Lone Wolf City Knives

[airyq]

I love the Lone Wolf City knives. Missed them when they were current but have bought several off EBay recently. I notice that they come in different versions. Wondering if any one here is able to give approximate dates of manufacture for the different versions.

The differences that I have seen are that some have the marking "City Knife" on the show side and some don't and some have "City Knife" marked on both sides of the pivot screw and some don't. To me, it all seems to be quite interchangeable.

Any one have any idea?

 

[Chui]

- good question, don't know the answer I'm afraid. Perhaps if you look into other sub-sections of BladeForums you may find the answer. In the back of my head recollect there was more than one workshop manufacturing their knives, perhaps they had different stamping techniques.

Lone Wolf were a smallish knife manufacturer but had inspired ideas and a good following, though not large.

From what I have been told, and believe it if you wish, they were bought out by Benchmade (2010), and through historic personal dispute, BM destroyed them virtually overnight. Some say LW were losing money.........but someone as strong as BM would have pulled it round had they really wished is my guess.

Have a few myself and am very sad their existence was brought to an abrupt end.

 

[guy g]

The one I have has green Micarta handle slabs. Does not say 'city knife' any where. I bought it in July of 2003.

 

[abbydaddy]

From what I have been told, and believe it if you wish, they were bought out by Benchmade (2010), and through historic personal dispute, BM destroyed them virtually overnight. Some say LW were losing money.........but someone as strong as BM would have pulled it round had they really wished is my guess.

BM did spend at least a couple years doing totally different things with Lone Wolf that had nothing to do with their previous production. BM repositioned Lone Wolf as their hunting line of knives, and then shut it down and launched Benchmade Hunt.

I love my old Lone Wolf knives. Best quality/price ratio I think anyone ever achieved. A lot of their knives resale for more than they should these days, but at original MSRP, they were well nigh unbeatable. I haven't landed a city knife myself, but I do admire them.

 

[Culprit99]

I don't have any of Lone Wolf's City Knives, but was fortunate to buy this Lone Wolf Paul Executive directly from them at a show several years before BM bought them. I would love to see someone start producing Paul Knives again. I don't know who came away from the Lone Wolf buyout with the rights to the Paul Knives. I don't know if Paul W. Pohlman is still alive or not. Gerber originally made his knives, and Lone Wolf was founded by former Gerber executives/employees. I would assume that Paul or his family/estate would have retained the rights. Lone Wolf made high quality stuff and I loved their designs and material choices. I would have loved to see what they would have continued to come up with if they had stayed in business.

 

[airyq]

- good question, don't know the answer I'm afraid. Perhaps if you look into other sub-sections of BladeForums you may find the answer. In the back of my head recollect there was more than one workshop manufacturing their knives, perhaps they had different stamping techniques.

Lone Wolf were a smallish knife manufacturer but had inspired ideas and a good following, though not large.

From what I have been told, and believe it if you wish, they were bought out by Benchmade (2010), and through historic personal dispute, BM destroyed them virtually overnight. Some say LW were losing money.........but someone as strong as BM would have pulled it round had they really wished is my guess.

Have a few myself and am very sad their existence was brought to an abrupt end.

Certainly very strange what BM did to LW, buying a premium band and letting it go to rot very shortly after. Can't see this as being a business decision, must have been personal.

 

[airyq]

Lone Wolf made great knives. The Lone Wolf Tighe-Pan was said to be very, very close to Brain Tighe's custom Tighe-Pan. I have not personally encountered Brian Tighe's custom but I do have the LW Tighe-Pan. Certainly nothing lacking with the LW!

 

[brownshoe]

The Loveless designed City Knife is part of Lone Wolf’s first offering and were made by Fantoni. It came with a custom steel produced for Loveless and Lone Wolf by a European steel maker whose name escapes me. The first run did not have City Knife on the blade and came in Loveless’ signature green micarta with a red accent. The handle was a little longer than usual for the size of the blade to give good control, but the smaller blade made it legal in most cities. The jimping is on the edge side of the bolster because Loveless thought it gave better control in skinning fruit. I think there were at least 2 Lone Wolf runs made by Fantoni. When Loveless died Fantoni’s owner modified the knife slightly and sold their version under their name w/o giving Bob Loveless credit. Their version was not as good as the original. Fantoni folded…karma’s a bitch

I have a first edition one in green micarta and it’s the perfect city/office slipjoint. Flat grind, sharp point with a thin edge and hard, unique, stainless steel. Several custom makers build “Loveless-style” folding knives, but I’ve yet to see one as good as Bob’s original design. The makers are too proud to just copy Bob’s design, thinking they can improve on genius. Bob Loveless freely shared his patterns, so he wouldn’t care, even if he wasn’t dead. I’d love to see a custom made version of the original design. Maybe someone can get Rhidian to make one

 

[kamagong]

How small were the LWCKs?

 

[Leslie Tomville]

View attachment 2611904View attachment 2611905

Jess Horn called this pattern the Middle Horn, based on its length. Bob Loveless designed several patterns for Jess including the Middle Horn. They all have that unmistakable Loveless look. My understanding is that Bob wanted to have some folding knives to offer to his fixed blade customers. I was fortunate to find this well used knife several years ago, and I carry it more than most of my other knives. In mint condition this knife would be worth more than I would want to spend, probably north of $2000, but I was able to get it for a couple hundred bucks. It is nice to not have to worry about using it as I like. (Plus the vintage Sambar Stag has aged beautifully.)

I have come to love this blade shape, and I have read this thread with great interest. Funny how there is always something new to learn with knife collecting. I am going to have to get one of these to try out. For those of you who have one, how is the fit and finish? What is the action like? Is it snappy or mushy? Are the blades centered when closed and tight when open without any play or wobble? Do they have a half stop? B brownshoe , Chui , airyq , G GuyG ?

I love that snakewood example Paul! The micarta is also great. Loveless loved his green micarta with red liners. Did these start out as green and turn brownish with age? That seems to have been the case with a lot of his green micarta fixed blades.

I would love to get my hands on a Lone Wolf/Loveless micarta semi hunter to actually use. I once had a Loveless custom semi hunter but decided to sell it. I could not bring myself to use it, and I did not want to have that much money tied up in a knife that just sat in a cabinet. But what a great knife it was!!

 

[guy g]

A quick check shows the City Knife handle the same as Buck 501 with the blade 1/4" shorter than the 501.
My info ( hand written notes) called the steel LG-10.

 

[abbydaddy]

I have several pre-BM Lone Wolf knives. I'll try to get a picture of the one that is Traditional Subforum appropriate, unfortunately, my Lone Wolf T1, T2, and U.S. 45 all have thumbstuds. But my Lone Wolf Loveless hunting knife is sub-forum appropriate, so I will take a picture of that.

 

[brownshoe]

View attachment 2611904View attachment 2611905

Jess Horn called this pattern the Middle Horn, based on its length. Bob Loveless designed several patterns for Jess including the Middle Horn. They all have that unmistakable Loveless look. My understanding is that Bob wanted to have some folding knives to offer to his fixed blade customers. I was fortunate to find this well used knife several years ago, and I carry it more than most of my other knives. In mint condition this knife would be worth more than I would want to spend, probably north of $2000, but I was able to get it for a couple hundred bucks. It is nice to not have to worry about using it as I like. (Plus the vintage Sambar Stag has aged beautifully.)

I have come to love this blade shape, and I have read this thread with great interest. Funny how there is always something new to learn with knife collecting. I am going to have to get one of these to try out. For those of you who have one, how is the fit and finish? What is the action like? Is it snappy or mushy? Are the blades centered when closed and tight when open without any play or wobble? Do they have a half stop? B brownshoe , Chui , airyq , G GuyG ?

I love that snakewood example Paul! The micarta is also great. Loveless loved his green micarta with red liners. Did these start out as green and turn brownish with age? That seems to have been the case with a lot of his green micarta fixed blades.

I would love to get my hands on a Lone Wolf/Loveless micarta semi hunter to actually use. I once had a Loveless custom semi hunter but decided to sell it. I could not bring myself to use it, and I did not want to have that much money tied up in a knife that just sat in a cabinet. But what a great knife it was!!

For those of you who have one, how is the fit and finish? Very good, no noticeable flaws, still good after many years.

What is the action like? Smooth, good.

Is it snappy or mushy? Snappy, not mushy.

Are the blades centered when closed and tight when open without any play or wobble? Centered when closed, tight when open, no wobble and has styed that way over the years.

Do they have a half stop? Kind of. The end of the backspring has a tab which fits into three indentations, one when closed, one at 1/2 stop and one fully open. Gives easy opening but with “snappy action.” Stays open, stays closed. I’ve seen it on other knives, such as Zeiba’s Heritage slipjoint. Screwed pivot and liners. Instructions say to not adjust the pivot. Bob Loveless was a classic, but certainly up-to-date.

The blade is 2 1/2”x5/8”x a little less than 1/8” thick, handle is 3 7/8” long, Edge is very thin.

The micarta is green that’s darkened some over the years. It does get used.

 

[airyq]

View attachment 2611904View attachment 2611905

Jess Horn called this pattern the Middle Horn, based on its length. Bob Loveless designed several patterns for Jess including the Middle Horn. They all have that unmistakable Loveless look. My understanding is that Bob wanted to have some folding knives to offer to his fixed blade customers. I was fortunate to find this well used knife several years ago, and I carry it more than most of my other knives. In mint condition this knife would be worth more than I would want to spend, probably north of $2000, but I was able to get it for a couple hundred bucks. It is nice to not have to worry about using it as I like. (Plus the vintage Sambar Stag has aged beautifully.)

I have come to love this blade shape, and I have read this thread with great interest. Funny how there is always something new to learn with knife collecting. I am going to have to get one of these to try out. For those of you who have one, how is the fit and finish? What is the action like? Is it snappy or mushy? Are the blades centered when closed and tight when open without any play or wobble? Do they have a half stop? B brownshoe , Chui , airyq , G GuyG ?

I love that snakewood example Paul! The micarta is also great. Loveless loved his green micarta with red liners. Did these start out as green and turn brownish with age? That seems to have been the case with a lot of his green micarta fixed blades.

I would love to get my hands on a Lone Wolf/Loveless micarta semi hunter to actually use. I once had a Loveless custom semi hunter but decided to sell it. I could not bring myself to use it, and I did not want to have that much money tied up in a knife that just sat in a cabinet. But what a great knife it was!!

As good as can be expected. Fully agree with brownshoe. Every thing is just right. Some pics to show you what I mean.


Perfect centering.


Great fit and finish.


Milled liners with a washer. A slipjoint ahead of its time.

Get one if you can, I am sure that you will not regret it not even a moment.

 

[Will Power]

Oldy Fear you've posted in the wrong thread there, does happen to all of us. I once nearly posted a picture of a voluptuous, enthusiastic woman in Traditionals by accident...think how that would've gone down there..

These Lone Wolf knives, it's excellent to hear about the outstanding F&F (not always the case in high cost knives) but very depressing to read about their fate- elimination of a competitor? Chui Beautiful example that first one Paul and I strongly agree with Leslie Tomville it would be great to find a good used one that could be taken into regular use and not consigned to the eternal darkness of the safe

Thanks, Will

 

[Chui]

I have come to love this blade shape, and I have read this thread with great interest. Funny how there is always something new to learn with knife collecting. I am going to have to get one of these to try out. For those of you who have one, how is the fit and finish? What is the action like? Is it snappy or mushy? Are the blades centered when closed and tight when open without any play or wobble? Do they have a half stop? B brownshoe , Chui , airyq , G GuyG ?

I love that snakewood example Paul! The micarta is also great. Loveless loved his green micarta with red liners. Did these start out as green and turn brownish with age? That seems to have been the case with a lot of his green micarta fixed blades.

Hello..! Trust all's well with you.

Yes, it does have a half-stop. The action is quite crisp, around a 4~5 pull, so not strong.........walk n talk is also fairly good.

The overall fit n finish is good, not brilliant, but good enough to make this a most pleasant knife to own. Afraid to say that I do not use it - sure, it's whittled a wee bit here n there - otherwise a safe queen.

 

[eisman]

I love Bob's designs, and I've always regretted I couldn't afford one back when I met him. (I worked with a guy who was an old friend and took me to the shop.) I've probably owned 110 knives of his design since then. Everything from the very inexpensive and vastly under-rated offerings Beretta did to customs in the 4 figure range. Lone Wolf did a great job on design and price, and they are still a value.

If you're looking for something of a like value I suggest looking at Boker's latest offering, a WC Davis Drop Point folder. Bill built my often carried drop point using one of Bob's patterns and when I saw these earlier this year during a factory tour I had to buy one.

 

[Leslie Tomville]

View attachment 2614792View attachment 2614793View attachment 2614794

Thanks to all of you for the information on this knife. I was able to pick one up at a very reasonable price, and I am extremely happy with it. The fit and finish are good. Nice action, centered blade, no wobble. It is great to have something designed by Bob Loveless at this low price.

 

[airyq]

View attachment 2614792View attachment 2614793View attachment 2614794

Thanks to all of you for the information on this knife. I was able to pick one up at a very reasonable price, and I am extremely happy with it. The fit and finish are good. Nice action, centered blade, no wobble. It is great to have something designed by Bob Loveless at this low price.

TOLD YOU SO!

If you compare your knife with Chui's and Eisman's, you'll see the different markings that I started this thread about. Odd to have such variation, considering that the City Knife did not have a long production run.

 

[Chui]

TOLD YOU SO!

If you compare your knife with Chui's and Eisman's, you'll see the different markings that I started this thread about. Odd to have such variation, considering that the City Knife did not have a long production run.

........know I'm getting older, but my apologies, I could see little/no difference in both the Snakewood folders - though there is a difference with the Micarta version of Leslie Tomville 's