Smith & Wesson Triple Lock - Owned & Modified by R.W. Loveless

[steelslaver]

Patton wasn't a gunsmith, stuck aftermarket grips and an adapter on his 357 and it has a lot of blue missing. Must be near worthless to many collectors.

Elvis's model 53 would have sold for good money even if he had sawed the barrel off with a hack saw.

how about J Edgar's gun?

Some people wouldn't pay $2000 for an original register magnum because they can buy a used model 28 for $700

May people would not pay extra for a set of rosewood grips made by Orville Gibson, but I bet Rusty would.

Point is guns are worth what a buyer who wants them will pay for them

 

[steelslaver]

PS
I went looking and many of Bob Loveless's knives sell for as much or more than a registered magnum.

He was an excellent metal worker. But, I doubt they cut or hold an edge any better the ones I make. You can by others with the same excellent fit and finish. A good part of the value is that his name is attached.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Only thing I can tell you is he didn't do it any favors.

 

[General Flunky]

What about a gun like a 1950 5" M&P 44 special that was engraved by Tom Hartliep. Would that be considered a modified & reblued gun with no collector value? Or would it be desirable if done well?

 

[Eddie Southgate]

What about a gun like a 1950 5" M&P 44 special that was engraved by Tom Hartliep. Would that be considered a modified & reblued gun with no collector value? Or would it be desirable if done well?

Never heard of him, I am aware of Neil Hartleip though. What has been done to this revolver regardless of who did it or who owned it is in no way comparable to a high quality professional engraving job. With enough work this could be a very nice shooter but it will never be a collector gun again. That ship has sailed. Loveless knives are works of art but apparently his gun work was not ,if this is supposed to be a shining example of what work he did. That's a personal opinion of course but it is one that will be shared by anyone who values an unmolested Triple Lock , and I'm one.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

JayCeeNC -

I talked to someone today who told me Bob was known for the red front sight so that would help prove ownership on this one

As were thousands of others , don't see the first shred of proof in this.

 

[mikerjf]

Something I ran into today (plenty on Ebay) for those who doubt a knifemaker could be a gunsmith too…

 

[bluetopper]

I wouldn't think any more or less of it if it were owned by Patty Loveless. The value is the gun, not the provenance.

 

[Truckman]

The value is the gun, not the provenance.

To a certain extent, I'll have to disagree...Every gun, and every gun's owner all have history...For me as a history student, any provenance attached to a gun increases my interest, and therefore its perceived value to me......Ben

 

[mchom]

Agreed Truckman

To ones liking or not just watch one Rock Island Auction. Provenance to a historical or well known person will 100% increase value. Depending on who the person is. This is not disputable. Buyers do pay more for provenance, condition and scarcity.

May not be the best example of a what if but…
If and when RM Reg #1 ever shows I would love to buy it for the cost of a normal like condition RM but I don't think that will be the case.

 

[mikerjf]

I'm in the "Name adds value" camp, but there's room for everybody - vote with your wallet!

It's interesting because, almost by definition, the most perfect possible collector gun - in terms of condition and originality - is a gun with NO story.

 

[stu1ritter]

PS
I went looking and many of Bob Loveless's knives sell for as much or more than a registered magnum.

He was an excellent metal worker. But, I doubt they cut or hold an edge any better the ones I make. You can by others with the same excellent fit and finish. A good part of the value is that his name is attached.

In 1978-1979, Kuzan Oda, a Japanese swordsmith worked with Bob for awhile. Bob taught him some things, Kuzan taught Bob some things. I think they worked together for about a year. Here is a drop point hunter done by Kuzan that has all the features of a Bob Loveless drop point hunter, same craftsmanship level, exact same method of construction and same taper to the tang but is worth only 1/10-1/20th of a Loveless version. The only difference in the knives is that Bob pinned his scales while Kuzan worked a taper on the front of the scale and the hilt that eliminated the need to pin.

Stu

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Since he was the most influential Knifemaker of this Age,
Loveless Designs are copied by a multitude of makers.
Only a few were officially sanctioned by Loveless.
Here's one that was.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

And here's one probably not officially authorized.
Bark River's rendition of the Loveless City Knife.

 

[A10]

Since he was the most influential Knifemaker of this Age,
Loveless Designs are copied by a multitude of makers.
Only a few were officially sanctioned by Loveless.
Here's one that was.

Nice representation of the Guardless Drop Point Hunter. Bob also designed for Gerber, their Guardian series. I had one years ago I gave to one of my kids (who, of course, lost it), still looking for another. As with anything directly associated with Bob, they are a little spendy now.....

 

[luvsmiths]

So......with that stance......I suppose a King Super Target Triple Lock would be of ZERO interest to you......am I correct?

Im thinking his answer to that goes something like this:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9odsWwfIo[/ame]

 

[bluetopper]

But it's a gun made by S&W not a knife made by Loveless.

 

[jtcarm]

I was expecting the addition of a bayonet.

 

[Photog]

I'm going to take a contrarian stance here, and it might not prove popular.

This is a modified from original and reblued Triple Lock revolver, plain and simple. As you can see, Bob Loveless was a knife maker.

Bob Loveless - Wikipedia

Not a gunsmith. Plus, once you modify a revolver from original, it's forever ruined. Who cares whether or not you ruined it forever, I did, Bob Loveless did, a skilled gunsmith did, or the Pope did, for that matter? I wouldn't pay even a one cent premium over the value of this being a non factory reblued and modified Triple Lock revolver.

Others may value this revolver differently, for reasons not apparent to me.

So, with all due respect, does that mean that if someone had sent a Registered Magnum to Churchill for engraving, that you would not pay even one cent over the current value of an non-engraved RM, since it would be a non factory modified and refinished revolver?

 

[mrcvs]

So, with all due respect, does that mean that if someone had sent a Registered Magnum to Churchill for engraving, that you would not pay even one cent over the current value of an non-engraved RM, since it would be a non factory modified and refinished revolver?

I don't know if you refer to Churchill, an engraver, or Winston Churchill, the statesman, but the revolver of engraved, would be worth the value of the engraving as it enhances the revolver, and if owned by Winston Churchill, increased due to that provenance.

R W Loveless isn't a household name nor is he a renowned engraver, so I value this revolver just for what it is in its current state. YMMV