Kressler fighter...WOW

gator68 said:
Hi Mike,
No one else is jumping in. What's the problem you see??
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Let me take a shot at it. I think (stress *think*), that Mike believes the 90 degree corners at the blade/guard junction of Kressler's integrals are the problem, the area that on regular knives would be called the guard/solder joint.
 
Grapevine said:
Let me take a shot at it. I think (stress *think*), that Mike believes the 90 degree corners at the blade/guard junction of Kressler's integrals are the problem, the area that on regular knives would be called the guard/solder joint.
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No No Grapevine, Mike knows that Kressler is not a stupid fool, he knows that kressler is a great knifemaker who would NEVER make a 90 degree corner on an integral knife and he will never say that. He will just make nasty remarks that lead you to think that kressler makes less than great knives.

Mike has not got the guts to come right out and say X,Y or Z because he knows that Kressler will nail his ass in court. He continues to post this kind of crap because he thinks Kressler is a threat to his becoming the next "Loveless" It is sad really for a knifemaker as good as Mike is to think that he has to put someone else down in order for him to be better or better thought of.

I cannot believe that Bob Loveless knows that his name (the Loveless-Lovett Connection) is being used to trash friends of his. What will happen to this "Connection" when Bob is asked about all that is being said? Anyone can reach me here or in private at agr@agr3.com A. G. Russell
 
I just looked over all 19 of my highest resolution images blown up and I have yet to see any 90* cut, especially at the critical blade/guard area, but even in the handle fitment channel. Every machined corner has a small radius. As an ex-machinist, I have to say this is workmanship of the highest order.

No less of a knife than Mike Lovett's in it's execution, just a different method to get there. I fail to see that these integrals would be any weaker than a multi-piece knife. Au contraire....

Coop
 
I don't want to fan the flames, but wouldn't a bigger radius be stronger than an small radius? Of course, it would follow that a small radius would be stronger than a sharp corner, possible even be MUCH stronger do to the fact that a sharp corner would be particularly prone to breakage at that spot.

Anyway, are there mills with the radius built in, or would you have to mill to rough shape and then go back with a tiny ball mill and create that radius?
 
Anthony...you about made me spit my teeth out...any popcorn.....:D

As for the stress riser thing. Have any of you tested knives like this? I don't expect anyone to put a Loveless or Kressler in a vise and bend it, but am referring more to the style of knife. All this talk of strength can only be theory unless tested. I have bent and broken a BUNCH of blades. I just broke a wakizashi two days ago, but thats another story..

My point is this. I have NEVER seen a knife break at the plunge line. I have seen them break as close to the ricasso as a couple of inches, but never closer than that. I have seen the tangs break, but not close to the grind lines. On that note, has enyone here ever REALLY gone after something with a knife? Try chopping down a 10" tree or stabbing and cutting a tire. Talk to experienced Martial artists about handle shapes?. Most don't care for that "like a glove" fit in the hand. The knife will rotate too easily if the corners are too rounded. That's what I find too. Basicly, until I see or hear of someone's tests on this type of knife, this is all rhetorical. Put some real meat into this conversation, make some test blades and see what they can withstand with a little radius versus a squared grind.

I had a student at the Bladesmith school pull the vise off the bench it was bolted to when trying to bend his test knife (remember Steven?).....it was pretty square in the grind/ricasso junction. It also sprang back to straight after about 60 degrees, which is about where the vise started to pull away. ( I think he listened ;)
 
I do remember that! :D

BTW, I was more thinking of the integral portions of the handle, like at the sub-hilt.

Also, I sent you an email Bailey.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Mike has not got the guts to come right out and say X,Y or Z because he knows that Kressler will nail his ass in court. He continues to post this kind of crap because he thinks Kressler is a threat to his becoming the next "Loveless" It is sad really for a knifemaker as good as Mike is to think that he has to put someone else down in order for him to be better or better thought of.

I cannot believe that Bob Loveless knows that his name (the Loveless-Lovett Connection) is being used to trash friends of his. What will happen to this "Connection" when Bob is asked about all that is being said?
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I don't know, A.G. I am not sure that you are correct in your distillation of Mike's statements.

I am not sure what his motivations are, but I don't see what he is saying or pointing out as a statement of putting Dietmar down. He just seems to be looking at the knives differently than a lot of us, from a different perspective.

Dietmar makes a fine, albeit a bit spendy, knife, and anyone who has that kind of scratch to spend on one of Dietmar's creations is not going to be swayed by what Mike Lovett has to say about the subject, one way or the other.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I don't know, A.G. I am not sure that you are correct in your distillation of Mike's statements.

I am not sure what his motivations are, but I don't see what he is saying or pointing out as a statement of putting Dietmar down. He just seems to be looking at the knives differently than a lot of us, from a different perspective.

Dietmar makes a fine, albeit a bit spendy, knife, and anyone who has that kind of scratch to spend on one of Dietmar's creations is not going to be swayed by what Mike Lovett has to say about the subject, one way or the other.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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STeven, you are a nice fellow and like to see everyone in a good light. Please search this forum and see Mike's other posts on Dietmar that have nothing to do with the way he makes his knives. Mike is trying to distroy Dietmar and anyone else he thinks can shine brighter than he. Mike has great talant and makes fine knives but he has no clue on how to promote himself.
 
A. G. Russell said:
STeven, you are a nice fellow and like to see everyone in a good light. Please search this forum and see Mike's other posts on Dietmar that have nothing to do with the way he makes his knives.
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Actually, A.G., I am a prick, an "arrogant prick" according to some, but just have not seen Mike as a "tear 'em down" sort of maker. He has a lot of nice things to say, even about makers that I see as marginal.

Having reviewed Mike's other posts about Dietmar, still having a hard time seeing what he is doing as a slam, and will not disagree with you at all about Mike Lovett sort of being a bit "confused" about self-marketing.

Dietmar is an extremely gifted and charming gentleman, with excellent taste in cigars;) , and may very well pick up one of his knives in the next couple of years. He is simply that good, but, as said before, PERSONALLY, cannot stand the hollow pins.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Good post Bailey.

STeven / A. G., I don't know if Mike is trying to destroy anyone's reputation, but he has repeatedly come across as an arrogant schmuck on this forum. I find it difficult to sympathize with his positions.
 
STeven,

You can always pick up one of Dietmar's knives with the thin pins (as in the very first post of this thread). No need to buy the hollow pins.

I am curious, if you don't like the hollow pins, what do you think of the hollow part of the pommel?

I haven't met Dietmar yet but really like his knives. I hope to meet him at the ECCK show this February.
 
Thor I am said:
STeven,

I am curious, if you don't like the hollow pins, what do you think of the hollow part of the pommel?

I haven't met Dietmar yet but really like his knives.
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Thor,

I see the hollow in the "butt" of the knife as an homage to the thong holes that are in the tang, and exposed, on many Loveless and Johnson knives, and it appears to be correct for this style. It does not look tactical to me.

I know that I can get a Kressler without hollow pins, it is just that they are more common than not, and I would want to handle the knife before I purchased it, thusly minimizing my chance of getting what I want anytime soon, but that is OK.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I've known Dietmar for a number of years, and sat down with he and Ron Lake for a few beverages during the Chicago show. Part of the discussion was current knife trends, and I commented that I didn't like either the tubular pins or the new logo that Dietmar was using - just personal preference (I have both older and newer Kressler's). Turns out that this isn't a problem, and the order I placed will have regular pins and the old football shaped logo. The tubular pins are just something new that many customers liked.

I'm not going to get into the Lovett argument, but my impression of the whole discussion is that Mike has lowered himself with his comments and innuendo. Every maker is different in their interpretation of style, design and manufacture. Highlight yours if you like, but be respectful of the other guys work. Don't forget, ALL of you are just offering your own interpreting of the Loveless designs, and many are - in their own way - perhaps even better grinders or polishers etc than Loveless. BUT - a great rendition of a Loveless design does not make you the next Loveless.

Personally, I make my purchase selections both on the quality of the work, and the personality of the maker. Usually that's not a problem, but there are exceptions....
 
Sorry I've taken so long to respond. The wife and I were getting ready for the Spirit of steel show. It was a great time! Please understand folks, that AG has an ax to grind with me. And he isn't about to tell you the real deal when contacted. This has "NOTHING" to do with Kressler what so ever. As to what would the Loveless shop say if they knew what was being said? There wasn't anything said here inflammatory to anyone. As to what really has been said, They are very aware of it. Now to what I wanted people to look at. This isn't a Kressler Problem. It a problem we all-(Knife Makers) have. It is something we have all done at one time or another, and in all probability will do again. It is a technical thing that is so subtle that I was wondering if anyone would catch it. Any time you introduce a notch into steel, you produce a stress riser. Even if all stress is removed, with heat treat, the notch remains. Take a tree branch, and cut and bend it double. Now cut a notch into the same branch. Bend again. What happens? Now cut a notch into the other side in the same location. Would it be weaker. You bet. I see this on only the chute pictured. Notice the Loveless Chute. You have the main grind, a heavy spine, and a top, or clip grind. When grinding this area, what you are trying for is not crossing the center grind. When you do, the area directly in front of the spine is thinned significantly. The same thing happens when you grind a double edge and slip crossing the center line. The blade will be thinner at this point. This is one of the reasons a double grind is so difficult. One bad slip, and throw it away. On the Kressler, the top clip extends quite a bit below the bottom of the spine, or top of the bottom grind. If you were to look at the clip from the top of the blade, with the edge facing away from you, you would see a stair stepped effect. Much like looking at a bottle neck rifle bullet. The first third of a blade tends to get the most abuse. This is exactly where you don't want such a step down. As I said. This isn't a Kressler problem. We all have done it. I have taken a look at several other Chute Style Knives by Kressler on the net for sale, and much to Kresslers credit, this has been corrected.
 
Now as to how I feel about Kresslers Work. AG Must have miss the first part of this thread. I Love the mans work. Beautiful just begins to describe it. Precise. Clean. Elegant. What's not to love in Kresslers work. I guess when you say something good about someone it get ignored. Or at least if Mike Lovett says it. This thread was started to show the differences of the two Flavors (if you will), of Chute knives. I assumed that observations were welcome. Steve didn't get blasted for not liking the tube's for instance. I am constantly hearing Bob Loveless called many unkind names. Rude. Mean. Arrogant. (Never heard Smuck though). Nothing has ever been said bad about a detractor. Yet I voice what I observe, and I am flamed for it. Seems like I should have just as much right to an opinion here an anyone else. As to someone getting Sued. It isn't really Kressler we're talking about here is it AG? I'm not falling for it! I feel that for his own reason, AG really wants me out of the way. As to my Claiming that I was to be the next Loveless. Bull Sh-t! NO ONE Is going to be the next Loveless. Its Bob's Designs, and contributions to the knife world that makes him a Legend. Not just making knives. Many have been called the next Loveless. SR Johnson. Young. WC Johnson. Wayne Clay Kressler, Joe Cordoba and yes I've seen Lovett mentioned as well. For every ones information, Jim Merritt has been Bob's partner for many years. Bob himself will tell you that the knives that come out of the shop today are the best Loveless Knives ever made. He attributes this to JIM MERRITT!!!!!! If anyone deserves the title, It's Jim Merritt. And he could care less about titles. No matter what is said in print, insinuated or made up. Regardless of what has been said. Bob Loveless is just fine. Jim Merritt is in great health. The Loveless Shop is doing very well. If something should happen to Bob. As it does to all of us. It will be Jim Merritt making the decisions. Not me, or anyone else. AG tried to order knives from me. I informed him that due to a tremendous back log, that I was not taking orders from dealers. He was furious. I have been getting this kind of thing from him ever since. I guess you don't turn down AG. I still have the e-mails. Sometimes you have to be reminded of who is around you. And to watch your 6. I my an e-mail address posted. Mike
 
mlovett said:
On the Kressler, the top clip extends quite a bit below the bottom of the spine, or top of the bottom grind. If you were to look at the clip from the top of the blade, with the edge facing away from you, you would see a stair stepped effect. Much like looking at a bottle neck rifle bullet.
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Interesting. I saw this, but thought of it as an aesthetic defect . . . not a structural defect. Personally, I like to see the clip meet the top of the main bevel if it is a sabre grind. Though I do not see how this would be a structural defect -- if this is, than all clip points are as well as they all thin the blade near the tip.
 
Yes a clip is indeed weaker. It is something we have to live with as makers. The challenge is to get as much strength in the tip as possible, and still have a quick and light blade. Again think of a branch of a tree. As it reaches the tip, it becomes thinner and thinner. This helps as it gives the branch flexibility. with proper heat treat, we get the same thing. What we don't want to do is add any notches to the thinning area. We often notice in heat treat threads folks asking what is th best grit of Finnish to apply to the blade before heat treat. We want to prevent stress risers during heat treat as well. A scratch only a couple of thousand ts, or less can cause problems. If we induce a step down, or notch in the blade, it is a huge scratch as far as the piece of steel is concerned. Its like a scratch on steroids. Another area we really have to watch is the spine on double edge knives. Many times when grinding a double edge blade, while pulling up into the contact wheel, the blade wants to climb the belt. This can happen especially quickly with a dull belt. When this happens, we induce a dip in the spine that makes the blade to want to warp. Not to mention being thinner in an area where it isn't supposed to be. When I first started grinding double edged blades years ago, it wasn't unusual for me to throw away one for every one I ground. This is a flaw not easily seen in the finished knife. On a well finished knife it can be very subtle. The quickest way to catch this, is to put a straight edge on a knife you are looking at, right down the spine. There should be no dips in the spine on the side of the blade. Mike
 
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