Loveless Hunter questions

JM2

JM2

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Mar 11, 2013
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I have no experience with a loveless drop point hunter style except that a friend once had one that I handled briefly. It was not a loveless made, but appeared to be a copy in line and form.

The handle was too short for my liking. The little nub at the end of the handle was right where my pinky wanted to go. So my pinky rode over that and it felt awkward.

I have a buck 192, and of all the knives I’ve handled, it feels best in hand. The overall size of the grip, its length particularly, and the balance suits me.

Is there any loveless copies that have a handle that is more similar to the buck 192? What I like about the loveless is the blade grind, and the way it looks overall. Anything out there sorta in between of similar style?

I’m thinking out loud here. I want a step up over the buck, both in style and quality but I don’t want to spend $1000. Maybe more like $400. But I’m interested in suggestions.

Thanks.
 
In that price range just contact the maker you like best and have it made to your specs. That way it looks and functions the same, but the handle is fit better to your hand. There are a bunch here on the forums that I’m sure would be happy to adjust some specs on a Loveless DPH for you.
 
I think the Loveless drop point is one of the most copied styles out there. I seem to recall seeing many knives of that design in A.G. Russell's catalogs in the past - many of them done by Bob Dozier, IIRC. I'd think it should be pretty easy to find other examples out there, for inspiration. If you search Google Images for 'Loveless style drop point hunter', you'll see a lot of them.
 
Thanks for the replies. I have been looking at pictures and threads about them. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the length of the handle being too short. I did see the thinness being mentioned.

I’m thinking of getting a beretta loveless to play with. Get a feel for the design and shape before I venture into a custom, to better evaluate my needs and compare to the 192.

Can anyone tell me how close is the beretta loveless handle to “normal”?
 
The Beretta versions should be pretty spot on, they wouldn‘t be authorized by Loveless if not. I have a lot of Loveless style customs and while some stick to the original pattern, some simply make them a little different. WC Davis made his slightly larger giving more handle to grab for example. His usually come in around 8.5” overall. If going custom, find one if his for a good price. (Make sure its his cursive signature stamp, those are the most current and super nice quality)
 
Marbles made a nice one sometime around the turn of the millennium with the Loveless Sport 99 . As I remember, Mike Stewart and Bob Loveless were friends and he had a lot of input.

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Lone Wolf and Gerber authrized versions are excellent knives. Better than many copies made by custom makers.
 
W. C. Davis made some excellent Loveless style knives, and there are several nice ones on ebay right now. Also, there are several Japanese makers such as Aida, Itou, Imai and others who made-make excellent copies of Loveless knives for way less than the real thing. Also A. G. Russell company has sold several over the years. There are varying sizes depending upon who has made them and which knife style, but maybe you can find something that fits your fancy and your hand too.
 
Bark River has the Classic Drop Point Hunter. If you think the size of the handle would be too small, you could move up to the Bark River Wilderness 5, which has a longer handle and 5” blade. I have basketball player sized hands and can still use the CDPH, but the Wilderness 5 is a dream with the longer handle. I have both.
https://imgur.com/7jv6r2Z
 
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I appreciate all this information. The pictures. Lots to think on, and look for. I like the look of the Bark River version best I’ve seen. Also like that older schrade. I am a schrade fan anyways.

That is the tiniest feathers I’ve ever seen!
 
A bit dated, this reference of mine here. But the mention of the Loveless drop point style got me to thinking about a very large folder I bought secondhand through a reseller years ago (pictured below). It was made by Wayne Clay (now deceased) of Pelham, TN. The handle sort of hints at the Loveless style, with the blade being more subtly clipped than a drop point. But I got to looking online, and remember now that he was also one of many makers producing Loveless style drop point fixed blades as well.

I don't know if the folder I bought is typical of the size of most of his patterns, or if it was a one-off piece of some sort. It has some cosmetic defects, so I got a good deal on it. I'd seen other listings online of similar folders from him, but smaller. But the one I have is definitely made for large hands. I bought it more out of the 'cool factor' of such a large knife, and in beefy stag no less. Last pic below is alongside a Buck 111 (same size as the 110), for size comparison.

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Another vote for a W.C. Davis drop point. He was an extremely talented knifemaker but he was even a better person! I have one of his Loveless style hunters and, for the money, an exceptional knife!
 
Those Schrade models are nice with the “improved” handle. Definitely a nice hand hold with the birds beak style pommel. Those handles are thicker than the standard Loveless Dropped Hunter too if I remember correctly.
 
I’ve looked up some of the WC Davis knives and they are real nice. A bit pricy for me. But I certainly see the value in that quality.

I’m interested in the schrade as I’ve always been a schrade fan. What time frame is the black handled ph1 with brass bolsters from? Did both models use the same steel as their normal schrade+ steel?
 
JM2 said:
I’ve looked up some of the WC Davis knives and they are real nice. A bit pricy for me. But I certainly see the value in that quality.

I’m interested in the schrade as I’ve always been a schrade fan. What time frame is the black handled ph1 with brass bolsters from? Did both models use the same steel as their normal schrade+ steel?
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I'm not sure as to the total time frame for the PH1 or the blade steel. I know the burgundy scaled ones was first, then the black ones later. I think they came about in the 80s.
Edit to add: if anyone can answer the time frame and steel questions it'd be tongueriver tongueriver and Codger_64 Codger_64 👍
 
From what I can see in the catalogs, PH1 from 1991 to 1995 with Schrade+ steel.
 
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