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  #1  
Old 09-02-2010, 09:31 PM
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Robert W. Loveless, True Legend

Bob Loveless passed away this morning at 11:30 a.m., peacefully, according to Jim Merritt, at home in Riverside, California. He had been quite ill for a few months and things were not getting better. He is now at rest, if he will rest, even where he is now, and out of pain. I need not relate what Bob means to me and how he affected my life and my thinking regarding knives. He treated me like a son, which says it all, regarding our relationship when I was working with him. I do what I do because of him, certainly not discounting the affect of Gil Hibben and Harvey Draper, Rod Chappel, Buster Warenski and A.G. Russell. All were of great influence on me, but the Loveless Knife and the man, Bob Loveless, set me on the path that I still follow, at least as far as knife designs go. I'm basically a "Loveless-style" knifemaker.

Rarely do we meet someone who lived his life as he desired, doing whatever he wanted and accomplishing as much as Bob did. He will forever be the one we speak of when we talk of the modern "Benchmade" knife. Not many have had a greater influence on the handmade, and even factory knife industry. I don't mean to take away anything from Bo Randall, Scagel, Morseth, Ruana, Buck and many others, but the word "Loveless" means what it means and no one can dispute that. A great man, a great mind, a good man, a man with whom it was certainly an honor to work beside. I'm sure that will become even more of an honor, as time goes by and as I consider what a blessing that time was for me. Jim Merrit said that Bob passed peaceably, for which I am thankful. Thank you, Mr. Loveless! My prayers and love go out to his daughters and families and his wife, Yoshi.
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Last edited by Steve; 09-03-2010 at 05:17 AM. Reason: typo, additions
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Old 09-02-2010, 09:52 PM
AlanR AlanR is offline
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Blessed be. He has laid his mark on all of us.

-Alan R.
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Old 09-02-2010, 10:49 PM
BernieP BernieP is offline
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My condolence to you Steve..I know this must be a very sad time for you...as I am too...RIP Bob I will miss you.
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Old 09-03-2010, 12:49 AM
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Thank you. I can't put much into words at the moment, too much going through my head, all day.....
Guess we all need to process just what feelings we have about Bob and how to express them, some more than others. Thank you, again.


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Old 09-03-2010, 02:25 AM
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My condolences to you Steve, and Bob's family.
Robert


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Old 09-03-2010, 05:19 AM
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VictorCoelho VictorCoelho is offline
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Sad news!
A true legend...will live forever!
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Old 09-03-2010, 01:11 PM
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Robert Washburn Robert Washburn is offline
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Bob Loveless

Steve, Iam so sorry to hear this.My condolances to you and his family. Robert


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Old 09-03-2010, 08:04 PM
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My condolences to you Steve, I am sorry.
I would like a lot of knowing Mr. Bob Loveless.
I also want my condolences for the family of Loveless.


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Old 09-04-2010, 09:37 AM
Charles Vestal Charles Vestal is offline
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Steve, I would like to express my condolences to you for the loss of your dear friend.

Prayers also for the Loveless family.

Charles
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Old 09-05-2010, 12:44 AM
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Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments and remembrances of Bob. I think, someday, I might just sit down and write a little memory or two, now and then, of that time I spent in L.A. and Riverside. When it feels right and if it wouldn't be out of line. I'll have to think about it.......


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Old 09-05-2010, 07:41 AM
Charles Vestal Charles Vestal is offline
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Steve, I don't think it would be out of line at all.

I would enjoy reading about your time spent with Mr. Loveless and I'm sure others feel the same.

One of the lessons I know you learned from Mr. Loveless is the sharing of techniques and the way you make your knives, for this I am grateful.

All the best to you

Charles
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Old 09-06-2010, 10:33 PM
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Steve,

I'll guarantee that Mr. Loveless was proud when he looked at your knives, too!

Ditto on the stories... I'd love to hear them too!!

Alex


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Old 09-09-2010, 12:38 PM
Smithknife Smithknife is offline
 
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With deepest sympathy my condolences to you Steve, Bob's family and everyone else that looked up to Loveless as a knife legend.
In my book he was the greatest knife designer of the last century and probably all times. He took knifemaking out of the stone age and brought it to life.
Steve, I often think of the time when you worked in the loveless shop as the 'Golden Age". It is the Age of Enlightenment where the light started shinning.
He was to knifemaking what Gretzky was to hockey.


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Old 09-10-2010, 11:34 AM
jayers3673 jayers3673 is offline
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R W Loveless

Yes, I remember the early 70's & the " Golden Age "; when Bob took a group of
knifemakers from the wilderness & led them singlehandedly into the promise land
with his designs & execution. He showed everyone else what was possible. The world wobbled on its axis; I swear it did, at least from a knifemakers stand point. Bob was the best who ever lived, knifemaking included.

What a Loss.....

I have been struggling for words ever since Sept 2. I really thought he was immortal.
or at the very least, should have been.

I am very sorry Steve & for his family. I know Bob was like a second Father to you
and you were like a son to him.

What a Hole this leaves in all of us .....especially you.
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Old 09-13-2010, 01:12 PM
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Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. Bob is a one of a kind and anyone who was privileged to know him had a great opportunity.
I called him in the spring of 1971, upon the suggestion of A. G. Russell and after a little visit on the phone, he asked me to send him some samples of my work. I sent him a little ivory-handled Draper skinner (Subsequently stolen from the table at the Houston Show in 1972?) and another knife, I don't recall exactly which one, maybe my first knife, made at the Hibben shop, not sure. He soon called back and said something like, "Well, son, (He called me "son" often, even early on) if you really did make these knives, come on down and we'll talk," or "...show me what you can do." Or something like that. I flew down to L.A., he picked me up at LAX, quite an experience in and of itself for this country boy! He then drove us to 4319 W 156 St. in Lawndale, pointed out some bars of steel, he called 154-CM, lying there in the driveway and put me up in a little motel a few blocks from his home fed me and I worked with him for a couple of days. He then said, "Go get your things and come on back." (Realize that I'm paraphrasing here, that was 39 years ago!) I was a bit nervous and excited, but didn't really know the this was the start of me getting to know a fellow who would soon become one of the greatest men in the custom knife world.


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Last edited by Steve; 04-20-2011 at 06:17 PM. Reason: typos
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