Barlow suggestion please

S

Sitcomdad83

Joined
Jan 17, 2022
Messages
142
Getting into the slipjoint game and am looking at a Barlow pattern. Budget is under 50 if possible. I'm going to buy and carry everyday. I looked at the bear and sons and Rose craft models but not sure if anything is better quality wise for my budget. What do you suggest or are the Rose craft and bear and sons models durable and quality?
 
Well, if you want something brand new and under fifty bucks you're going to have to buy one of the knives you mentioned, or something that is made in China. A lot of people buy them and are happy with them. Buying brand new knives ignores 400 years of knife making history. Everyone from Imperial to Schatt and Morgan has made Barlows, and here are endless numbers of old, used knives with a lot of life left in them in your price range. If it's going to be a user anyway why not find a nice old knife?

If you really want a slice of history look up an old Russell Barlow.

9FqOORy.png
 
Both of the brands you've mentioned have quality and durability as features. They'll both cut, and likely continue doing so for a long time - as evidenced by the number of folks telling you to pick up a used example and they aren't wrong either.

However, developing an eye for used knives is an art and a science that isn't picked up overnight. I've been looking at them for about 4 years now and still feel like I have no idea what I'm looking at half (or more, probably more) of the time.

So, I'll focus on the two you mentioned. Rosecraft knives are designed by a well-known American knifemaker, Andy Armstrong (he is most known for designing Rough Ryder, another affordable option, knives) and made in China to his, so far, very exacting standards. If his unique design sensibilities don't turn you off, and neither does the country of origin - they are a very solid choice. Sharp - I'll say that again, SHARP out of the box, excellent fit and finish, and, in my opinion, a great value. I have a variety of Rosecraft knives, many of them seconds, and they are all infinitely functional and nice looking to boot. I'll note that Andy has claimed to have aspirations to open an American cutlery factory at some point in the future, if that changes things for you (I have no idea why it would, but there you go).

8KfmZSI.jpeg

A bizarre picture of an excellent Rosecraft Barlow knife. All fault lies with the photographer, the knife is perfectly splendid!

Bear & Son knives are made in the USA (Alabama?) and offer what is most likely the most affordable line of American-made traditional knives out there - but that's not to say there isn't a cost. I've found fit and finish to be on par with, sometimes below, Case. I've yet to find any flaw that would impact a knife's usability, but niggles like unintended recurves or bellies on blades that should be straight, gaps between the spring and liners, slight blade wobble, etc, are common and should be anticipated. At the end of the day, and if that matters to you - you're getting an American-made knife at a great value. How happy you'll be with one depends almost entirely on how nitpicky you have a tendency to be about such things.

ptu6Yfo.jpeg

A Bear & Son-made, Remington-branded Barlow knife. Look closely and you'll see some issues. Issues that have never prevented it from doing its job, but issues nonetheless.

I can't help myself. Apologies in advance. At four times your budget, I would not recommend picking up the GEC-made, Remington-branded Granddaddy "Silver Bullet" Barlow produced in 2022 - though it's easily my favorite Barlow, and most carried knife overall. Like I said, I do not advise going down that particular rabbit hole... yet - but jeez Louise - what a knife!!

ofQPPSX.jpeg

The author/photographer acknowledges that he is completely in the tank for this knife and doesn't feel the least bit bad about it. Hooo-eee... just look at her... wow.
 
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dsutton24 said:
If you really want a slice of history look up an old Russell Barlow.
Click to expand...
Sadly, for a Russell with blade(s) that are not worn down to a toothpick, you are looking north of $150 to $200. (ePrey may be more or less, and might be a fake or Frankenknife. Buyer beware.)

I would suggest a standard Rough Rider/Ryder, not one of the Rough Ryder Reserve models.
Under $15 to $20, a variety of cover materials. The Carbon Classic (Synthetic Yellow covers) and Carbon Classic 2 (black Micarta? G10?) covers have T10 carbon steel blades. The stainless models have 440A. The heat treat is done right.
The 60 plus Rough Rider/Ryder's I have of various patterns are the sharpest out of the box knives I have.
Quality averages better than Case on good day. A few are equal to my GEC's (please don't hate me for saying that.)

Marble's also makes a nice one wth genuine Ram Horn covers. (and a matching Canoe) for under $20.
 
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Just get the rosecraft for now, see if you like the pattern. You won’t mind using it since it’s made overseas and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good a knife it really is. When your budget goes up get something nicer if you like. You can get the rosecraft PDQ, and still keep an eye out for a cool older Camillus, Case, etc
 
Taylor's Eye Witness Barlow ... Sheffield England, can be had for as little as $36.95 plus shipping
A very sturdy "sho-nuff" Barlow that won't break the bank
Can be found in the store of another knife forum or sometimes on the bay

Not my pics but easier to pull up than search my image archive ...

1686883258_3361_2.jpg
1686883258_3361_3.jpg

1686883258_3361_5.jpg
1686883258_3361_6.jpg
 
birdsbeaks said:
Both of the brands you've mentioned have quality and durability as features. They'll both cut, and likely continue doing so for a long time - as evidenced by the number of folks telling you to pick up a used example and they aren't wrong either.

However, developing an eye for used knives is an art and a science that isn't picked up overnight. I've been looking at them for about 4 years now and still feel like I have no idea what I'm looking at half (or more, probably more) of the time.

So, I'll focus on the two you mentioned. Rosecraft knives are designed by a well-known American knifemaker, Andy Armstrong (he is most known for designing Rough Ryder, another affordable option, knives) and made in China to his, so far, very exacting standards. If his unique design sensibilities don't turn you off, and neither does the country of origin - they are a very solid choice. Sharp - I'll say that again, SHARP out of the box, excellent fit and finish, and, in my opinion, a great value. I have a variety of Rosecraft knives, many of them seconds, and they are all infinitely functional and nice looking to boot. I'll note that Andy has claimed to have aspirations to open an American cutlery factory at some point in the future, if that changes things for you (I have no idea why it would, but there you go).

8KfmZSI.jpeg

A bizarre picture of an excellent Rosecraft Barlow knife. All fault lies with the photographer, the knife is perfectly splendid!

Bear & Son knives are made in the USA (Alabama?) and offer what is most likely the most affordable line of American-made traditional knives out there - but that's not to say there isn't a cost. I've found fit and finish to be on par with, sometimes below, Case. I've yet to find any flaw that would impact a knife's usability, but niggles like unintended recurves or bellies on blades that should be straight, gaps between the spring and liners, slight blade wobble, etc, are common and should be anticipated. At the end of the day, and if that matters to you - you're getting an American-made knife at a great value. How happy you'll be with one depends almost entirely on how nitpicky you have a tendency to be about such things.

ptu6Yfo.jpeg

A Bear & Son-made, Remington-branded Barlow knife. Look closely and you'll see some issues. Issues that have never prevented it from doing its job, but issues nonetheless.

I can't help myself. Apologies in advance. At four times your budget, I would not recommend picking up the GEC-made, Remington-branded Granddaddy "Silver Bullet" Barlow produced in 2022 - though it's easily my favorite Barlow, and most carried knife overall. Like I said, I do not advise going down that particular rabbit hole... yet - but jeez Louise - what a knife!!

ofQPPSX.jpeg

The author/photographer acknowledges that he is completely in the tank for this knife and doesn't feel the least bit bad about it. Hooo-eee... just look at her... wow.
Click to expand...
And worth every penny over $50 too .

Harry
 
If it were me and I absolutely had to stay under the $50 mark, I’d be scouring eBay daily until a nice Case, Camillus, Boker, etc popped up.

I was going to suggest you up your budget a little bit and look into the modern, Solingen made Boker Barlows, but it looks like the price on the cheapest models has jumped from $60 - $80 to $115+. 😮

If you’re interested in a Kershaw Culpepper, I’d send ya one for free.
 
Fixall said:
If it were me and I absolutely had to stay under the $50 mark, I’d be scouring eBay daily until a nice Case, Camillus, Boker, etc popped up.

I was going to suggest you up your budget a little bit and look into the modern, Solingen made Boker Barlows, but it looks like the price on the cheapest models has jumped from $60 - $80 to $115+. 😮

If you’re interested in a Kershaw Culpepper, I’d send ya one for free.
Click to expand...

Fixall said:
If it were me and I absolutely had to stay under the $50 mark, I’d be scouring eBay daily until a nice Case, Camillus, Boker, etc popped up.

I was going to suggest you up your budget a little bit and look into the modern, Solingen made Boker Barlows, but it looks like the price on the cheapest models has jumped from $60 - $80 to $115+. 😮

If you’re interested in a Kershaw Culpepper, I’d send ya one for free.
Click to expand...
That's amazingly nice Id love to take up up on that offer.
 
Fixall said:
If it were me and I absolutely had to stay under the $50 mark, I’d be scouring eBay daily until a nice Case, Camillus, Boker, etc popped up.

I was going to suggest you up your budget a little bit and look into the modern, Solingen made Boker Barlows, but it looks like the price on the cheapest models has jumped from $60 - $80 to $115+. 😮

If you’re interested in a Kershaw Culpepper, I’d send ya one for free.
Click to expand...
Direct message me when you got a chance.
 
For me I would be going for one of the older knives , Robeson, Cripple Creek, S&M or Case . The build quality on all of these older knives is far superior to the Chinese made equivalent.
Even if you paid slightly more than your budget , it would be worth it just for the quality it would get you 👌E9375647-1EA7-4D48-AC44-1E4C370BA0EE.jpegD19D6E0D-F47A-4C7C-B49E-30394C6C9986.jpeg
 
Scholefield123 said:
For me I would be going for one of the older knives , Robeson, Cripple Creek, S&M or Case . The build quality on all of these older knives is far superior to the Chinese made equivalent.
Even if you paid slightly more than your budget , it would be worth it just for the quality it would get you 👌View attachment 2694874View attachment 2694875
Click to expand...
Wow, those are all great looking Barlows!
 
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