Barlow knives with <2.5" blade?

MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

Go Army, Beat Navy!
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
Messages
467
I go on and off of several gov't worksites that have a 2.5" blade limit. I currently carry a Case Peanut (in "Purple Haze" colour) but want something slightly heftier but within the limit.

Are there any Barlows where the main blade will still make length? I rather like the barlow design. The only one I've run across that makes the cut is Great Eastern Cutlery, which I believe is right at 2.5". Unfortunately they're big on spear-point main blades, but I've found a few that have clip-point mains (my preference).

I did pick up a Rough Rider "Baby Barlow", but it only has one blade, but to maintain Barlow proportions it's unnecessarily thicker than it needs to be for one blade. It was still well-made and a great buy for $7, but I wanted a two blade so gifted it to a female friend as an office knife.

Should I just go with GEC, or are there other small options?
 
Last edited:
The regular size 2-blade Rough Rider Barlow with the clip main blade measures under 2.5" from tip to bolster on the main blade. I think it's about 2 3/8".
 
IMHO, you can't beat the 25 series GEC Barlows or Jacks for a small knife........
 
The GEC No.25 is a stout small knife,quite heavy so be careful if you drop it....Stag one I have comes with Clip blade.

An alternative could be CASE Swayback Jack. This comes in Barehead style making it in some ways similar to a Barlow. Choice of Bermuda Green Pocket worn in stainless or Chestnut in carbon. Main blade under 2.5" too.
 
HeathHall said:
You might take a look at the A.G. Russell Working Man's two blade Barlow. It has a main clip blade of 2 5/8. It comes in 1095.

www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-working-mansandtrade-two-blade-barlow/p/RUS-493YB/
Click to expand...

That's a nice knife, but for federal buildings, the longest blade really does have to be under 2 1/2". It is spelled out in Title 18, U.S. Code, Chapter 44, Section 930 (if I remember correctly).

I find it mildly annoying because I have several knives with blades not too much over 2 1/2" that I would like to carry. I could probably get away with it, but it would only take one person who is having a really bad day to make it more important than it should be. Since I've met folks like that (I once wound up in Federal District Court with a judge telling me I could go to jail for 6 months to a year and I was stupid for not having a lawyer - this was for a minor traffic violation) I prefer to play it safe.
 
Last edited:
. I could probably get away with it, but it would only take one person who is having a really bad day to make it more important than it should be.
Click to expand...

Recall that the security folks at gov't buildings have a very, very boring job. I imagine that, at many buildings, the height of their excitement is calling in reports of people outside taking too many photographs, or the very occasional mentally ill person coming in to complain about the Bureau of Labor and Statistics implanting transmitters in their fillings.

So a chance to play hero and stop evildoers from bringing 2.50001" knives into the building can really give a sense of purpose to a power-tripping and bored employee, so arguing that it's "close enough" is something I'd rather not do. Honestly, I see people in my building with Leathermen with big blades, and even a few folks with larger lockbacks cutting apples, but since it's explicitly against the big sign out front (and actual law, not just some nebulous corporate policy), I'd rather just stick to that limit.
 
For a little perspective, the Case peanut is pinky size, and the GEC #25 is thumb size. It's a robust knife for its size.

If I had it to do over again, I might pick a different handle material than smooth buffalo; it looks great, but seems to scratch very easily.
 
The GEC #25 looks great, and quite stout for a short knife. Is it <2.5" from tip to bolster?

When you say "be careful if you drop it" do you mean it breaks easily because of the weight, or that it breaks things it hits because of the weight? It does look awfully sturdy compared to my Case Peanut (which I still like).
 
It's very sturdy in construction and well finished,but, it is quite heavy for its size and would land with quite a bang! always a danger with any bone or stag handled knife though.

Max length ,tip to bolster 2 and 1 sixteenth of an inch. Cutting edge less. (this is clip point model,don't know about spear but it can't be much different.) Well within the limit?
 
willgoy said:
It's very sturdy in construction and well finished,but, it is quite heavy for its size and would land with quite a bang! always a danger with any bone or stag handled knife though.

Max length ,tip to bolster 2 and 1 sixteenth of an inch. Cutting edge less. (this is clip point model,don't know about spear but it can't be much different.) Well within the limit?
Click to expand...

Dang, I hadn't thought about fragility. I'm not in the habit of dropping dress knives, but I'd hate to crack nice bone handles. Then again, I shouldn't let that keep me from a nice knife.

A buddy on another forum has a GEC and took a photo, I was quite surprised at how small it is for a barlow. I figure I'll carry my Rough Rider that's coming in the mail for a month or so, and if I don't have any problems with dropping it or having it slip out of my slacks pocket, I'll consider the GEC. I'm used to pocket-clip knives, and slightly concerned that a small, smooth slipjoint might slip out of the pocket of my dress slacks for work.
 
MatthewVanitas said:
I'm used to pocket-clip knives, and slightly concerned that a small, smooth slipjoint might slip out of the pocket of my dress slacks for work.
Click to expand...

It probably won't be a problem, but if it is, you can always pick up a leather slipjoint pouch. They stick to the pocket a little bit better than a bare knife, but it is still easy to pull it out and dump the slipjoint into your hand. Ron Ryder at Back Room Leather makes some basic, inexpensive ones, or you could always sew one up yourself if you have a little bit of leather. I occasionally carry a Colonel Coon Barlow that has very smooth handles. I carry it in one of Ron's pouches, partly to protect the knife and partly because I'm afraid it will slip out of my pocket because it is so smooth. I haven't had any problems so far. For what it's worth . . .
 
willgoy said:
It's very sturdy in construction and well finished,but, it is quite heavy for its size and would land with quite a bang! always a danger with any bone or stag handled knife though.

Max length ,tip to bolster 2 and 1 sixteenth of an inch. Cutting edge less. (this is clip point model,don't know about spear but it can't be much different.) Well within the limit?
Click to expand...

Just for completion's sake, I measured the blade on my spear-pointed #25, and it was 2-1/8" long.
 
These are 3 3/8" closed, so that should be under 2.5" for the main blade, yes?

Anyone familiar with these "Colonel Coon" barlows? As I understand it, they're made by Queen who's leasing the name of a small maker from 1960-1980 timeframe. US made, and run $60-75.

CC69CS.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top