Why Are Chute Knives So Expensive?

L

Liverpain

Joined
May 3, 2021
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Why are chute knives in particular so expensive? The original Bob Loveless chute knife pattern knife is one of the most consistently expensive blades I have ever seen and would like to know why. I also have been wanting to buy one and can't seem to find anything under $400. I know that bark river made a "chute knife" but the only thing that makes it a chute knife is the steel and swedge.
 
Liverpain said:
Why are chute knives in particular so expensive? ….
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What are you calling a “chute“ knife? If you were looking under a different term, I am sure that you will find many similar utility knives from a wide range of makers in a broad range of quality. You are limiting your search result by using a meaningless ‘niche’ term.


n2s
 
A Loveless style Chute Knife, perfectly executed, is a challenging knife - 8" and 3" hollow grinds, rounded ricasso, perfectly soldered/pinned double guard. hollow ground/tapered tang with liners, mirror finish. This is not an entry level knife. A well done custom Loveless style Chute at $450 is rock bottom as far as pricing goes IMHO. A cool design and very popular :)

Then there are all kinds of embellishments to the Chute such as sub hilts, rear bolsters, holes in the double guard, extra blade length, mammoth ivory, etc, that really drive up that $450 price.o_O:rolleyes:

Black-G-10-Chute.jpgSteingass_170411.jpg
 
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i would not consider chute knife a "meaningless term". it was designed by harry archer and bob loveless during vietnam for paratroopers as a survival knife. its dual edge could split parachute cord knots in one motion when they got caught in trees and were hanging. i am more perplexed by the loveless big bear, its really just an extended chute knife, with a subhilt that usually cost 3 or more times the price of a chute knife.
 
not2sharp said:
What are you calling a “chute“ knife? If you were looking under a different term, I am sure that you will find many similar utility knives from a wide range of makers in a broad range of quality. You are limiting your search result by using a meaningless ‘niche’ term.


n2s
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I'm talking about the Bob Loveless pattern of chute knife, like I mentioned in my post
 
TK Steingass said:
A Loveless style Chute Knife, perfectly executed, is a challenging knife - 8" and 3" hollow grinds, rounded ricasso, perfectly soldered/pinned double guard. hollow ground/tapered tang with liners, mirror finish. This is not an entry level knife. A well done custom Loveless style Chute at $450 is rock bottom as far as pricing goes IMHO. A cool design and very popular :)

Chute

Subhilt Chute
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That helps illustrate it better. The more research I did into the subject the more confused I would get. The chute knife is one of my absolute favorite patterns and I'm gonna have to spend at least another year saving for one. Hopefully someone here on the forums could make me one to my specs.
 
I find the defining characteristic of an RWL chute knife is not ONLY the double edges, yet the 'lashing holes' drilled into the guards?

Since RWL and Harry Archer defined this limited usage knife, I can't see that anything other than this as a 'chute' knife. Or was this a later variant?

Example below.

Loveless_KL121-web.jpg
 
I think it would be more helpful to ask 'how can I afford X' than to ask 'why does X cost what it does'. I costs what it does, because that's what it costs. Being able to afford it or not is a completely separate thing, and is actually within one's control to change
 
Lorien said:
I think it would be more helpful to ask 'how can I afford X' than to ask 'why does X cost what it does'. I costs what it does, because that's what it costs. Being able to afford it or not is a completely separate thing, and is actually within one's control to change
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I agree, but i'm also not a professional knife maker so I'd like to better understand what goes into this pattern that makes it so expensive. Anyone can slap a nice body kit on a honda civic frame but it's still a honda civic. Sorta like wondering what makes a Bently or Ferrari as much as it is.
 
SharpByCoop said:
I find the defining characteristic of an RWL chute knife is not ONLY the double edges, yet the 'lashing holes' drilled into the guards?

Since RWL and Harry Archer defined this limited usage knife, I can't see that anything other than this as a 'chute' knife. Or was this a later variant?

Example below.

View attachment 1598397
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From the research I have done these would be THE Chute Knife, but he never specified a reason why the holes were removed
 
Check this guys work!!! Very reasonable pricing for the quality of work too!!

Loveless Style Chute knives

Loveless Style Chute Knives from Vojta Destensky... A) Black G10 with D2 steel..$475.00 shipped conus lower 48 B) Archer style Chute Green Linen Micarta D2 steel ..$475.00 shipped conus lower 48 email me at lowenllcjm1@gmail.com with questions. No trades..
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Here are some stunning examples of Mr Loveless' design!!!

Loveless style Chute knives

A few of my recent purchases....I have become obsessed with the history of the Chute knife..
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
this info is from the link above. - 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."
 
SharpByCoop said:
I find the defining characteristic of an RWL chute knife is not ONLY the double edges, yet the 'lashing holes' drilled into the guards?

Since RWL and Harry Archer defined this limited usage knife, I can't see that anything other than this as a 'chute' knife. Or was this a later variant?

Example below.

View attachment 1598397
Click to expand...

I don't believe the lack of holes in the double guard disqualify what most of us makers call a chute knife - I get most of my orders requesting a lack of holes in the double guard. Like this Ram's Horn/RWL-34 chute I just finished.......the profile is from an original Bob Loveless Chute pattern sent to me by Jim Merritt. However, when I make a spec chute up for grabs, I'll put the holes in the double guard as it adds more elements to the knife.

Sheep-Horn-Chute.jpg
 
Here is one of my favorites

Loveless Style Little Bear

Gentlemen: For your consideration is this Loveless style Little Bear in CPM-154/Ivory G-10. The hollow ground primaries are mirror finish while the flats have an 800 grit satin finish. The ivory G-10 scales are set with eight hidden pins. Red liners on tapered tang. Superb fit and finish...
bladeforums.com bladeforums.com

n2s
 
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