Barlow suggestion please

Sitcomdad83 said:
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?
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Twisted assisted have some nice barlows, £49.99 which I guess is somewhat above $50 but anway
 
There is a certain dealer in Mo that has a couple of nice looking Case Barlows for $62 plus shipping. To be honest kind of tempted to add another Barlow to my one.

My only Barlow l currently own.

DFF787BE-5EE3-40C1-B88F-0BA6EE7C30AB.jpeg
 
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Sitcomdad83 said:
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?
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The new Case barlows are nice, may cost you a little over $50, but I have a couple and really like them.
 
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
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Awesome selection of Barlows…but strongly doubt you’ll be paying just a ‘slightly over’ $50 for those 😁
 
A.Wright &Sons I’m very happy with this one. Here’s a little history on them and they are very reasonably priced.
Made in Sheffield England by the A. Wright & Son company established in 1947, a father and son team dedicated to traditional style knife production in their Sheffield workshop.
All A. Wright knives are hand made utilizing old Sheffield techniques and equipment, careful hand work ensures nice mechanics and a great feeling in hand. Small adjustments in how the spring, tang and liners all line up make for big differences in the operation of folding knives, these important time honored techniques are kept central to the A. Wright method.

Specifications
Blade Length: 2.5in
Blade Thickness: 0.101in
Open Length: 6.5in
Closed Length: 3.75in
Handle Thickness: 0.536in
Weight: 2.5oz
Blade Steel: Carbon
Blade Style/Shape: Wharncliffe
Handle Material: Ebony
Mechanism: Slip-joint

Here’s mine 👍🏻
pajrF8S.jpeg

mxq2ZfF.jpeg
 
TheFactor said:
A.Wright &Sons I’m very happy with this one. Here’s a little history on them and they are very reasonably priced.
Made in Sheffield England by the A. Wright & Son company established in 1947, a father and son team dedicated to traditional style knife production in their Sheffield workshop.
All A. Wright knives are hand made utilizing old Sheffield techniques and equipment, careful hand work ensures nice mechanics and a great feeling in hand. Small adjustments in how the spring, tang and liners all line up make for big differences in the operation of folding knives, these important time honored techniques are kept central to the A. Wright method.

Specifications
Blade Length: 2.5in
Blade Thickness: 0.101in
Open Length: 6.5in
Closed Length: 3.75in
Handle Thickness: 0.536in
Weight: 2.5oz
Blade Steel: Carbon
Blade Style/Shape: Wharncliffe
Handle Material: Ebony
Mechanism: Slip-joint

Here’s mine 👍🏻
pajrF8S.jpeg

mxq2ZfF.jpeg
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I don’t think that’s a Barlow.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I don’t think that’s a Barlow.
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Here’s one with a clip point instead of a Wharncliffe I believe would be considered a Barlow. To my knowledge I thought they were both a Barlow but I could stand to be corrected.
CocB5Cu.jpeg

At least that’s what it was listed as

“A.Wright & Son 3 1/2" Barlow Pocket Knife Carbon Steel Ebony”​

 
Sitcomdad83 said:
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?
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Nothing wrong with them,but not for me it has to be traditional makers all the way .

My A Wright Barlow of which I had the choice of from 10 looks like this and your budget.

You wont get GEC fit and finish,you do get a usauable knife that you arent worried about using.


 
Johnnythefox said:
Nothing wrong with them,but not for me it has to be traditional makers all the way .

My A Wright Barlow of which I had the choice of from 10 looks like this and your budget.

You wont get GEC fit and finish,you do get a usauable knife that you arent worried about using.


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Very true as the fit and finish you are right not at Gec fit and finish quality at least with my A.Wright example . But the blade is centered with a nice beefy blade stock , strong snap and beautiful Ebony covers and flush pins. Also flush at the bolsters were the covers meet. It has a comfortable solid feel in hand like a knife that was hand made as it is and a tool that will last a lifetime and more. I really like mine and it’s a bargain in the 60.00 range . I would love to have been able to hand pick one as you did although with that being said im very happy with mine👍🏻
 
Love A. Wright and Son barlow and their other patterns...

With that said, I'll call them a working man's knife...I have about dozen A. Wright and Son knives, including couple of SFOs, barlows, jacks, senators, etc (these are names that the company refers them as). They are stout and absolutely robust....

HOWEVER! All of them except for the SFOs, they are nail breakers. My favorite EDC is a lambsfoot that I modified so as not to rip my nails off 😆 Even the SFO's are not for the faint of heart...or faint of nails (?).

Maybe other's have different assessment but wanted to share my experience with them.

Here is a two blade barlow from AWS...

klmQV1U.jpg
 
birdsbeaks said:
If you want to see some great Barlow pics, check out this thread from earlier this year!
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S Sitcomdad83 if you haven't seen the thread that birdsbeaks birdsbeaks mentioned, it's a great place to see what's possible.

Bear & Sons currently makes a large sheepsfoot barlow that is fantastic (at least my sample). You should be able to find those in your price range.

IMG_8231.JPG

I have an A. Wright lambsfoot (technically not a Barlow given the size of its bolster, but even A. Wright's barlows have shorter bolsters than I tend to see on other makers). When I first got it, I didn't like it's stiff pull at all. Over time, I've come to love the knife. I learned to pinch it open instead of using the nail nick, and I cleaned it thoroughly. It might be my imagination, but I'm pretty sure it's easier to open now. I carry it pretty regularly in the summer for gardening. You should definitely be able to find these in your price range. Some of the members here have had mixed experiences with A. Wright's quality control, so bear that in mind. I bought mine from a U.S. based seller who takes returns.

IMG_1807.jpeg

Happy hunting and keep us posted on what you find!
 
FranklinG said:
S Sitcomdad83 if you haven't seen the thread that birdsbeaks birdsbeaks mentioned, it's a great place to see what's possible.

Bear & Sons currently makes a large sheepsfoot barlow that is fantastic (at least my sample). You should be able to find those in your price range.

View attachment 2697727

I have an A. Wright lambsfoot (technically not a Barlow given the size of its bolster, but even A. Wright's barlows have shorter bolsters than I tend to see on other makers). When I first got it, I didn't like it's stiff pull at all. Over time, I've come to love the knife. I learned to pinch it open instead of using the nail nick, and I cleaned it thoroughly. It might be my imagination, but I'm pretty sure it's easier to open now. I carry it pretty regularly in the summer for gardening. You should definitely be able to find these in your price range. Some of the members here have had mixed experiences with A. Wright's quality control, so bear that in mind. I bought mine from a U.S. based seller who takes returns.

View attachment 2697733

Happy hunting and keep us posted on what you find!
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S Sitcomdad83 AWS barlow with Rosewood are in mid $30's here in US. PM me and I can suggest a great dealer.
 
Stockaholic said:
Honestly, if you don't have a problem with China made, I would suggest Rough Rider for ~ $20. I have a few of their Barlows and would put fit & finish on par with any of my Cases.
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I agree 👍🏻
Even against some of my thoughts and reasons not to get one it’s hard to beat bang for the buck and find myself getting a China made knife now and then. They don’t have the soul of others but do a fine job and generally speaking well made most of the time.
 
euroken said:
Love A. Wright and Son barlow and their other patterns...

With that said, I'll call them a working man's knife...I have about dozen A. Wright and Son knives, including couple of SFOs, barlows, jacks, senators, etc (these are names that the company refers them as). They are stout and absolutely robust....

HOWEVER! All of them except for the SFOs, they are nail breakers. My favorite EDC is a lambsfoot that I modified so as not to rip my nails off 😆 Even the SFO's are not for the faint of heart...or faint of nails (?).

Maybe other's have different assessment but wanted to share my experience with them.

Here is a two blade barlow from AWS...

klmQV1U.jpg
Click to expand...
I only have one that I mentioned above and agree with your thoughts on mine. Fortunately you can pinch it open otherwise it would be difficult to open. But locks up tight like a bear trap which is the positive side .
 
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