Loveless 35th Anniversary Knife - My version.

I

irbailey

Joined
May 11, 2008
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703
After looking at the Loveless 35th anniversary knife in Al Williams 'Living on the Edge' book, I decided to make my own version of it.
As you can see, I've done things a little differently, but hopefully you can see where my inspiration came from.
The blade is 4 1/2" of 3/16" 1095, overall length is 9". Brass guard, red, black and white spacers and a milled and pinned aluminium butt made from a chunk of old pulley block! The handle is American walnut.
Thanks for looking.:thumbup:
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Cheers,

Ian
 
I quite like the look of that knife, regardless of whose original it was modeled after. Definitely stands on its own merit:thumbup:
 
Thanks mate.:thumbup:
I'd love to be able to make my own designs.
Well...I could, but I don't like ugly knives!
That's why I copy stuff I do like.;)

Ian
 
I like that one Ian, I can see the Loveless inspiration, nice stiching on the sheath!!
 
That's a beautiful knife and sheath.
I really appreciate this level of craftsmanship as I'm trying to to make Loveless style knives.

I'm starting with the hunter then maybe a chute. Long road ahead to even approach your quality. I wasn't aware of that particular design so did a search and found this pic.

Thanks for referencing Al Williams book, I ordered a copy yesterday.

Mark Behnke
 
Cheers.:thumbup:

I've become a little bit disheartened by the whole Loveless thing myself to be honest.

After seeing some (what I thought to be) perfect looking Loveless style knives get pulled apart on BF, I've come to the conclusion that trying to make Loveless style knives is a bit of a non-starter.:(

This is the reason I made this in my own way rather than try to copy the original too closely.

Basically, I'll never get it right. :rolleyes:

I would have used nickel silver for the guard, but the customer specified that he wanted brass. I know that brass is almost universally disliked on BF, but in the UK it's still popular for fittings.

Thanks for your comments.:thumbup:

Ian
 
^ atta boy!
Good for you, find your own path bro. You've got what it takes all on your own. You deserve to be confident:thumbup:.
 
I think the Loveless style knife is good for me to learn the basics and improve my skills. Save my own styles 'till skills improve.;)

The nit picking about the exact duplication of his knives goes to extremes.:(

I have 4' of 1/2" X 1" brass for guards, lots of practice.:D
 
markb said:
I think the Loveless style knife is good for me to learn the basics and improve my skills. Save my own styles 'till skills improve.;)

The nit picking about the exact duplication of his knives goes to extremes.:(
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Do you think?

I would think that people who actually BUY Loveless knives and study them might have some interesting observations about others working in the style.

Good luck, and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
irbailey said:
Cheers.:thumbup:

I've become a little bit disheartened by the whole Loveless thing myself to be honest.

After seeing some (what I thought to be) perfect looking Loveless style knives get pulled apart on BF, I've come to the conclusion that trying to make Loveless style knives is a bit of a non-starter.:(

This is the reason I made this in my own way rather than try to copy the original too closely.

Basically, I'll never get it right. :rolleyes:

I would have used nickel silver for the guard, but the customer specified that he wanted brass. I know that brass is almost universally disliked on BF, but in the UK it's still popular for fittings.

Thanks for your comments.:thumbup:

Ian
Click to expand...

Excellent knife Ian, love the spacer colors and the contouring on the handle! :thumbup:

I lost all (except for two customers) of my Loveless style orders after a blanket statement someone posted online about my current work. Being a pissed off idiot, I threw the knives which were rough ground and heat treated into a dumpster that was outside of my house. (Somewhere at a dump there are a bunch of NYS's, boot knives, mini-wildernesses and Big Bears). I felt like quitting the Loveless-style and didn't make a knife for a week!

A few days went by and I started grinding again ... I remembered Bob Loveless once asked me "Why did you do this?" I replied "My customer asked me to." He stared down at me in silence for what seemed like hours and then asked "Do you always do what others tell you to do? .... I make knives for me."

Do it for yourself Ian. ;)

(I can't speak for others on this forum, but I love seeing your work).

Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work mate. It's inspirational. :) :thumbup:
 
flatgrinder said:
I lost all (except for two customers) of my Loveless style orders after a blanket statement someone posted online about my current work. Being a pissed off idiot, I threw the knives which were rough ground and heat treated into a dumpster that was outside of my house. (Somewhere at a dump there are a bunch of NYS's, boot knives, mini-wildernesses and Big Bears). I felt like quitting the Loveless-style and didn't make a knife for a week!

A few days went by and I started grinding again ... I remembered Bob Loveless once asked me "Why did you do this?" I replied "My customer asked me to." He stared down at me in silence for what seemed like hours and then asked "Do you always do what others tell you to do? .... I make knives for me."
Click to expand...

If people are breaking off orders from you because of something I wrote....you don't want them for customers anyway.

The people who follow what I write and understand it, are motivated to ask more questions and dig deeper so they can find the truth for themselves....not to summarily dismiss a maker.

I think for myself and had thought that you did the same. Knifemaking, like knife collecting, is a struggle, and something that requires constant self assessment and personal inventory.

I'm sorry for those results, Marcus, but I'm not sorry for what I wrote. My hope is that ALL of you working in the Loveless style continue and drive each other to greatness.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
If people are breaking off orders from you because of something I wrote....you don't want them for customers anyway.
Click to expand...

at first I felt compelled to write something a little different here.
However, the above quotation pretty much takes care of that:).
 
Thanks fellas.:thumbup:

Marcus, that quote from Bob Loveless is spot on. For me it's exactly why I make them. The fact that other people like them enough to place orders is just a huge bonus.:cool:

The whole arguement about 'is it the same as a Loveless' has worn very thin for me. Your dropped hunter that I own is just perfect in my eyes. It's not a Loveless, because it has your name on the blade, but who cares?

Not me that's for sure.:thumbup:

So, from now on I'm sticking to a Loveless STYLE, but done however the hell I like. If people don't like them or the materials I use - tough. I'm happy, the people who order what I make are happy, and that's good enough for me.:D
In fact I recieved an order for one like this today. :thumbup:

I'd love to make something unique to myself, but design just isn't my strong point. I really admire anyone who can make something that's recognisable as their own work at first glance, but you've got to do what you can.

To quote Clint Eastwood/Harry Callaghan; "A man's got to know his limitations.":D

Critiscism on here can be harsh at times, Mr Garsson once destroyed one of my knives for having a brass guard, at the time I called him lots of rude names (not on the forum though:D) but it did give me the kick up the arse needed to start using stainless. Looking back now, I am very grateful for his thoughts, however bluntly they were written.;):D

Anyway, thanks for looking, and thanks even more for your comments. As usual, they are very much appreciated.:thumbup:

Cheers,

Ian
 
Marcus, you certainly have not lost me as a customer, I will continue to buy knives from you. When I buy a knife from you I buy it because YOU made it and if it is in the Loveless style it is your interpretation of that particular style of knife I've commisioned from you. I do not expect it to be an exact facsimile of one of Bobs knives!!
As I said before there is so much BS about this topic we could go on forever and never get an answer.
 
Here is the $64,000 question. Why is it that Loveless style knives apparently must be exactly like the real ones (a feat which, by all accounts, very few people can actually pull off) or they are deemed unacceptable even at a greatly reduced price point? This is certainly not the case with many other knives done in the style of other famous makers.
 
jdm61 said:
Here is the $64,000 question. Why is it that Loveless style knives apparently must be exactly like the real ones (a feat which, by all accounts, very few people can actually pull off) or they are deemed unacceptable even at a greatly reduced price point? This is certainly not the case with many other knives done in the style of other famous makers.
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1. "A greatly reduced price" is relative. Most of the knives in this style START at $600.00+.....not exactly cheap.

2. Many makers work in a style that is as much aesthetic as it is functional. The Loveless knives were designed around features, and how to incorporate them. These features(considering the stainless steel chosen for material) included strength, lightness, sharpness, edge retention, rust resistance and ergonomics. Each factor ignored or not taken into consideration or incorrectly executed takes away from to whole piece.....paraphrasing here, but that was pretty much how Bob put it when I talked with him in 2005.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
1. "A greatly reduced price" is relative. Most of the knives in this style START at $600.00+.....not exactly cheap.

2. Many makers work in a style that is as much aesthetic as it is functional. The Loveless knives were designed around features, and how to incorporate them. These features(considering the stainless steel chosen for material) included strength, lightness, sharpness, edge retention, rust resistance and ergonomics. Each factor ignored or not taken into consideration or incorrectly executed takes away from to whole piece.....paraphrasing here, but that was pretty much how Bob put it when I talked with him in 2005.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Good points there Steven, however, my agricultural looking Loveless style knives start at £120/$185. Yes, they're 1095 rather than stainless, they may well contain classless brass and they may not be anything like an original Loveless, but most of the knives I make are sold to working class people who use them. This particular knife is a user for a gamekeeper. I've also sold several knives to collectors who like them.

Don't forget, not everyone who wants a knife can afford $600/£385!:D

I've never been under the illusion that I'm making an identical copy of a Loveless, far from it, but I'll be the first to admit to his knives being my biggest influence.

Surely there's nothing wrong with that is there?:confused:

Ian
 
irbailey said:
Good points there Steven, however, my agricultural looking Loveless style knives start at £120/$185. Yes, they're 1095 rather than stainless, they may well contain classless brass and they may not be anything like an original Loveless, but most of the knives I make are sold to working class people who use them. This particular knife is a user for a gamekeeper. I've also sold several knives to collectors who like them.


Surely there's nothing wrong with that is there?:confused:

Ian
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Ian,

At the core of it, anyone who has ever made a drop point hunter has emultated the Loveless style, as that style of knife really didn't exist until Loveless put all the elements together.....the further you are away from direct emulation, the less criticism you will get for missing those elements, as it should be and the work stands on it's own merit....and your prices reflect a very fair value, I would think.

The problem seems to come when a maker puts up a very, very close example of Loveless style work, and then everyone showers that maker with praise, but in the group making the accolades, there is only one or none that have handled a Loveless knife....I ask you, and all other makers concerned....how is that helpful, to both those that make and are viewing these knives?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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