Hey ddd. David Darom, i picked up one of your books at the Spirit of Steel show this past weekend. Great Work my Friend!
I understand that there are a few of ours in the Digest this year. They have featured them over the years. Oddly, the Knife Magazines never do.
I all so just picked up the Blade November issue. It has an article A day at the Legend's shop. It has Thad Buchanan and John Young in it.and I ghing that is fantastic! Now here is the question. Every show I attend, I'm told by many, both collectors, show promoters, and customers alike that in the Loveless Loveless style Knives, John Young and Mike Lovett are the hottest makers on the planet. Well this may or may not be true. Heck, it usually takes me at least 15 minutes to sell out. That's if I even make it to my table first. This year at The Spirit of Steel Show I held a lottery on Steve Johnson's advice. (Along with a few others). It was nice to have Knives for people to see for a while. But here is the question. One Knife mag listed JY as the Heir apparent to Bob Loveless. Others talk about other makers who make a few knives that have a general out line of a Loveless. But Bob's partner, and obvious Heir, Jim Merritt never gets a mention in most of these articles. Any one think he may very well stay at the Loveless Shop should something happen to Bob. After all. He is the full partner!
No disrespect meant to John what so ever. But John works in Steve Johnson's Styles mostly. And does a fantastic job! Steve works in Steve's style. Steve's own style is a departure, from bob's. He learned Bob's ways and Incorporated his own. This has trickled down to Johns as well.
Just about every collector knows about the Lovett-Loveless connection Knives, with them being a HUGE success. Even Loveless himself has explained why they are being made. Yet not one word or pic in any of the Knife mag's.
Every where I go, Everybody knows what they are, and why they exist. Yet I have been totally ignored by the Knife Mag's. Even though I've been making Knives for over 34 years now. Bob says I don't need it. True enough. But it is just odd. Every time a maker of some renown makes a trip to Bob's, there is a write-up. the list is long. Hell, I go every year, if possible. Spend countless hours on the phone with Bob, and especially Jim. We talk about Knife Making and techniques constantly. Heck, we even share Ideas. Yep, the Loveless Shop has incorporated a few Lovett Ideas too. I have a huge collection of actually Loveless Pattern's, Provided by Bob and Jim. . Loveless collectors call on a regular basic, and to top it off, Bob and Jim send direct new (Would be Loveless customers) my way often. He tells New Loveless Customer that Lovett does a good job. (If you know Bob, that is everything!). Jim tells them that nobody gets it right but the Loveless shop and Mike Lovett. So What gives. how come every one and his brother knows about the Lovett-Loveless connection Knives except the Knife writers? and why on earth do they keep making all this up about John? Thats not what he's about at all. He has never claimed to make Loveless Knives.
Thad is getting Better and Better. As is Charles Vestal, and Romano. But there is only one maker being coached, and charged with carrying on the true Loveless tradition. And for what ever reason it is being totally ignored by the Knife Press.
Just wondering!
M.Lovett
