Loveless style Chute knives

Inspired by Bob Loveless and Harry Archer


R.L. (Bob) Dozier was the knifemaker behind the first A.G. Russell and Morseth Chute Knives. A.G. and Bob Loveless both were inspired by Harry Archer to design these knives. They were all friends. You will see great similarities between A.G.'s Chute knives and Loveless Chute Knives, but you will also see differences. For example, A.G. included a hole in each end of the double guard, Loveless did not. A.G.'s early A.G. Russell and Morseth Chute Knives used narrow tang construction with a very distinctly shaped solid handle. Loveless knives were full tang with applied handle scales.

A.G. made this statement in 2003 regarding a "chute" knife he designed for Dietmar Kressler to make for him. "Harry Archer could well have been the pattern for Mr. Clark, the ubiquitous CIA problem solver in Tom Clancy's novels. On the Yalu at 17, Harry came home, got an education and had an exciting, if short, life (he died before he was 60). Harry worked for the United States, he spent a lot of time in the jungle teaching jungle combat and survival skills to American soldiers and soldiers of other countries as well. Harry loved knives -well made knives. In his lifetime he was probably Loveless' #2 or #3 customer. He was a strong influence on the design of custom combat knives and his design for the "Chute" knife is classic."

Bob Loveless was the first to make a knife based on what Harry had in mind. Bob is quoted in a post on Blade Forums on March 30 , 2008. "I invented the concept, I want to say in 1967 or 1968, in response to Harry Archer's requests. He described what he wanted; a knife that could serve him well in semi-tropical and tropical jungle areas as a survival knife and weapon. He wanted something that could be used for self-defense or as an offensive weapon, and a knife that could be lashed onto the end of a long pole for killing small game." "So, who was Archer? Harry never disclosed what his duty was, and I never asked him. His work was with an agency that operated in adjunct with the Special Forces. Archer's chute knife was meant to be a tool to help in a survival situation, and specifically to be lashed to the top of a chest pack, a chest chute; secondary parachute: so Harry could get at it quickly in case he got hung up in a tree after parachuting out of an airplane."

This Bob Dozier Chute Knife nods to the Loveless style; no holes in the guard, full tang construction and the typical Bob Loveless Green Canvas Micarta handle scales. In the beginning, Loveless would probably have used A2 blade steel, later popularizing the use of 154-CM and ATS-34 stainless. Bob has used D2 in this knife, the blade steel which he uses extensively. Because of Bob, D2 has become one of the most often used blade steels today.

The 4-3/4" mirror polished blade of D2 at 59-61 Rc. is a clip point with a strong swedge. The blade is 3/16" thick and measures 1-1/16" at the guard. The full, strongly tapered tang supports handle scales of Loveless' favorite handle material – Green Canvas Micarta. Measures 9-3/4" tip to butt. Weighs 8.5 oz., 13.8 oz. in the sheath. The solidly built leather sheath is made by Bob himself. Bob's handmade leather sheaths are the best to be found anywhere. Knife and sheath are both handmade in Bob's shop in St. Paul, Arkansas.
 
Harry Archer was a VMI Grad. who spent a lot of time in Vietnam; at least while I knew him, s well as other hot spots. He was a paratrooper and what I remember (this was about 30 yrs ago) is that the 'Chute Knife was an all-purpose knife that could get you out of a tree, should you get hung up, and serve as a general survival and combat knife. The top sharp clip was to be used in much the way you describe, Bob - in an over the head backwards swipe.

I am not able to report much on his "activities," really. I do remember him wrting from the field in Vietnam while I was in L.A.

I do, also, remember him as one of the nicest, most classy, gentlemen I've had the privilige of knowing. He died a few years ago. His memory will always mean so very much to me. What fond memories you've brought back, Bob. You'd have gotten along with him very well.

My "Archer 'Chute," designed in about 1972-73, was different than the Loveless version, maybe designed in about 1970-71(?), as it was a bit shorter and had a straighter handle and more belly in the bottom edge and a sharper-angled clip on top.

It would be neat, in my oinion, if Ken Warner and Bob Lovess were to write a book about him. A truly great man, who is worthy of being remembered.
 
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