ago which resulted in my
...

And yes, I will use it. Use it to bring me enjoyment as a collector. ;) :)
Click to expand...

Is it just me, or is there some hidden meaning implied on the word "use"? ;)
 
sheathmaker said:
It's kind of like the fact that you don't see much manure hauled in the back of an Escalade.
Click to expand...

Thats funny I have a family member that hauls hay bales in his 2008ish Mercedes SL 55 AMG, haha. (Not very often but still cracks me up) It sure is funny to see it rolling though the fields.
 
ginzu said:
So the question is.

Who owns a Loveless knife and uses them for hunting etc.

Thanks

DON
Click to expand...

ddd said:
Check this post for one....
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=772668

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
Click to expand...

Kevin Jones said:
I had an unexpected opportunity come up three weeks ago which resulted in my adding a second Loveless double-edge fighter to my collection.

And yes, I will use it. Use it to bring me enjoyment as a collector. ;) :)
Click to expand...

2knife said:
Is it just me, or is there some hidden meaning implied on the word "use"? ;)
Click to expand...


I believe triple d is saying that the only use of a Loveless knife is to be looked at. kinda sarcastic and distasteful if u ask me.
 
severedthumbs said:
I believe triple d is saying that the only use of a Loveless knife is to be looked at. kinda sarcastic and distasteful if u ask me.
Click to expand...

I'm at a loss as to how you can deduce the above from David's post.

It gives me a chuckle that you of all people on this forum, would be accusing someone of being sarcastic and distasteful.
 
Call me a lunatic if you wish, but if I had a Loveless dropped hunter I would use it.

To me it would be a shame to own such a knife and never experience the pleasure of using it for it's intended purpose.

I'm well aware that this would reduce it's value, but if I bought one it would be because of what it is rather than what it's worth.

It's a bit like a chap I know who owns a William Powell sidelock which he never uses. I always feel he's missing out on finding the 'true essence' of the gun, if that makes sense.

I own a Marcus Lin dropped hunter and it's very nice to look at, but to me using it is even better. :thumbup:

Ian
 
2knife said:
Is it just me, or is there some hidden meaning implied on the word "use"? ;)
Click to expand...

Perhaps David, as I mostly "use" my knives for enjoyment and relaxation.
I have some I enjoy using for cutting tasks, however these days I find I don't have as many opportunities that require a good knife for cutting as I did when I hunted and fished a lot.

I really enjoy the feel of a good knife, examining and appreciating the fit/finish and appreciating the skill and effort that went into creating a fine knife.
My knives are displayed in a secure knife room and no matter how stressful a day's been, I'm quickly relaxed after entering and being exposed to my collection.
So I guess my hidden meaning would be that, there's different "uses" for knives. Make any sense?
 
Kevin Jones said:
Perhaps David, as I mostly "use" my knives for enjoyment and relaxation.
I have some I enjoy using for cutting tasks, however these days I find I don't have as many opportunities that require a good knife for cutting as I did when I hunted and fished a lot.

I really enjoy the feel of a good knife, examining and appreciating the fit/finish and appreciating the skill and effort that went into creating a fine knife.
My knives are displayed in a secure knife room and no matter how stressful a day's been, I'm quickly relaxed after entering and being exposed to my collection.
So I guess my hidden meaning would be that, there's different "uses" for knives. Make any sense?
Click to expand...

Makes perfect sense to me Kevin.

I think that there are two different types of collecting mentality. One is a kind of 'passive collector' who's happy to look and the other is the 'active collector', who wants to, for want of a better term, 'play'.

I used to collect militaria, and other than the buzz of finding the next item, I soon became bored once the piece I'd been trying to find was in my display case.

As a result I sold most of it with the exception of my deactivated guns (good old UK laws:rolleyes:)and my bayonets. I still enjoy these, as they are a more 'active' kind of collectable, in that they can be stripped, cleaned etc, rather than just looked at. If the UK didn't have such Draconian gun laws, I would definitely shoot them, regardless of value.

If I collected knives, I would be able to appreciate the designs, and workmanship etc, but the urge to take them out and see how they performed would be far greater than the pleasure I'd get by just looking at them.

Every knife has it's uses, however you care to define them.

Sorry for taking the thread off course....:o

Ian
 
I've been known to use a few. The DP does a fantastic job on Deer, as does the Stretched Hunter. The Stretched Hunter is a joy on wild boar.
The Stiff Horn and City Knives are a joy to use around the house.

I seem to get a few at the Lovett Shop for re-sharpening and touch up, so yes, some Loveless Knives are being used.

I have full permission from The Loveless Shop to restore Loveless Knives. In fact, some knives, we we both work on. I do my part, and ship to the Loveless Shop for final, such as re-logo if necessary.

Pure collector and speculators will complain. Users appreciate it. There are more being used than you would think!As Bob Intended!

As to why does the Loveless Shop charge so much? Well, it wasn't' always the case. This is where the collectors, speculators and dealers come it.

(Bob did not sell to dealers, nor discount knives,) He did have a friend or two who was also a dealer, and did sell them. But a dealer could not pick up th phone and order a batch of Loveless Knives. (Bob also forbid me discounting if I was going to make the Loveless Connection Knives.) . Some of the best advice I ever got.

As the fame of Bob Loveless Knives grew, so did the price in the after market.

If a collector, or a dealer got hold of a knife and put it up for re-sale at three-4-10 times the price of the Knife out of the shop, and it sold, (especially if it happened often), it set a higher price on the collectors market.

Now as the maker, the man actually doing the work, this can be very frustrating. A man who designs, makes, and maintains the business, gets little, and the man who writes a check, and turns a profit, often in a day or two, and often before they even write the check for said knife makes a killing.

Bob was no body's fool. Why should he spend days of hot, back breaking dirty work to produce a product and sell it for a couple hundred dollars when the after market is going to resell it for a couple thousand. He would be a damed fool if he did.

Just a couple of years ago, Bob told me--"Mike, We make a hell of 300 dollar knife, but at the Loveless Shop, we get 1800 for it". The dealers are going to get 3500 to 5000 for the same knife. So I'm still getting screwed. Or the customer is. If I put all the time and energy in, why does some one else with no sweat invested what so ever double or more the price?

So in reality, it wasn't Bob that run up the price. It was the market. Just like anything else. Seen the price of veggies at store lately? Ever ask what a farmer gets for them? Talk about getting screwed!

But be that as it may, The Loveless continue to appreciate in value. How can you complain when you buy a product, use it, or just enjoy it for a few years, re-sell it and realize a profit. In the end, it cost you nothing to own it. This is one reason such things as Rolex watches, and some high end sports cars have been so popular with the wealthy. They can purchase them, use them, and when they get tired of them, re-sale many times at a profit.:cool: It cost them nothing in the end. Most timed they get paid for owning them in the first place. Even a Timex watch is a lousy deal by those standards! And the buyer never had the joy of experiencing the best!

So heck yeah! Use them. Unless your a dealer looking for maximum profit. You are in a win-win situation!

On a side note, the 5,000-20,000 prices are dealer pricing. Not Loveless Shop prices.

Had they not shown a history of steadly increasing in value, we would not be having this conversation!;)

Nuff said.

Mike
Maker
the Loveless Connection
254-865-9956
 
Last edited:
Michael Lovett said:
On a side note, the 5,000-20,000 prices are dealer pricing. Not Loveless Shop prices.
Click to expand...
Ummmmm.... My client who just gave me the three 'Fresh' fighters I posted in another thread, told me he paid well NORTH of your low of $5000 for each of them Direct from the Loveless shop.

Bob was NO dummy and his selling ability matched his craftmanship and design. (Exceeded?)

Mike: I'm pleased and aware there are plenty of RWL users out there. AS there should be.

Ian, by your own admission, you are not a collector. When your collection exceeds $30,000 (as a not too uncommon example), you really pay attention to whether that swiping cut which gives you great pleasure is worth the feel, or is it (in the case of a Loveless knife) worth about $3000 in reduced value. One outing can change that.

It makes you rethink. Usefulness is also keeping the Custom Knife industry alive, and to that end, leaving a knife pristeen can help continue your support. The aftermarket is real and vibrant.

Good stuff here, coming in from all angles. :)

Coop
 
The apx. 5,000 is for retail from dealers for the Hunters Coop! (The same hunter from the Loveless Shop, "IF you could get one is more like 1,800. One hell of amark wouldn't you say?)

Loveless Fighters are an entirely different story. You know what he paid. Form a dealer, just one of them would cost 10,000 to 12,000. The largest one probably 13,000 or more. So they are a rock solid investment. As are the ones I have ordered!;)

I arranged the order with the Loveless Shop for your client, and supplied the Burgundy Micarta.

Mike Lovett
Maker
The Loveless Connection
 
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