Share Your Favorite Bob Loveless Story
What are your favorite Loveless stories? Did you ever talk to him at a knife show, call him and talk to him on the phone, buy one of his knives, etc., etc.? If so, tell us about it. Here's one of my Loveless stories:
One of the first times I ever saw him behind a table at a knife show was at an early '90s Guild Show. Totally intimidated, I walk up to his table and stammered some non-sensical question and he just glared at me like he wanted to tear my throat out and opened his mouth to expose this huge, cavernous, gaping puss with no teeth in it (he wasn't wearing his dentures that day) and just starting screaming/snarling/growling at me in a ghoulish kind of way. I left his table totally dumbfounded. Later I had some good conversations with him. That day wasn't one of them.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by SmokeEdge on -
I met Bob back in the 80"s,I was visiting a friend here in Cali,before I moved here.My friend had mentioned that one of his neighbors made knives.I was interested,not knowing who it was,I was introduced.Wow I didn't expect this dude.Kinda weird,kinda gruff,but after a few minutes,turned out to be cool.We talked for hours,he was a very opinionated guy as far as knives go(or pretty much anything else).I left with a hand shake and a promise of a single edge big bear.Well never happened,I called him once about it and he said quite frankly,I'm not going to make that.Oh well.....by the way ,I still remember the hat,and when your close to him,that smell,the loveless stank....those were the day's
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Permalink Reply by Steve Shackleford on -
Cool stuff, SmokeEdge. Since Bob was in California and rarely flew in his later years, and I'm in Tennessee, I rarely saw him unless it was at a BLADE Show West when it was in California. He was really pretty cool in person but could be snappy on the phone--but then who could blame the guy? He probably received more phone calls from more kooks than anybody in the history of knives.
One phone conversation i had with him i remember fondly. We got to talking about movies and he talked about how Shane was his favorite movie. I've since read elsewhere that it was ONE of his favorites but i seem to recall in our phone conversation that he said it was his favorite.
Anyhow, he got to talking about how much he liked Shane and especially Jack Palance, who plays the bad-guy gunslinger in the movie, Wilson. Bob said he later met Palance in a bar in California and they talked awhile and Bob said he really enjoyed the conversation with Palance. What i wouldn't have given to have been a fly on the wall listening in to that discussion.
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Permalink Reply by SmokeEdge on
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I know,it's almost odd how he can get a hold of you when talking,and how we would just listen.The few moments I had with him left a lasting impression on me.I will never forget it.I got the Shane movie,I dunno, not my thing there,but yeah,to be there and hear what they talked about.Priceless
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Permalink Reply by David F Pitt on -
I called Bob in 1971 after reading an article on him in a gun magizine. I had seen one of his drop points in the article and wanted one.I told him I wanted to buy one and asked how much it would be.
He quoted me $250 and I said that was a lot of money but I could handle it and where do I send the check.And then he droped the hammer on me by telling me it would be about 2 years wait (I waqnted it for Deer Season that year). I told him to forget about it and that I would just make my own.Bob said"If I can help you in any way just give me a call" I must have talked to him every other day for about 2 months until I had my first knife finished.Upon finishing my knife I sent it to him and he told me what I had done wrong and what I had done right.
Bob was one of the signatures on my Guild Application when I joined.
He was a great maker and a generous man to other makers
Dave
http://bearpawcustoms.blademakers.com
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Permalink Reply by Steve Shackleford on
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I'd heard from any number of sources that Bob was great in handing out knifemaking advice to anyone and everyone who asked. Your story is just one more instance of it, David. Thanks for participating.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Britton on
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It was LONG, long ago, like before dirt ! We were at the Glenwood Manor Hotel in Kansas City, having our show along with the Kansas Gun Collectors. It was my first Guild show and I was very excited and on an emotional high til I woke up at about 3 am to Bob Loveless cussing somebody out at the top of his voice......he was screaming at someone in the parking lot. Last I heard, someone dragged Loveless into his room and settled him down a bit. Next day, I saw Loveless being nasty to some kid who asked him for one of his brochures.
Thank God for people like Jimmy Lile and Ted Dowell and Billy Mace Imel....who helped we beginners get our heads on straight and build a guild based on principles of honesty and decency.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Shackleford on
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Hi, Tim. The "someone" who "dragged" Bob into his room--that wasn't Clyde Fischer, was it?
Tim Britton said:
It was LONG, long ago, like before dirt ! We were at the Glenwood Manor Hotel in Kansas City, having our show along with the Kansas Gun Collectors. It was my first Guild show and I was very excited and on an emotional high til I woke up at about 3 am to Bob Loveless cussing somebody out at the top of his voice......he was screaming at someone in the parking lot. Last I heard, someone dragged Loveless into his room and settled him down a bit. Next day, I saw Loveless being nasty to some kid who asked him for one of his brochures.
Thank God for people like Jimmy Lile and Ted Dowell and Billy Mace Imel....who helped we beginners get our heads on straight and build a guild based on principles of honesty and decency.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Britton on
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Hi Steve ! no idea who it was. I do want to make something clear though.....I have HUGE respect for Bob Loveless as a knifemaker/designer. He won't ever be "the most liked" but he helped give birth to our industry. Knifemaking has always attracted some rather "prickly" personalities......I doubt seriously that any of us were voted most friendly or most likely to succeed back in our school days. Most knifemakers I know emerge from their shops about showtime and have rather poorly developed social skills. Greeting the public simply aint our favorite part of our chosen vocation. My sis reminds me that I used to get report cards that stated that "Timmy doesn't play well with others". Deb helps me out a lot....especially when I start wondering how many more shows I'm gonna do. If you see us at a show together.....deal with her. I didn't sleep well, have heartburn from eating hotel food, and my feet and back hurt. Just gotta love this "business" !! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
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Permalink Reply by Steve Shackleford on
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Well said, Tim. Funny, too.
Tim Britton said:
Hi Steve ! no idea who it was. I do want to make something clear though.....I have HUGE respect for Bob Loveless as a knifemaker/designer. He won't ever be "the most liked" but he helped give birth to our industry. Knifemaking has always attracted some rather "prickly" personalities......I doubt seriously that any of us were voted most friendly or most likely to succeed back in our school days. Most knifemakers I know emerge from their shops about showtime and have rather poorly developed social skills. Greeting the public simply aint our favorite part of our chosen vocation. My sis reminds me that I used to get report cards that stated that "Timmy doesn't play well with others". Deb helps me out a lot....especially when I start wondering how many more shows I'm gonna do. If you see us at a show together.....deal with her. I didn't sleep well, have heartburn from eating hotel food, and my feet and back hurt. Just gotta love this "business" !! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
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Permalink Reply by John Dennehy on
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Most of my memories of Bob were as a kid hanging around as he and my Dad discussed knives and guns. I remember his garage door being covered with jackrabit ears.
I remember going to see "The Godfather" in Houston and Bob was with us. He kept telling me on the way that I was 17. When we were outside the theater he kept asking me how old I was to make sure I rememberd. I think it was after that same Houston show we all went to the YO Ranch with Clyde Fischer and got a great tour.
I know that so many people remember him as cranky and gruff. I will always remember Bob as a friend of the family, mentor and inspiration. There is a picture hanging in Dan's living room that I will grab next time down there if it is still there. I snapped the picture as Dan leaned over and planted a wee kiss on Bob's Cheeck.
He sent me a letter about my sheaths about 18 years ago. Told me how he would admit anytime that I made a better sheath than he did. He was a friend to the Dennehy's and is surely missed.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Shackleford on
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Cool stuff, John. Knowing what a huge movie buff Bob was, I bet it was interesting to hear his take on what he thought of "The Godfather." So--what did he think of the movie?
I've seen that picture of Dan planting a kiss on Bob's forehead. In fact, Dan sent me a copy. I have it somewhere. Dan also gave a framed copy of it to A.G. Russell at A.G.'s 75th birthday party during the A.G. Russell Knife Event two or three years ago.
By the way, Loveless made a crackerjack sheath, so his saying you made a better sheath than he did is tall praise indeed!
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From Bob Loveless to John D Dennehy: "The current pouch sheath I put on a knife is a fine piece of gear, but nothing that any worker, if he cares, can't do easily. And judging by the pictures you sent me of your work; you can do it far better than I can. Hell, I concede that, any time." R. W. Loveless, Knife maker (Founding member of The Knifemakers Guild)
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