A Hartshead Barlow for May Day!

[Jack Black]

I recently noticed that I had passed 50,000 posts here, but thought I'd wait until Steve draggat 's generous Hartshead Barlow giveaway was done and dusted before doing one myself There's also a double milestone of 60,000 posts/3000 pages coming up in the Guardians thread. And it's the May Day holiday coming up here, with a 3-day weekend ahead So plenty to celebrate here, and hopefully someone can celebrate with the news that they have won a Hartshead Barlow

It's been incredible to see the rise of the Lambsfoot pattern here on The Porch, and elsewhere. As many of you know, while it's always been a popular pattern here in England, and in one or two other places, such as Australia, it was practically unknown in the USA, until a few years ago. The Lambsfoot has finally crossed The Pond, and that is also definitely something to celebrate

If you feel the same way, and would like to try out a Lambsfoot, or if you already have a Lambsfoot, but would like to get your hands on a Hartshead Barlow, an SFO I designed and commissioned in 2019, please throw your hat in. The knife I'm offering up is below, if you win, you'll get the knife, and the 'full mashings' of the tin, Yorkshire Rose pin/badge, tweed slip, etc, and I'll ship it anywhere in the world.

Please enter for yourself only. If you win, but don't find the pattern to your liking, you're welcome to run a giveaway yourself, but please don't sell the knife, irrespective of any excuses, by entering you're giving your word not to do so. Entry is open to all members with more than 20 posts here (20 posts at the time of my posting this thread) on The Porch. If you don't qualify, I'm sure there'll be another giveaway before too long. The draw will be on Tuesday, after I sober up! Draw will be 'By Hat'! If you post in the Guardians thread, I'll throw your name in twice.

5K Qs used to laugh about the number of photos I posted with water in the background of my knife. What can I say, we have a lot of water here?! So to enter, post 'I'm in', and post a photo of one of your knives, with a river, pond, creek, or some other watery natural feature in the background (reservoirs count, the kitchen sink doesn't!).

The Hartshead Barlow was my attempt to get a proper, traditional, Sheffield Barlow knife made in Sheffield (the stag is vintage Sambar, the blade, bolsters, and liners are carbon steel, and it is handmade). It was a lot of work to get made, and sadly, I don't think there will be anymore, but for a total knife floozie like myself, I have been surprised by the extent to which my Hartshead Barlow has taken over my pocket these past 3 years. I have a lot of knives which mean a lot to me, but I have never enjoyed carrying a knife as much as I enjoy carrying my Hartshead Barlow. Good luck to everyone, and if you win, I hope you'll enjoy carrying one too.

Thanks to everyone here, for the fellowship and friendship, over the past 17 years I've been a member, and particularly to Peregrin and knarfeng (and Blues ), who help keep the peace here

All the best, and have a happy May Day

Jack

 

[Kiteman72]

What a great GAW! Generous!

Happy May Day, Jack, and congratulations on 50,000 posts! I enjoy your pics and stories very much.

I would love to throw my name in the hat and say thank you very much for the chance.

 

[JTB_5]

Outstanding, Jack! I’m going to save this spot because I don’t think I’ve saved any pictures of knives with water, but can get one today. You’ve been a true patron of the Porch and I’d love to participate in your giveaway.

One of the things I appreciate about Jack Black is how he shares photos of his experiences in the wider world. Whether nature or urban environments, I love seeing where he goes and what he sees and who he meets. I don't have the time or thoughtfulness to produce the same luxurious content for the forum, but in honor of Jack's generous giveaway, I took some time today to snap photos of a nature walk that a student of mine (with help from friends) completed behind our church for his Eagle Scout project. I hope you all enjoy them, and especially you, Jack.


Here's the start of the trail. My student designed and made two of these benches (you'll see the other one below) and set them in the ground with concrete, so they are both comfortable and stable. Can you spot the knife?


Here we are after the first few steps. You'll notice that it is pretty clear in spot, but there's also a lot of low lying shrubs and bushes, which are very typical of forests in Florida. There's a pine on the left, and the rest are varieties of oaks.


Here's a view of the trail as it begins to wind. Still relatively open here.


There's the other bench and a table that my student found already in the woods. Apparently there had been some paint ball or hunting "furniture" from previous explorers.


I liked how these oaks were swaying over the trail and adding to the canopy.


I saw a palmetto, but didn't take a picture (I regret that now), but I did get a shot of this small tree, which I think is a variety of Holly.


Here's the end of the trail, which is also where the church's property line ends. There's a small creek and bridge that has been here for a long while, from the looks of it.


And here's my newest knife, the GEC 88 in ironwood, playing the lead role in the swampy Florida water photo.

Thanks again for the lovely GAW, Jack. Good luck to all who enter.

 

[JohnDF]

Not an entry from me...
I just want to say congratulations on starting and maintaining one the all-time best threads on The Porch.
I also want to thank you for all you do for our community here, and for all the knowledge and friendship you pass along to others.

 

[Âchillepattada]

Not an entry because you're already too generous but that's a great GAW Jack , and by the way thank you to help us (me) know the great cutlery of Sheffield

Â

 

[pjsjr]

Not an entry from me...
I want to echo the sentiments ready expressed about Jack Jack Black and his undying commitment and dedication to promoting the passion and knowledge not only for lambfoot but all knives. Well done sir! Thank you.

This is one of his SFO's from 2018. IIRC, a beauty in cocobolo...

 

[mcc850]

Count me in Jack! Thanks in advance for putting on such an amazing GAW. This is my 38 whittler in front of the Gulf of Mexico where I grew up in the panhandle of Florida.

 

[Sacto]

I’m in. I bought my first lambfoot (a big one) a few months ago and am really enjoying it. I would love a chance to own one of your Hartshead Barlows.

I have a question for you. Where did the name come from and is is Hart-shead or Harts-head? Thanks for the generous giveaway. Here’s a picture of my favorite knife in front of my favorite bass pond.

 

[AnW]

Not an entry since I was so lucky with draggat ‘s GAW. Thanks for such a generous giveaway and good luck to all who enter. The winner is going to love this knife!

Here’s my recent prize in front of the creek in my back yard. No trout unfortunately thanks to ag and development runoff, but it’s still nice to see and hear the water running by.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

Not an entry as a fellow member generously sold me a spare Hartshead when I began searching for one.

I just wanted to say it was the Guardians thread that brought back memories of a lambsfoot knife my father carried when I was young. I was talking to Jack Black about where I might to find a decent lambsfoot pattern and he had asked me if my father had been in the military. Curious about where he may have picked up the pattern. At the time I didn't know, but have since found out that it came from some family we had in Australia.

I love the pattern and hopefully time permits me to start sharing in the Guardians thread soon. Thanks to all who do post there it rekindled some great memories.

Good luck to everyone, and thank you Jack for the awesome May Day GAW!

 

[sf fanatic]

I’m in! The sun setting on the Pacific Ocean taken from my bedroom window.
Jack, thank you for doing this! The sun will never set on the porch!
View attachment 1804407

 

[Jack Black]

What a great GAW! Generous!

Happy May Day, Jack, and congratulations on 50,000 posts! I enjoy your pics and stories very much.

I would love to throw my name in the hat and say thank you very much for the chance.

Thank you very much Taylor

Outstanding, Jack! I’m going to save this spot because I don’t think I’ve saved any pictures of knives with water, but can get one today. You’ve been a true patron of the Porch and I’d love to participate in your giveaway.

Thank you Joshua, looking forward to seeing your pic

Not an entry from me...
I just want to say congratulations on starting and maintaining one the all-time best threads on The Porch.
I also want to thank you for all you do for our community here, and for all the knowledge and friendship you pass along to others.

Thanks a lot buddy, and thank you for being a stalwart of the Guardians thread, and an ambassador for the pattern

Not an entry because you're already too generous but that's a great GAW Jack , and by the way thank you to help us (me) know the great cutlery of Sheffield

Â

Thank you kindly my friend

Not an entry from me...
I want to echo the sentiments ready expressed about Jack Jack Black and his undying commitment and dedication to promoting the passion and knowledge not only for lambfoot but all knives. Well done sir! Thank you.

This is one of his SFO's from 2018. IIRC, a beauty in cocobolo...

Thank you Preston, that's very kind of you, and it's nice to see that one

Count me in Jack! Thanks in advance for putting on such an amazing GAW. This is my 38 whittler in front of the Gulf of Mexico where I grew up in the panhandle of Florida.

Great pic THat looks like a fantastic place to grow up

I’m in. I bought my first lambfoot (a big one) a few months ago and am really enjoying it. I would love a chance to own one of your Hartshead Barlows.

I have a question for you. Where did the name come from and is is Hart-shead or Harts-head? Thanks for the generous giveaway. Here’s a picture of my favorite knife in front of my favorite bass pond.

Thanks for your entry, I'm glad you're enjoying the Lambsfoot pattern Great pic too Good question! Here's a little history, from one of my previous posts :

In the year 1654, a young lad, no more than a child, came to Sheffield from nearby Rotherham, to commence an apprenticeship with cutler John Courtnall. After thirteen years learning the trade, the young man registered his ‘freedom’, and mark, with the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. His name was Obadiah Barlow, and he and his descendants would give their name to the most famous pocket knife pattern in history. Obadiah set up his home and workshop in the small Hartshead district of Sheffield, close to the parish church, where knives were produced that are still talked about today. Some of the earliest Barlow knives had a blade shape very similar to what would later become known as the Lambsfoot, but the Lambsfoot did not evolve as a distinct blade shape until the latter half of the 19th century. The popularity of this versatile blade soon grew, and no later than the early 20th century, it was married to the Barlow knife, becoming a mainstay of Sheffield cutlers.

The name Hartshead ('Hart' is an old word for a male deer) is pronounced as one word, but roughly as Harts-head

 

[Jack Black]

Not an entry since I was so lucky with draggat ‘s GAW. Thanks for such a generous giveaway and good luck to all who enter. The winner is going to love this knife!

Here’s my recent prize in front of the creek in my back yard. No trout unfortunately thanks to ag and development runoff, but it’s still nice to see and hear the water running by.

Congratulations again, that was very generous of Steve Thank you It's a shame about the trout, but a great pic there

Not an entry as a fellow member generously sold me a spare Hartshead when I began searching for one.

I just wanted to say it was the Guardians thread that brought back memories of a lambsfoot knife my father carried when I was young. I was talking to Jack Black about where I might to find a decent lambsfoot pattern and he had asked me if my father had been in the military. Curious about where he may have picked up the pattern. At the time I didn't know, but have since found out that it came from some family we had in Australia.

I love the pattern and hopefully time permits me to start sharing in the Guardians thread soon. Thanks to all who do post there it rekindled some great memories.

Good luck to everyone, and thank you Jack for the awesome May Day GAW!

Great to hear about your dad again, and interesting to learn of how he came to have a Lambsfoot Thank you, and hope to see you in the Guardians thread soon

I’m in! The sun setting on the Pacific Ocean taken from my bedroom window.
Jack, thank you for doing this! The sun will never set on the porch!
View attachment 1804407

Great pic and sentiment!

 

[Peregrin]

Not an entry please. I have one of Jack's Heartshead Barlows that I treasure. Just wanted to post a pic. I chose one of Merle on the bank of Nine Mile Creek, a few miles upstream of the old Camillus Cutlery site.
Great GAW, Jack! Thanks! Have a wonderful May Day!

 

[glennbad]

I don't usually enter GAW, but since I don't have one of these fine knives that you had a hand in getting created, I'm in. Thank you for hosting such a generous GAW, Jack!

Here's a pic of a Frankenmod I did that I called Violet. I believe I even did a pass around with her. Anyway, here she is in Ogunquit, Maine, by the ocean.

 

[Jack Black]

Not an entry please. I have one of Jack's Heartshead Barlows that I treasure. Just wanted to post a pic. I chose one of Merle on the bank of Nine Mile Creek, a few miles upstream of the old Camillus Cutlery site.
Great GAW, Jack! Thanks! Have a wonderful May Day!

Thank you very much Gary, that's a fantastic pic

I don't usually enter GAW, but since I don't have one of these fine knives that you had a hand in getting created, I'm in. Thank you for hosting such a generous GAW, Jack!

Here's a pic of a Frankenmod I did that I called Violet. I believe I even did a pass around with her. Anyway, here she is in Ogunquit, Maine, by the ocean.

View attachment 1804425

Thank you very much Glenn, it's been great seeing all the knives you've worked on over the years my friend, and I treasure the one I won in your own generous giveaway Great pic

 

[Angry Waiter]

Jack, what a generous GAW. Please count me in. My usual with the spring fed San Marcos river. The plants poking up are endangered Texas Wild Rice. It only grows here.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, what a generous GAW. Please count me in. My usual with the spring fed San Marcos river. The plants poking up are endangered Texas Wild Rice. It only grows here.View attachment 1804457

Nice one Pete, what a beautiful scene

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m in, if it so pleases you, Jack!
Thank you for all that you have done in support of traditional cutlery! There is a ton of useful, historical, and entertaining information in those 50k posts (and maybe a little padding to get the count up?).
Congratulations, my friend!

I recently took some watery pics while showing Merle around Staten Island, NY.
Here at the Northern part of the island, looking over New York Harbor.

Edit to add a recent shot with a knife I actually own!

Thanks again for the amazingly generous giveaway, and for all you have done for the Porch!

 

[Jack Black]

I’m in, if it so pleases you, Jack!
Thank you for all that you have done in support of traditional cutlery! There is a ton of useful, historical, and entertaining information in those 50k posts (and maybe a little padding to get the count up?).
Congratulations, my friend!

I recently took some watery pics while showing Merle around Staten Island, NY.

At the southern end of the island, with the Raritan Bay between New York and New Jersey. View attachment 1804462

In the middle of the island, with a view of Lower New York Bay. View attachment 1804464

LOL! Yeah, I should stop multi-quoting! Thanks Mike, it's great to have you on board

And at the Northern part of the island, looking over New York Harbor. View attachment 1804463


Thanks again for the amazingly generous giveaway, and for all you have done for the Porch!

Mike, that pic is incredible! Thanks again