- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Somethin came to me in the mail the other day that I ordered a while back from Jerry Barlow down in Watts Oklahoma. I've bought several whittlers from Jerry now over the time I've lived here and this is my latest one from him, this one a Case 6308 pattern. This is a 1.5 ounce split back whittler. I have a small collection of various split back style whittlers going back some years now, both manufactured and custom and this is the first time I've ever seen armadillo or even had it offered as one of the handle options. I figured I've lived in Oklahoma 22 going on 23 years and I may as well find something useful from these dreadful plant killers that have ruined my wife's flowers many times over the years! Somehow it feels downright satisfying to be using the hide as a handle. The real surprise for me was the textured feel and the wonderful look of this material. Jerry really nailed the knife. It went straight from the pouch he mailed it in to my pocket in about ten seconds. Very pocketable and comfortable. Great walk and talk, with Jerry's typical old timey feel to his work and his hand worked, hand filed 01 blades. Love it! Thanks for looking.
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Seriously, Jerry told me working it is just like tortoise shell or gar. I just had to have one these. Since I like the handles so much I want another one now done the same. Next one will be D2. Jerry did another D2 model in ironwood for me a while back that I like a lot also. It is also a split back but a different pattern. I didn't think anything would ever remove that one from my line up but this one did. This is smaller and I like that. The handles made it easy to tuck the other one back in the safe though. I just love the look and particularly the feel of these scales. Thanks guys. Jerry does not do internet so I thought I'd expose him to the world. Not many guys out there are still doing things in a traditional manner quite like Jerry. When you tie that in with some other makers from Oklahoma I think we have a pretty good thing going down here. Jerry's knives have this pocket worn feel to them that in my own mind sets him apart as a maker of real world users not show pieces. Its nice to get both but in the end its hard to bring yourself to carry a show piece whereas this little gem here is ready to work and you just can't wait to get after it with the first stick you can find! 
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