R.W. (Bob) Loveless (1929 – 2010) or Bob Loveless was a custom knife maker who popularized hollow ground drop point blades and fully tapered tangs. He was born in Ohio and began making knives in 1954. Design, beauty and usefulness made R.W. Loveless knives popular throughout the world. He was committed to making the knife an extension of the hand, both blade and handle.
Popular patterns that were made include Deleware Maids (1954-1960), Baby Bear, Big Bear, Nessmuk Skinner, Chute knives, combat / fighter knives, etc. Among his customers were the US Army Special Forces and the CIA. He served as Gerber knives lead designer during his career as well. R.W Loveless knives are legendary and are increasingly prized by collectors. A nice assortment of Bob Loveless knives are for sale below.
Check out these vintage R.W. Loveless Knives that are currently available on eBay. I appreciate any traffic from these links as I earn a portion of eBay’s commission when an item is purchased, at no extra cost to you. THANK YOU!!! – Jesse, oldpocketknives.com
“What’s the point of a new knife in a museum or a cabinet? That’s for history to decide, not the knifemaker.”
– R.W. (Bob) Loveless
Interesting Facts:
- His first knife sold for $14 to Abercrombie & Fitch and by the time of his death, were selling for up to $20,000. Since then some have sold for $150,000.
- While serving with the Merchant Marine, he forged his first knife from an old Packard automobile spring in the early 1950’s.
- Bob Loveless would not sell a combat / fighting knife to anyone unless they showed identification, proving they worked in a hazardous profession.
- In addition to the United States, R.W. Loveless knives are / were very popular is Japan, revered for their beauty, balance and usefulness.
- At one point during the 1980’s, there was a five year wait for Loveless knives.
- A drop point blade, which Loveless made popular, features a convex spine curving down from the handle to the tip of the blade.
- Loveless passed away at his home in Riverside, CA in 2010.
“When a man picks up a knife, there’s an old memory from the collective unconscious that surfaces. A knife is an atavistic experience. It was man’s first tool and weapon. Man was chipping flint into cutting edges before he invented the wheel. No matter how sophisticated we become, a knife takes us back to the cave.”
– R. W. Loveless
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