Schrade-Loveless Collaboration & its iterations

S

Stelth

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Jul 15, 2007
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I've been going over the Collectors of Schrade website trying to nail down some details about the timeline and history of the Schrade-Loveless Hunter/Schrade Custom Made/ & Schrade Pro Hunter knives. Please correct me if I'm wrong; here's what I've found so far by looking through the short line catalogs...

From 1975-1976 Schrade made a Bob Loveless designed knife called the Schrade-Loveless Hunter (RL-2) I believe the blade was made from 154CM and it retailed for $100.

In 1977 the knife was refered to as the "Schrade Custom Made" and called the SCM 11. It also retailed for $100.

The 1978 catalog reverted back to calling it the RL-2 but now the retail price was $75.

1979 brought a new name for what looks like the same knife, the CH-2, or Schrade Custom Hunter. The catalog lists it as having Schrade+ steel for the first time. M.S.R.P was still $75.


I believe the knives of 1975 & 1976 had handles of burgundy delrin. I'm not sure what color was used in 1977, 1978, or 1979.
All of the above knives were listed at an overall length of 8".

These knives are not in the catalog from 1980 through 1990.

Then in 1991-1995 two knives called the Pro Hunter are introduced. The PH-1 (which based on its profile) looks like a clone to the 1975-1979 models. A smaller version called the Mini Pro Hunter (PH-2) is also offered. The Mini has an overall length of 7". These "new" knives had black delrin handles instead of the original burgundy. For five years the PH-1 listed at $74.95 while the PH-2 went for $59.95. In 1996 these two models were dropped from the catalog.

I have four questions:

1. Why did the knife drop the Loveless name in 1977 and then revert back to it in 1978?
2. What steels were used in 1977-1979 and 1991-1995?
3. Why was the name changed so often? From the "Schrade Loveless Hunter" to "Schrade custom Made" to "Schrade Custom Hunter" and finally to "Schrade Pro Hunter". Was there any real reason for this or is this just a typical example of Schrade being Schrade?
4. Did Bob loveless only get paid for the first two years of this design?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.
 
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Stelth said:
Then in 1991-1995 two knives called the Pro Hunter are introduced. The PH-1 (which based on its profile) looks like a clone to the 1975-1979 models. A smaller version called the Mini Pro Hunter (PH-2) is also offered. The Mini has an overall length of 7". These "new" knives had black delrin handles instead of the original burgundy. For five years the PH-1 listed at $74.95 while the PH-2 went for $59.95. In 1996 these two models were dropped from the catalog.
Click to expand...

Sorry that I cannot answer any of your reasonable questions, but I have a similar question regarding the PH knives: One of mine has a stag handle. Purchased shortly after the bankruptcy (when prices were reasonable) should this stag handled variation be considered an "end of days" knife, or was stag a standard option?
 
Hopefully Codger or someone of his stature will be by and can answer some of these questions.
 
Questions, Questions.. and will likely have responses of gargantium proportions....
Bob and Stelth if you wish you can see at least some of your answers with my knives shown on Larry Vickery's site and Larry will likely be able to give you the technical responses of what color handles in what years etc...

www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/corners/LarryH/index.htm
pages 5 of 18, and 9 of 18, show examples of the Schrade Loveless <3 different Loveless knives on page 9> all compared to the 1978 edition CH2 <Custom Hunter2> which was the true forerunner to the PH1 <Pro Hunter 1>..The CH2 of 1978 did not have the distinctive 'birdseye Loveless handle rivets' or the same shape brass cross guard as the RL2.....the RL1 was a white Delrin handle Schrade Loveless.....all the handles of the collaboration Schrade Loveless and the following CH2 were Delrin handles..The differences are easier to see in the photos than describe..
Bob I have Schrade boxes in the black/blue design which are PH1ES on the flap and on the reverse state Natural Stag handles/Polished Brass Cross Guard and Rivets and are specifically for your Stag PH1..so I do not believe they were end of days knockups.you will see examples of those Stag knives on my photos....The PHIEM Box States on reverse states Hand Finished MICARTA Handles,Polished Brass Guard and rivets........I have examples of the Burgundy and black handle PH1's with micarta handles....
If you look at those photo comparisons and if Codger or Larry V will chime in, some more questions may be answered...however being Schrade dont look for obvious answers...I've still got examples of all those knives except the white handle RL1 which I can show together......Hoo Roo.
 
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PH1.jpg

Thanks to Ebay, I'm finally in the Schrade-Loveless club now.
 
Stelth said:
Then in 1991-1995 two knives called the Pro Hunter are introduced. The PH-1 (which based on its profile) looks like a clone to the 1975-1979 models. A smaller version called the Mini Pro Hunter (PH-2) is also offered. The Mini has an overall length of 7". These "new" knives had black delrin handles instead of the original burgundy. For five years the PH-1 listed at $74.95 while the PH-2 went for $59.95. In 1996 these two models were dropped from the catalog.

I have four questions:

1. Why did the knife drop the Loveless name in 1977 and then revert back to it in 1978?
2. What steels were used in 1977-1979 and 1991-1995?
3. Why was the name changed so often? From the "Schrade Loveless Hunter" to "Schrade custom Made" to "Schrade Custom Hunter" and finally to "Schrade Pro Hunter". Was there any real reason for this or is this just a typical example of Schrade being Schrade?
4. Did Bob loveless only get paid for the first two years of this design?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.
Click to expand...
Please allow me to add to the confusion. :)
-Bruce
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I dont even understand the questions so am having difficulty with answers..
Stealth,the PH2< Pro Hunter2> you show is the smaller version of the original CH2 Custom Hunter2 design, which was designed by Schrade later than the RL2 however was loosely based on the original Schrade Loveless Collaboration knife...there are a number of differences between the CH2 and the Loveless not the least of which are the rivets,blade grind and brass cross guard shape...the later PH1 and PH2's are identical to the Custom Hunter2 but not identical to the collaboration knife.
I've seen genuine factory handles for the PH1 and PH2 in jigged bone <blue>,stag,micarta,delrin,birdseye maple,stained wood,plus to confuse everyone further the 500th Commemorative series had the special Loveless Birdseye Rivets but with the handle cross guard same as the PH1 and PH2....<both models comprised the 500th Series and handles were a special linen micarta effect I believe>.......now what was the question again?....Hoo Roo
 
Larry303 said:
I dont even understand the questions so am having difficulty with answers..
Stealth,the PH2< Pro Hunter2> you show is the smaller version of the original CH2 Custom Hunter2 design, which was designed by Schrade later than the RL2 however was loosely based on the original Schrade Loveless Collaboration knife...there are a number of differences between the CH2 and the Loveless not the least of which are the rivets,blade grind and brass cross guard shape...the later PH1 and PH2's are identical to the Custom Hunter2 but not identical to the collaboration knife.
I've seen genuine factory handles for the PH1 and PH2 in jigged bone <blue>,stag,micarta,delrin,birdseye maple,stained wood,plus to confuse everyone further the 500th Commemorative series had the special Loveless Birdseye Rivets but with the handle cross guard same as the PH1 and PH2....<both models comprised the 500th Series and handles were a special linen micarta effect I believe>.......now what was the question again?....Hoo Roo
Click to expand...
So.....The PH1 was loosely based on the Lovelace design?
Thanks for your insight here. :)
-Bruce
 
Interesting that this thread was brought back up, thank you, and nice knife. :)
About a month ago I met with a gentleman named Brent Harp for a second time. He was Bob Lovelece's protege. While we were talking knives, he showed me one of his custom knives built in the Lovelace tradition. I commented that I have a Schrade that is very similar. (PH1 above) He asked to see the knife, and I obliged. His comment was that it is a Schrade Lovelace knife, but they simply stopped putting the Lovelace name on them in later years.
Needless to say, I was happy to hear that. :cool:
 
Lovelace was a porn star. Bob Loveless was a great knife maker. And a very gracious man to boot. The original knives cost as much to make as they sold for. They were a "loss leader", a not for profit item. Bob did not receive full royalties on the other knives riffed off of this one. But still described his collaboration with Schrade as a positive experience.
 
This is some of my Schrade - Loveless knives. KG
RL2
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This is the &#8220;blue bone PH2&#8221; Lorry303 talked about; Schrade made these as a special order in 2002-03.
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CH2
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PH2
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PH1
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Line-up of: Schrade D'holders - Schrade Loveless and Schrade Lake & Walker Collaboration knives.
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No! I was not the original owner. I like to collect items with the original receipts.
They always help with dates, and prices - when and where. KG

My three Schrade RL2 knives together.
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This is one of the "special order PH2s with the Blue bone handles"
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koldgold said:
No! I was not the original owner. I like to collect items with the original receipts.
They always help with dates,
Click to expand...
That's a good idea when you can get them, and I think that would add to the collectible factor. :)
I would bet that Mr Harp would love to see your collection in person, and for that matter, so would I. ;)
 
I like all of the Schrade Collaboration knives.
The Lake & Walker knife, made in 2000 is another collaboration knife I like.
 
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