Would you trade a Loveless for a Walker?

N

notslow

Joined
May 1, 2005
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32
I had an offer to trade a riverside Loveless and an old model 7 Lile for a Mike Walker liner lock. My Loveless is in excellent shape with linen micarta handle and the Lile is pretty good with stag. The Walker is clean too. With Ti. bolsters, stainless blade, and a jigged bone type of handle. I really like Mike walker knives, but I also like the Loveless. What do you guys think?

Will
 
Why do you think I should keep the Loveless? If the Walker had the zipper blade or some engraving I wouldn't have to consider, but it is a bit plain.
 
Depends what Loveless and how much you like the Walker :)
Is the market value comparable on your Lovelss+Lile against the Walker? In case you don't really know, getting an appraisal from an expert like Bernard Levine would be wisely spent money.
 
Any photos available? Mike just sold his knife at the NY show for $8500 this weekend. I'm sure it turned over for quite a bit more before it hit the door
 
Virtually all of Loveless's work is valuable. I am not so sure about M. Walker's early work. I saw an early folder of his languish for well less than a thousand a few years ago from a dealer. There is very little aftermarket experience with the Walkers to compare.

Plus an early Lile? I would surmise your two knives are worth around $2500 if in very good shape. I'd be hard pressed to see that returned. I would think asking Custom Dealer would be a much better barometer of customs than Bernard Levine.

I may be wrong, but this is my take.

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Virtually all of Loveless's work is valuable. I am not so sure about M. Walker's early work. I saw an early folder of his languish for well less than a thousand a few years ago from a dealer. There is very little aftermarket experience with the Walkers to compare.

Plus an early Lile? I would surmise your two knives are worth around $2500 if in very good shape. I'd be hard pressed to see that returned. Coop
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Depends on the Walker, but I would value the GOOD mid-80's one's at around $2,000, if it a recent one with a zipper blade, it is closer to $5,000. The Lile could be worth around $1,000. So Coop is very close to a reasonable price. Loveless knives are starting at around $5,000, if in very good shape, to give you some perspective.

Keep the Loveless!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Keep the Loveless. Only certain Walkers are desirable, all Loveless are!

Win
 
Why are the Loveless's so valuable? I don't get it. Although I have a lot of customs I never buy for investment, I buy because I like and appreciate them. If they go up so be it.
 
Larry B. said:
Why are the Loveless's so valuable? I don't get it. Although I have a lot of customs I never buy for investment, I buy because I like and appreciate them. If they go up so be it.
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You are buying the name and the legend.
 
From a PURE dollar perspective, you would be getting the WAY short end of the stick! But if you really LOVE the Walker I could understand it...MAYBE. If it were me, I'd consider selling the Loveless and buying or ordering ofther knives. It seems to me that you prefer the aesthetic more than the maker "name." I have friend you might like to meet if you are interested in an even trade for some really exquisite engraved knives.
 
I don't particularly like most Walker knives, so the answer would be easy for me. I see not very fancy Walker folders for $3000.00 to $4000.00. The Loveless is worth more than that by itself.
 
Larry B. said:
But why is he a name and a legend?
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Good question. One which I have no answer for. Just know ye that Loveless knives ARE very collectable. Keep the Loveless.
 
Larry B. said:
But why is he a name and a legend?
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Loveless is a legend because he did some things better than anybody else.

Loveless is a design genius, he is to knives, what Pininfarina is to cars.

Most makers have made a drop point hunter of his design, without even knowing it. The Loveless drop point is the most copied design of this generation.

Here's what else he did/does first:

1. Popularized 154CM and BG42 as knife steels before anybody else. Has a steel named after him, RWL-34.
2. Possibly the creator of the tapered tang, definitely it's first custom practitioner.
3. Created the Subhilt fighter, copied, but never overshadowed.
4. Built the first chute knife, co-designed by Harry Archer.
5. Creates some of the sexiest designs ever seen in a knife.
6. Is the prototypical "artist", if he likes you, he WILL charm the pants off you, if you are a woman, if he does not like you, will make you feel like dirt. This varies from day to day, and frame of mind.
7. Creator of the "Naked Lady" logo, one of the coolest knifemakers' marks ever. If you see one, you can even see the "lips" on the woman.:eek:
8. More factory collaborations than probably any other maker, Schrade, Gerber, Lone Wolf Knives, Beretta.... the list goes on.
9. Influence on other makers; S.R. Johnson, Mike Lovett, John Young, George Herron, Pat Crawford....the list goes on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thx Steve, I have always admired his knives but I couldn't understand why they commanded such high prices.
 
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