Barlow? Share all your Barlows here.

Status
Not open for further replies.
67nick said:
Here's an old Case XX that's similar to Primble's. This one also has the odd lines and grooves that the old Case barlows were made with...

Case_barlow_xx_redbone1.jpg


Case_barlow_xx_redbone2.jpg
Click to expand...

Looks like the brother to my spear XX, I like your clip version. Very, very nice!!! I was tired last night and did not even notice your CC's up above my post. They are quite beautiful Barlows! :thumbup:;)
 
Stencil said:
Anyone know if there's a name for the sort of zig-zag finish to the long pulls on these? I don't feel like I see it very often.
Click to expand...

Those would be "match strike" pulls. Goes back to the days of 'strike anywhere' matches.
 
That is a quintessential Case Barlow Nick! With fine, red Soup bone!
:D
 
Thanks Charlie, I appreciate your kind words! Any idea where those random lines come from on the covers?
 
Its is marrow bone...the inside of the bone. That is what those groves and lines are.
 
JustinR said:
Its is marrow bone...the inside of the bone. That is what those groves and lines are.
Click to expand...

Thanks Justin! I can understand the areas where marrow once was but it seemes like some of the vertical lines are carved and not natural. Anyway, adds character and it looks pretty cool. Thanks!
 
Some of those lesser lines that run with the grain could be bone irregularities or splinters that came off during the cutting process.
 
67nick said:
Thanks Justin! I can understand the areas where marrow once was but it seemes like some of the vertical lines are carved and not natural. Anyway, adds character and it looks pretty cool. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I know "other" the lines you mean, Nick.
One or two or three straight lines, almost like someone scored them with a sharp awl! What I do NOT know is why/what/who!!??
Probably have to ask someone in production. Or something??
 
Here's a Barlow by Utica. They can be a bit hit and miss with the F&F, but it's not bad for the price. It's carbon steel and made in the USA. It had some grit that needed cleaning out and it's still a little difficult to get the pen blade out. ( I don't know why they didn't move the nail nick a bit farther toward the end of the blade. I never took physics in school, but I've heard of leverage :p) I may grind a nail relief. Otherwise, it's a solid user. This company seems to be flying under the radar around here.

 
Here's an update on my Utica Barlow. After cleaning and oiling it, I found it impossible to open the pen blade without using a steel pick. So I did a little modification. I cut a groove - sort of like a long pull extending the nail nick, and sanded down the corner of the bone cover to give a better angle for my nail. It opens with no trouble now. About a 7 pull.



It seems like a great user knife now, and I admit that I have very weak nails, so someone else might have had no problem with it. And it was easily fixable with the right tools, but I might think twice about recommending this one.

Edited to add weirdness: The pen blade is carbon but the main clip is stainless. What the.......... I feel like we're in the last days of Schrade, here.
 
Last edited:
Usually people complain about the weak springs on a Utica. I've heard about the mix of stainless and 1095 before, and would prefer not to have to believe that they're doing that. Is it possible that some resist from the blade etching remains on the blade?
 
scrteened porch said:
Usually people complain about the weak springs on a Utica. I've heard about the mix of stainless and 1095 before, and would prefer not to have to believe that they're doing that. Is it possible that some resist from the blade etching remains on the blade?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure. I sharpened it on my WorkSharp and the pen blade sparked and the clip did not. Then I tested with vinegar.
I have only one other Utica- a small stockman, and the springs are kind of weak on that one. But it is all carbon.
I don't think the problem is overly strong springs, but not having leverage due to the placement of the nail nick.
 
scrteened porch said:
Have you thought about sending it back?
Click to expand...

I know I could have. I decided to try out some modifications instead. I've wondered how hard it would be to grind a better nick in a blade, and this seemed to be a good "experiment knife" I also cut a long pull on the pile side of the main clip.
 
Utica has a history of mixing low end stainless and 1095. Somewhere on their website they mention it, but still they allow their dealers to advertise their knives as 1095 without mention of the fact that only one of the blades on a multi blade knife will actually be 1095. I was pretty disappointed when I found out that on a three blade stockman only the main (clip) blade was carbon, but it hasn't really been an issue and hasn't stopped me from carrying the knife on occasion. What it has stopped is me buying anything else from them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top