Loveless Archer Chute Knife

betzner

betzner

Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
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A departure from what might normally be seen from me, here is an original Loveless Archer chute. A piece that just kinda happened to me by chance, and wow, who coulda thought but it has always been one of my grail desires. Note the brass inlay on top of the tang, a rarity, I'm told. I've always considered this Loveless model to be the absolute height of knife design - so I snatched it up. I no longer show much of the "art" pieces from my collection anymore, but design may now be finding a place in a thread here and there, who knows.

And my own ideas about design are best expressed in that oft-repeated phrase "form follows function".

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An exquisite example, congratulations on the acquisition.... :)
 
David Sharp said:
A real beauty! Any idea what the handle material is? Do you mind if I steal the pictures?
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My eyes tell me the handle material is a wood laminate, which I have seen described on Loveless knives as wood micarta. If I'm incorrect, anyone please feel free to correct me.

As to the images, hell, STEAL AWAY! Thanks for the compliment on my poor attempts at photography.
 
what's the deal with the brass inlay?
 
Lorien said:
what's the deal with the brass inlay?
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I would love to know the answer to this myself, Lorien. I've been told by well-known Loveless collector/dealer Dave Ellis that "It is a rarity", plus have seen a quote on one dealer website about the brass inlay being "very rare" on another Archer chute. Finally, another forumite has told me he knew what it was called, but couldn't remember, indicating it's rarity. I don't put any great significance on the rarity, however, but instead am simply satisfied that it is what it is, an Archer chute.

I would love to know what the brass inlay is all about, though, too. I'm all ears (or eyes, actually) if anyone has specifics.
 
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The wood grain visible at the butt is slightly curved, therefore is probably
not a laminate.
Loveless made a few pieces with brass wrapped tangs, but a partial inlay,
like this. is unusual......perhaps a client requested it so it could be easily
ID marked later.
Also noted is the double row of stitching....visible only on the front of
the sheath.
 
Congratulations on purchasing this wonderful and rare piece!
I have not seen a Loveless knife with the addition of brass, certainly very rare!
Denis
 
Russ Andrews said:
The wood grain visible at the butt is slightly curved, therefore is probably
not a laminate.
Loveless made a few pieces with brass wrapped tangs, but a partial inlay,
like this. is unusual......perhaps a client requested it so it could be easily
ID marked later.
Also noted is the double row of stitching....visible only on the front of
the sheath.
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Russ, thanks for all your input. With regard to the wood, I was thinking the same thing, but really couldn't quite decide myself. I've had both opinions expressed - so I'll just say it's nice lookin' wood.

Bob
 
VERY nice indeed Bob! Chutes are a great design and that is an exceptional one. I was also thinking the brass could be a place for identification. Can't imagine a function it would provide?

Peter
 
What a *magnificent* beast!

Sincere congratulations...
 
I'm wondering if the brass perhaps filled in the spaces left by purposeful contouring of the tang to enable fitting of the guard somehow. Interesting in that it's not present on other chutes. Maybe Bob was experimenting. Beautiful piece!
 
Now that I study it again, is it not a longer-than-usual guard for a chute, latitudinally speaking?
 
Professor said:
Now that I study it again, is it not a longer-than-usual guard for a chute, latitudinally speaking?
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The Archer chute (the "original" chute) has a height (longitudinally speaking) greater than later chutes without drilled holes, which doesn't answer your question but might address that of others due to the subject matter.

Latitudinally, this particular Archer chute is way deeper than the other two I've seen (or for that matter, any other Loveless chute), "hunkier" being a better description. I like the look of it even better than the other two that don't have nearly as much "bolster depth", as I would call it.

But don't rely on me for any real knowledge on Loveless knives, merely the little I've observed.
 
Fairly certain the timber is lignum vitae.

The brass inlay may have been installed for the cross hatching file work Bob had on some of his blades, but never got around to it or decided against it.


Peter
 
Professor said:
I'm wondering if the brass perhaps filled in the spaces left by purposeful contouring of the tang to enable fitting of the guard somehow. Interesting in that it's not present on other chutes. Maybe Bob was experimenting. Beautiful piece!
Click to expand...

The brass inlay is not unique to this knife, but I've been told by three collectors, including one who is a collector/dealer of great repute, that it's a rarity, as exhibited in this particular knife. But the brass inlay plays virtually no part in my love for the Archer chute design and I would easily have been thrilled if it wasn't a detail of this chute at all.
 
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