whole lotta Loveless

[SharpByCoop]

Just to clarify for those who may not closely follow Loveless knife sales, knives marked "... Loveless, maker" and those marked "...Loveless, knives" have very different values. "Maker" knives are pieces made prior to his passing. Those marked "Knives" were made following his passing. Again, very different values between the two, with the much higher pricing on the "Maker" marked pieces.

"For what it's worth."

Yes, good point. I kind of assumed everyone interested in Loveless knives knew that, however probably not.
I would hope anyone purchasing the later Loveless marked "knives" would know.

You are both correct. In terms of collectibility there IS an aura. Here's BOTH examples:

However.... in fairness, the knives themselves haven't changed one iota, certainly ones made in the last five to ten years. Jim Merritt had been behind the scenes for 20+ years on the earlier production, and he's still working hard in the 'Loveless Knives' shop now. They have NOT tried to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. (Nor did anyone infer that).

I've worked with the new management (Russell Klaehn with Jim Merritt), and they are doing all they can, in good faith, to keep the 'brand' alive and valuable.

Still, it's good to educate and understand the distinctions, as well as appreciate the qualities.

Coop

 

[betzner]

You are both correct. In terms of collectibility there IS an aura. Here's BOTH examples:

However.... in fairness, the knives themselves haven't changed one iota, certainly ones made in the last five to ten years. Jim Merritt had been behind the scenes for 20+ years on the earlier production, and he's still working hard in the 'Loveless Knives' shop now. They have NOT tried to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. (Nor did anyone infer that).

I've worked with the new management (Russell Klaehn with Jim Merritt), and they are doing all they can, in good faith, to keep the 'brand' alive and valuable.

Still, it's good to educate and understand the distinctions, as well as appreciate the qualities.

Coop

Absolutely agree. Educating those who might not have had full information was the sole and overriding reason for my post.

 

[JParanee]

One of my favorite loveless designs ^^^^^^^^^

 

[brownshoe]

So if it's all cool that Loveless' knives live on after his death, I wonder, anyone on this forum buying the Post-Bob knives? If so why; if not why not? I don't have the money to play with Loveless and where I go, there ain't many for sale. However, I come across a lot of Liles and I wouldn't buy a Post-Jimmy knife. To me it just ain't a Lile if it's got the "dot"

Call me a cynic, but changing one word on the mark kind of makes it a good way to separate money from rich people who don't know what they are really buying...just like the "dot".

 

[john april]

brownshoe, i bought my first two in the past year. both riverside. a utility in brown canvas, and a fighter in green canvas with a 6 5/8" blade. why- because i collect knives, my first knife making book was by loveless, the loveless mystique, the designer, the history, the personality. the more stories i heard about him being "off character" the more i liked him. i love the one about someone interrupting his conversation at a knife show because he wanted bob to critique his knife and bob took a look at it and threw it in the nearby trash barrel ! another reason for buying them is that i am a maker, i wanted to see how they were built, fit and finish and all the details. i purchased riverside versions, i don't remember where i read this or how accurate it is, but as years progressed bob was making knives in the shop less and less as jim merritt did more of the production. a year before he passed, jim could have completely made the knife, but the old stamp was on it. greatly affecting value, but made by the same person. i know he had shop helpers over the years, i bought riverside so i could hopefully be comfortable that he made at least half or more of the knife for sure.

 

[JParanee]

brownshoe, i bought my first two in the past year. both riverside. a utility in brown canvas, and a fighter in green canvas with a 6 5/8" blade. why- because i collect knives, my first knife making book was by loveless, the loveless mystique, the designer, the history, the personality. the more stories i heard about him being "off character" the more i liked him. i love the one about someone interrupting his conversation at a knife show because he wanted bob to critique his knife and bob took a look at it and threw it in the nearby trash barrel ! another reason for buying them is that i am a maker, i wanted to see how they were built, fit and finish and all the details. i purchased riverside versions, i don't remember where i read this or how accurate it is, but as years progressed bob was making knives in the shop less and less as jim merritt did more of the production. a year before he passed, jim could have completely made the knife, but the old stamp was on it. greatly affecting value, but made by the same person. i know he had shop helpers over the years, i bought riverside so i could hopefully be comfortable that he made at least half or more of the knife for sure.

That's a great story

 

[MT Damascus]

Bob Loveless-Maker is more important to me, the designs are something, but the fact that Bob hand made my knife is more important. I love the designs, but Bob himself, was my type of person. I carry, sharpen, and use mine often, just as Bob would want.

From the late 70's, from Al Williams collection, Lignum Vitae

 

[betzner]

So if it's all cool that Loveless' knives live on after his death, I wonder, anyone on this forum buying the Post-Bob knives? If so why; if not why not? I don't have the money to play with Loveless and where I go, there ain't many for sale. However, I come across a lot of Liles and I wouldn't buy a Post-Jimmy knife. To me it just ain't a Lile if it's got the "dot"

Call me a cynic, but changing one word on the mark kind of makes it a good way to separate money from rich people who don't know what they are really buying...just like the "dot".

Brownshoe, I will GLADLY call you a cynic, because the change in name is precisely what allows one to distinguish between the two knife states - and in fact allows those who are both rich and not rich to KNOW which is which. Fact is, as stated in this thread somewhere, the post-passing knives sell for A LOT LESS than the pre-passing pieces. If you want to find fault anywhere, don't throw it out on Jim Merritt or Loveless Knives, but rather the few who deal in post-passing knives without revealing the difference.

 

[Ellis]

I have bought a number of the post death logo Loveless knives from Jimmy, going to the shop today as a matter of fact.
They are superbly made and only time will tell the values.
Dave

 

[betzner]

In complete agreement, Dave. Only time will tell. And I cannot respond properly without mentioning that you are certainly one of the "Good Guys", not one of the "few" to whom I referred above. And except for the difference in the word "maker" and "knives" on the blade, I want to make sure everyone understands me, that for the last what, 15 to 20 years, there has been absolutely no difference in materials, construction (or physical maker, pretty much) between the two. Just that single word.

Bob