Kressler fighter...WOW

G

Grapevine

Joined
Mar 5, 2002
Messages
1,470
Even though the Loveless design is classic, I never liked sub hilts and I'm not a collector of fighters, but the image of this Kressler full integral just knocked my socks off. This is one of those knives that makes me wish I had the budget. It's got that understated elegance with just the simplest touch of embellishment in the grooves. The design of the guards is different yet still beautiful. Love that close up shot of the grind.

Photo by Coop from the KnifeLegends site.
Kressler_SmIronSubw.jpg
 
That is an amazing knife! I love it, but I know there is no way that I could afford a Kressler. But that one makes me go WOW!!
 
I never understood subhilts where the "sub-hilt" was nothing more than a speedbump. Loveless designed the subhilt as an extra leverage point to aid in withdrawl. This one looks too small and vestigial and seems like it would just jar your hand in an impact. Even if it would never be used, these knives should at least reflect the fact they could be in their design.
 
I've always liked Kressler's knives,just don't have the $$$ to afford one.There'so doubt that he makes Incredible knives.I also heard that the subhilt was to help prevent the knife from being knocked loose following heavy blade to blade contact in a fight.Don't know how much truth there is to that,but after handling a few in my time-it seems that it would help.
 
I used to love the Big Bear design, but as I've become more experienced, I find them unbalanced visually - the blade is too long for the width, IMHO. I often find that way wrt most long bladed bowies too. It's clearly an affair of taste.

To me, the two best Loveless fighters are the Wilderness and the Chute.

With that said, I love Kressler's work. It's way too pricy for me.
 
Kressler is one of the rare ones that might out-Loveless Loveless... :mad:

In the truest sense he does not stick clearly to the master's original designs, but I find he adds such touches of class and understatement that I find his lines maximum appealing.

First let's look at the Master's knife, Bob Loveless himself. Truly a special piece:

orig.jpg


Now we see two different renditions by Dietmar. One fairly similar.

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


Now you can see he sharpens the lines very distinctly. Adding to this is the fact that these are all integral: Machined out of a block of steel! (Notice how my lower inset always shows the lack of a seam at the guard and blade.)

One may argue that this is too far a departure. Maybe so. I find them captivating and extremely precise.

My favorite aspect (and I take pains to get my lighting just right to show it) is the scallop in the handle transitioning from the curve of the bolster to the rounder handle. Few do it quite as cleanly as Dietmar Kressler.

Pricey? Yes. But in five hundred years these will still be rock-solid integrals. Incredible work, I think.

Coop
 
Captivating and precise. I have wanted a Kressler for forever and lord willing I will have one maybe at the chesapeake show. I saw one last year I could have afforded but would have left nothing else for anything else. But man he does beautiful work.
 
OK! Here's a little. First I feel that we're comparing apples to oranges. This is a very "OLD" Loveless. Yes, I know it's not Lawndale. But things change. These very recent Kresslers. But most importantly, there are no sharp lines on a Loveless for a reason. The knife is supposed to melt into the hand, and offer nothing offensive to the user, under heavy, hectic, emergency use. Think, life on the line here. The curves are there for a reason, the soft rounds are there for a reason. Sharp angles look aw-inspiring,, really draw the eye. Photograph beautifully. Collector eye candy of the first degree. Kressler has beautiful "FIT and FINISH". Now here is the shocker. The sharp edges, and angles are one hell of a lot easier, and less time consuming to produce. I will get a lot of heat on this, but boy's and girl's I've made them both ways, and there is a"BIG" difference in the time it takes for the two styles. I'm not talking about the integral part. but the final execution. Supple rounds, and soft corners take a lot of hand work. Crisp is just much the way it comes off the grinder in the first place. Of course you take your pic. That is why we have so much diversity. Mike
 
mlovett said:
OK! Here's a little. First I feel that we're comparing apples to oranges. This is a very "OLD" Loveless. Yes, I know it's not Lawndale. Bu things change. These very recent Kresslers. But most importantly, there are no sharp lines on a Loveless for a reason. The knife is supposed to melt into the hand, and offer nothing offensive to the user, under heavy, hectic, emergency use. Think, life on the line here. The curves are there for a reason, the soft rounds are there for a reason. Sharp angles look aw-inspiring,, really draw the eye. Photograph beautifully. Collector eye candy of the first degree. Kressler has beautiful "FIT and FINISH". Now here is the shocker. The sharp edges, and angles are one hell of a lot easier, and less time consuming to produce. I will get a lot of heat on this, but boy's and girl's but ave made them both ways, and there is a"BIG" difference in time ittakes for the two styles. I'm not talking about the integral part. but the final execution. Supple rounds, and soft corners take a lot of hand work. Crisp is just much the way it comes off the grinder in the first place. Of course you take your pic. That is why we have so much diversity. Mike
Click to expand...

Yeah, right - Kressler does it the easy way. :jerkit:

I don't understand why you feel the need to belittle his work. No-one is attacking Loveless. No-one felt the need to explain that the Kressler are much more this or much less that. I really don't understand your motivation.
 
I'm not belittling Kresslers work at all. It superb work. Fit and finish is fantastic. His workmanship is unquestionable. Why is a statement as to the way something is done, a mechanical thing, good or bad. Both methods have their reasons for being. Nothing wrong of them. Some Like Green. Some like red. If I say I like Red, is that saying green is bad. If I said that red paint is harder to mix than green, this would be a statement concerning the mechanics of the mix. Why would you assume that either is a put down. I think that you are reading much more emotion into my post than I intended. As I said, that is one of the reasons we have so much diversity. I have ask a relevant question on another forum. There are two knives posted. A wilderness with rounded guard face and quillions, and a Dixon Fighter with sharper lines. I have been asking what the preferences of the members are. So far it is much a tie. The sharp lines are much easier to do. But a little rougher on the sheath. This thread was indeed started in comparison. If I had gone the other way, would you be so quick to judge? I prefer the Loveless look. I see no reason to apologize for this. I also Like the Kresslers. I feel no need to apologize for this either. I also really like SR Johnsons work. In many ways it is dead in between the philosophy's. Do you feel I need to apologize for this as well. Sir I do this every day for a living. Please understand that I wasn't talking semantics, but rather the mechanics of the way the work is done. It really is apples to oranges. There is no way you could understand this without doing it for yourself. It is just the way it is. Sorry I peeved you off. Please keep in mind, yes I did say that it is easyer. And it is. I in no way said that it is not the right way for him to do it. Mike
 
Beautiful knives anyway you put it.

I like the chute design. The original is classic. There are multiple makers who make it in very similar fashion. Kressler's interpretation though can be quite different (the second Kressler in Coop's email). I really like this version. It somehow seems beefier, meaner to me. (This paragraph pertains to the blade, not the handle)

The sub-hilt chute has the opposite affect on me. Not really my thing. As Anthony put it, too much of the speedbump effect. I also don't think the sub-hilt and chute combo works all that well.

I like the Kressler sub-hilt in the first post. Nice Ironwood, too. However, I would like it better with a bit bigger guard and sub-hilt.

I think what sets Kressler apart from the other Loveless-inspired makers is the execution in satin-finish instead of mirror-finish. What is very difficult to see in the pictures (but very clear when you hold one) is the mirror finish on the spine and edge side while being satin finish on the wide sides and the blade. Really clean! (Don't know if they are all finished like that.)
 
Mike I am with you 100% on the square edge VS the radiused edge, more work and more work again to finish properly. I did not think you were demeaning Mr. Kresslers work, just stating a fact. I think it sould also be noted that rounding off certain edges would prove problematic with respect to blending intersecting facets on Kresslers excellent creations.

peter.
 
Thanks Del! Rounding and blending can be a BIG challenge. For instance, rounding the grip area just behind the guard, is a sore spot for many a maker. You have vastly different materials there. Usually a very hard material adjoining a much softer one. As the guard, spine juncture comes off the slack belt, it is very crisp. And I must say that if looks fantastic. Most stop right there. It's when you pull out the small half round files, and sandpaper to blend everything into a soft, smooth,flow that everything can go awry. This is true in many areas. We must look at what the customer is looking for as well. The collector, generally is looking for fit and finish, and execution. Crisp, sharp lines work better for this for several reason. One is the visual of crisp lines is more striking to the eye. But there is more. Say that at the juncture between the scale material and guard-tang area has a one half thousandths gap. The upper level makers try not to have this. And indeed it expected now days for the fit to be perfect. It takes quite an eye to see a half thou. in an almost flat plain. The gap will not show to the naked eye. Especially when the proper adhesive is used. Now radius this same area. The same half thou gap will now appear to be several thousandths wide, as the surface area is now wider in the area of the gap. So even though the work looks less precise, when smoothed, and rounded, it must be much more so. It is one of the times that what is much harder to execute, when done properly, makes it look easier. This happens all over the knife. Now lets look at users. Users, rather than collectors, are looking for a smooth comfortable usable grip, Something that isn't going to get in the way when used. Not going to bite you when it is in a very cold environment. Sweaty, Bloody, What ever. These two buyers are at cross purposes. Sharp angles, and protrusions are out of place. Now here is the quandary I find myself in. Loveless never designed his knives for collectors. He says that the grip should feel like your own pecker in your hand. (His words not mine). But it makes a valid point. But again all odds, his knives have become extremely collectible. In many cases much more so than knives designed for collectors from the start. Even more so than his designs re-designed by others for the collector. As the maker of the Lovett-Loveless Connection Knives, this puts me into a very tight spot. Many of the collectors want me to make them crisper, (for looks) than a real Loveless. On the other hand, they will be the first to point out that the knife will not feel like a Loveless. And that is what a Loveless is all about in the first place. Next time you are at a large show, find a Loveless, or a Lovett. Get the dealer to let you take the knife to where one of the modern clones are. Now Close your eyes, and feel the knives carefully. Every angle, curve, radius. In every position that the knife should be able to be used in. Not just the classic hold. Give it an honest try. Forget who made what. Let someone hand you the knives one at a time, with your eyes closed. I think it will be an eye opening experience for you. This is my challenge. Good luck, and my best to everyone. Mike http://www.lovettknives.com/
 
Good thread and good points. These knives are striking, & the awesome photos, Coop, don't hurt. I can see where a Loveless would be so comfy to use, and a Kressler is so clean and crisp I would just look at it. The fact that they are such well executed integrals adds attraction. I like 'em both, and could never convince my wife to let me get either.
 
Coop - great photos, and I agree totally. Too bad it couldn't have resulted in a more positive series of responses.
 
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery ...... Loveless's designs are copied and imitated more than any other, which speaks for itself.

Personally I prefer the Kresslers for their visual aesthetics and the complexity of intergral construction appeals to me.

Its kind of reassuring to hear about the thought and effort that has gone into the Loveless designs from a practical using perspective though and adds to there appeal.

If anyone wanted to offer me any of the Kresslers or any of the Loveless's as a present I wouldn't be picky.

Mike L , you make great knives, you just should not be quite as sensitive around the Loveless side of things, no one disputes his place or importance in the knife makers history books, but there are other makers, other designs and other ways of doing things ..... and everyone has different preferences. You have a lot of potential customers reading the forums and your work speaks for you.

Stephen

PS: COOP - superb images as usual.
 
I've never held either so I can't say with any authority.

IMO, the artistic accents give the Kressler a cripser overall "look", but it does not mean that a Loveless "feels" better.
 
At the recent 06 Blade show when I stood in front of a table full of Loveless (don't remember who the vendor was), the nice man behind the table took one and handed it to me to hold. I declined because there was something about knowing that it's a $4000 + knife that I'd be handling made me nervous. So we just stood there and talked about Loveless designs in general and how I liked his semi-skinner design better to use (note that I said design because I've only got the Beretta version). Looking back I wish I would have taken up his offer, it's probably the only time I would have ever been able to hold a real Loveless. I've never even seen a Kressler in real life.
 
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