Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
The genius of Robert Waldorf Loveless was in his knife design, and use of materials. Bob never claimed to be the best knifemaker in the world, as a matter of fact, in both print, and person, Bob claimed a number of other knifemakers to be at the absolute top of the game. He held Yoshindo Yoshihara in very high esteem(from a conversation we had at the AKI in 2005) and felt that both Steve "S.R." Johnson and Jim Merritt could not be bested in terms that Bob considered important in knifemaking-quality of grinds, fit, finish and consistency. As a matter of fact, Bob said "there are so many knifemakers out there doing the best quality work that I don't have the time or the inclination to get to know them all, and that makes me very happy".
That said, Bob always had time for up-and-coming makers, and the list of makers that have since become accomplished is both long and impressive. Why did he do this? It is my feeling that Bob knew in his heart that there was only one Bob Loveless, and the combination of timing, luck, resolve, skills and back-breaking work is what got him where he was. Bob was extremely pragmatic, and the only methods to ensure that "his" way continued was to directly impact and educate as many makers as possible. There was no reason for them to have to start completely from scratch, in that case it made it harder for Bob to have them "unlearn" what they had learned. So he decided to help them, when and where he could, and ensure that the Loveless legacy of knifemaking continued.
Major Louis Chow(U.S. Army, Ret.) and Phil Lobred are two friends who have known Bob Loveless for many, many years, and encouraged me to visit Bob at his shop, and I never did. Because I have experienced the heartbreak of teachers and mentors not living up to initial impressions of greatness, I have kept my heroes at arm's length, and make no mistake, in the world of knives, Bob has always been one of my heroes, and that remains to this day. I have conversed with Bob Loveless in person three times, and spoken to him on the telephone twice. Due to my close relationship with Phil Lobred, I was asked to attend the Loveless memorial service last October.
From what I have seen, and heard from those that know, Bob could be sweet as honey or sour as vinegar, and left quite a few hopeful makers with crushed feelings, and saltily critiqued knives. If you went to The Shop thinking you were all that and a bag of chips, Bob would disabuse you of that notion fairly quickly. He didn't want anyone to make his knives EXACTLY as he did, as that was a tall order, but he did want aspiring makers to try and get as close as possible, and that is how collectors tend to judge the quality of a maker working in the Loveless style. There is close, and there is close enough, and only close enough is the starting point for serious consideration.
It is important to understand that for me, the admiration of Bob Loveless came from the designs that I saw in photographs for probably 15 years before I ever held a Bob Loveless Big Bear or Battle Bowie. Legends of the Loveless Logo by Al Williams was my guidebook. The first Loveless subhilt I ever handled was owned by David Ellis of Exquisite Knives in 2000(the knives I was permitted to handle exceeded my hopes by far, they were, and are, wonderful). I purchased my the second Loveless knife I have owned from The Shop last year, about two weeks before Bob passed on. I'm not an expert and don't claim to be. I am a fan of Loveless knives, and was fortunate enough to have had some experience with Bob, The Shop and own one of his knives. I try to do justice to Bob's memory by holding a Loveless walking tour on Sundays at the Blade Show, taking all interested to some of the greatest Loveless dealers available.
I'd like to hear from the rest of those who have rememberances, stories or thoughts about Bob Loveless at this time, slightly more than a year from the time that Bob passed.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
That said, Bob always had time for up-and-coming makers, and the list of makers that have since become accomplished is both long and impressive. Why did he do this? It is my feeling that Bob knew in his heart that there was only one Bob Loveless, and the combination of timing, luck, resolve, skills and back-breaking work is what got him where he was. Bob was extremely pragmatic, and the only methods to ensure that "his" way continued was to directly impact and educate as many makers as possible. There was no reason for them to have to start completely from scratch, in that case it made it harder for Bob to have them "unlearn" what they had learned. So he decided to help them, when and where he could, and ensure that the Loveless legacy of knifemaking continued.
Major Louis Chow(U.S. Army, Ret.) and Phil Lobred are two friends who have known Bob Loveless for many, many years, and encouraged me to visit Bob at his shop, and I never did. Because I have experienced the heartbreak of teachers and mentors not living up to initial impressions of greatness, I have kept my heroes at arm's length, and make no mistake, in the world of knives, Bob has always been one of my heroes, and that remains to this day. I have conversed with Bob Loveless in person three times, and spoken to him on the telephone twice. Due to my close relationship with Phil Lobred, I was asked to attend the Loveless memorial service last October.
From what I have seen, and heard from those that know, Bob could be sweet as honey or sour as vinegar, and left quite a few hopeful makers with crushed feelings, and saltily critiqued knives. If you went to The Shop thinking you were all that and a bag of chips, Bob would disabuse you of that notion fairly quickly. He didn't want anyone to make his knives EXACTLY as he did, as that was a tall order, but he did want aspiring makers to try and get as close as possible, and that is how collectors tend to judge the quality of a maker working in the Loveless style. There is close, and there is close enough, and only close enough is the starting point for serious consideration.
It is important to understand that for me, the admiration of Bob Loveless came from the designs that I saw in photographs for probably 15 years before I ever held a Bob Loveless Big Bear or Battle Bowie. Legends of the Loveless Logo by Al Williams was my guidebook. The first Loveless subhilt I ever handled was owned by David Ellis of Exquisite Knives in 2000(the knives I was permitted to handle exceeded my hopes by far, they were, and are, wonderful). I purchased my the second Loveless knife I have owned from The Shop last year, about two weeks before Bob passed on. I'm not an expert and don't claim to be. I am a fan of Loveless knives, and was fortunate enough to have had some experience with Bob, The Shop and own one of his knives. I try to do justice to Bob's memory by holding a Loveless walking tour on Sundays at the Blade Show, taking all interested to some of the greatest Loveless dealers available.
I'd like to hear from the rest of those who have rememberances, stories or thoughts about Bob Loveless at this time, slightly more than a year from the time that Bob passed.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
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