Barlow?

S

SPC_rex

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Nov 2, 2008
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Something which has interested me for some time. Anyone know the history of the barlow knife. Where it came from. What the meaning of the word barlow is.
 
Interesting!
I do remember reading about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn having barlow knives in those books as a kid and just having to own one.
 
My first real knife was a Barlow made by Imperial. One was given to me and one to my brother. This knife made it through summer camps, recess Mumblety-peg, Scouts, and a few years ago I gifted it to a nephew...still a very useful knife with plenty of blade and walk and talk even after nearly 40 years.

I also marked the fact that a Barlow was the first knife Pop gave me by giving him a Barlow of his own...gave him a Russell in stag. Currently I own 7 or 8 barlows, spear points, sheepsfoot, clip blades....I still like them all and am anxiously awaiting my forum knife to add to the collection.

Mark Twain did mention the Barlow in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer...

Mary gave him a bran-new "Barlow" knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was inconceivable grandeur in that - though where the Western boys ever got the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its injury, is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

All the stores was along one street. They had white domestic awnings in front, and the country-people hitched their horses to the awning-posts. There was empty dry-goods boxes under the awnings, and loafers roosting on them all day long, whittling them with their Barlow knives; and chawing tobacco, and gaping and yawning and stretching - a mighty ornery lot.
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Also there was a Mark Twain branded Barlow made, it had Barlow on one side of the bolster and Mark Twain's signature engraved on the other.
 
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STDK,
Thanks for the link. I've googled it several times and never found anything substantial.

Absintheur,
You make me want to buy a barlow. I've never owned one.
 
As that link states, the Barlow design was popular in the 1800's because it was extra strong.

Bernard Levine mentioned in one of his posts that the strength given to the Barlow design by the larger bolster was because at that time the handles were forged, not machined as they are today. The bolster was part of the frame, not an added external piece. So, in Barlows, the pin of the blade was anchored in a larger (read stronger) chunk of steel than in other designs.
 
SPC_rex said:
STDK,
Thanks for the link. I've googled it several times and never found anything substantial.

Absintheur,
You make me want to buy a barlow. I've never owned one.
Click to expand...

Got a Barlow for my birthday.the rest is history. turned out to be one of my favorite patterns. I never thought much about them, until i got one in my hand.
 
I just picked up another...a Boker 493 with red washboard bone and carbon steel blades.
 
It's nice to hear from people who know what a barlow knife is. I started the page barlow-knives.com, and now my daughter is the owner. The history of the barlow knife was hard to find, and it is sketchy at best. My daughter maintains an inventory of barlow knives made by several different manufacturers. Case didn't make one for a while, then made one in 2007. Then in 2008 they added a variety of handles. In 2009 Case offers 2 new handle types, the Standard Knife Company collection, and the Tangerine handle.

It's amazing that the barlow knife has been so popular for about 400 years! I think one of the best features of it is the slight "teardrop" contour, which places the smooth, rounded larger end comfortably in the palm of your hand when you are using it.
 
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Tried the pattern out, it never really suited me but who am I to argue with 400 years of tradition!;)
 
logo-knives said:
It's nice to hear from people who know what a barlow knife is. I started the page barlow-knives.com, and now my daughter is the owner. The history of the barlow knife was hard to find, and it is sketchy at best. My daughter maintains an inventory of barlow knives made by several different manufacturers. Case didn't make one for a while, then made one in 2007. Then in 2008 they added a variety of handles. In 2009 Case offers 2 new handle types, the Standard Knife Company collection, and the Tangerine handle.

It's amazing that the barlow knife has been so popular for about 400 years! I think one of the best features of it is the slight "teardrop" contour, which places the smooth, rounded larger end comfortably in the palm of your hand when you are using it.
Click to expand...

Very informative site you have and welcome to Blade Forums. Hope you stick around and share some of your knowledge.
 
My current crop of Barlows has shrunk as I have gifted a few away but it is a pattern than seems to find it's own way into my home...I never actively look for them but I will see one out of the corner of my eye and the next thing I know it is in my pocket.There will be less money in my wallet so I know I am paying for them but I don't have any memory of the purchase...I just find them when I empty out my pockets at the end of the day...something mystical about the Barlows....

Top row, left to right
Fight'n Rooster, very dark greenish bone, one handed man main, stepped bolster
Rough Rider, amber jigged bone, I think these represent the pattern well, inexpensive but well made
Barlow, marked on bolsterno other markings, heavy for it's size and looks to be horn scales
RU-KO, sheepsfoot main with swedge, smooth derlin type scales

Bottom row
Boker, red washboard bone scales, carbon steel blades, not current China made line
Rough Rider, bark MOP, I really love the feel of this scale material
Providence Cutlery Co, my only spearpoint (for now) sawcut plastic scales, remember these on cardboard counter displays
Imperial, this is a duplicate of my first knife Pop gave me, that knife was gifted to a nephew, reddish derlin scales.

barlows.jpg


I have a pistol competition this afternoon...and I am sure one of these will find it's way into my pocket for the day. I have a number of heirlooms, memorabilia from my childhood, things I grew up with....but nothing makes me feel like a boy again like having a Barlow in my pocket...just reaching in and feeling the shape and weight...Mumblety-Peg anyone?
 
I have a Russel, and a couple Schrades with carbon steel. The Schrades fit the hand so well, and are very comfortable to use, if you haven't used one you don't know what you are missing.
 
I used to own a Barlow made by Samual Barlow of Neepsend back in late 1700's It had the long bolster and a razor type blade. I think the long bolster stuck with the name.
 
That is a serious Barlow....would have been the absolute envy of all the guys if you pulled that out for Mumblety-Peg...lol.
 
I own 4 Barlows, Boker, Western, Sabre, and a Rough Rider and I must admit they are seeing more carry time. I never really was a big Barlow fan even though my first knife was the Sabre Daddy Barlow I still have. But I have grown to appreciate them more.
 
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What the heck. You guys have turned me on to Case knives and sodbusters and traditionals in general. This thread got me digging around and my Roughrider barlow is gonna ride in the pocket tomorrow(with my Case stockman of course;)) Maybe I'll catch the barlow bug too.
 
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