Charles Marlowe Squail folder

[commodorewheeler]

Here is the knife that has been one of my primary EDCs for the past year. It is Charles Marlowe's Squail model, and it has served me very well. It is built like a tank, the fit and finish are impeccable, and the blade has held its edge extremely well, with only an occasional swipe on a steel after numerous cutting chores to get it shaving sharp again.

The handle scales are F-22 carbon fiber, the bolsters are beadblasted titanium anodized bronze, and the blade is CPM 154 handrubbed to a 600 grit. The blade has taken its share of light scratches, but the finish has held up quite well overall.

For anyone out there considering a Marlowe, I would definitely recommend jumping on one if you see it available. It will be worth every penny of what you pay for it.

Specs on this one:

Blade length: 4" from tip to handle
Overall length: 8 3/4"
Blade thickness: Just under 3/16" at ricasso
Blade material: CPM 154
Blade finish: Handrubbed
Edge: Plain
Bolsters: Titanium, beadblasted and anodized bronze
Handle scale material: F-22 carbon fiber
Lock: Titanium liner lock, beadblasted and anodized bronze
Backspacer: Black G-10
Clip: Titanium, beadblasted and anodized bronze, interchangeable between tip up and tip down carry

 

[T.K.C.]

That is one sweet Marlowe!! A Marlowe is on my "WANT" list. I would like one with a smaller blade than your Squail.

 

[Lorien]

what's with the fastener overlapping the pivot nut? I have an idea, but before I go piping off I'd rather hear the real reason first!
This has got to be one of the nicest designs for a big folder I've come across in awhile now.

 

[Kohai999]

what's with the fastener overlapping the pivot nut?

Keeps the female pivot side from turning.....Kevin Wilkins did the first one that I ever saw, but I am sure that others have done it as well.

Ken, Marlowe's work reminds me of many different makers....and many things that he does seem BTDT, imo.

The blade on this one, for instance, looks like pure Terzuola with the addition of a Spyderhole. The pocket clip is a dead doppleganger for Elishewitz. If Allen Elishewitz, John W. Smith and Bob Terzuola collaborated on a knife, it would look like this.

Am sure that f/f is top notch.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

thanks Steven, that's what I was thinking. Ditto regarding the Terzuola influence/reminder. The ATCF is one of my favorites, and this knife brings me there. The Spydie hole is really cool too. Studs work, but never seem to help much with the 'flow'.

 

[commodorewheeler]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

Ken, Marlowe's work reminds me of many different makers....and many things that he does seem BTDT, imo.

The blade on this one, for instance, looks like pure Terzuola with the addition of a Spyderhole. The pocket clip is a dead doppleganger for Elishewitz. If Allen Elishewitz, John W. Smith and Bob Terzuola collaborated on a knife, it would look like this.

Steven, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this. I've owned several Terzuolas before and still have one or two, and I don't find the Squail blade, which is far wider than any Terzuola folder blade profile anyway, to be any more reminiscent of Bob's designs than the majority of other spearpoint custom folder designs out there. Bob popularized the tactical spearpoint folder blade profile, and of course all others that followed will have some similarity to that general profile.

I've owned and seen a lot of Elishewitz folders as well, and I have never seen him do a clip that is identical to the one on the Marlowe in this thread. Allen does have a clip design that is similar in shape at the ends, but the overall clip profile is much longer and stretched out than this one. His shorter clips, which are similar in length to this one, are shaped nothing like it.

I am also going to have to disagree with Charles' designs being BTDT. I have never seen a folder with a handle profile even remotely similar to that of the piece in the pictures above, nor have I ever seen a blade profile on a folder that is highly similar to that of the A2, one of his flagship models, pictured below.

 

[fishface5]

It's certainly reminiscent of an ATCF, but with some excellent twists. He's got several different designs, and they show a lot of different influences but I wouldn't call them purely derivative (is that what BTDT means?), there is always value added. Plus his execution is reportedly excellent, I haven't yet had the privilege of fondling one. But this one, me likey for sure!

 

[Kohai999]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

...............
I've owned and seen a lot of Elishewitz folders as well, and I have never seen him do a clip that is identical to the one on the Marlowe in this thread. Allen does have a clip design that is similar in shape at the ends, but the overall clip profile is much longer and stretched out than this one. His shorter clips, which are similar in length to this one, are shaped nothing like it.

I am also going to have to disagree with Charles' designs being BTDT. I have never seen a folder with a handle profile even remotely similar to that of the piece in the pictures above, nor have I ever seen a blade profile on a folder that is highly similar to that of the A2, one of his flagship models, pictured below.

Bring it up next month, and we can compare, between the two makers mention who will be there, if you don't mind. I may be losing my "eye" but I don't think so.

Take care, and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Keith Montgomery]

It's certainly reminiscent of an ATCF, but with some excellent twists. He's got several different designs, and they show a lot of different influences but I wouldn't call them purely derivative (is that what BTDT means?), there is always value added. Plus his execution is reportedly excellent, I haven't yet had the privilege of fondling one. But this one, me likey for sure!

BTDT - Been there, done that.

 

[commodorewheeler]

Bring it up next month, and we can compare, between the two makers mention who will be there, if you don't mind. I may be losing my "eye" but I don't think so.

Take care, and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Steven, I'll bring it to Plaza. Maybe Allen has done something that looks like this clip before, but if he has, it's not something that I am familiar with at all, and I have seen a lot of Elishewitz folders.

 

[724wd]

beautiful knife! well done!

 

[Jon Brand]

I am seeing some kind of michael walker thing going on with the blade.

 

[nikoknife48]

That's a heafty folder, great lines