Charlow Barlow History

A couple new ones

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The Ancients:

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The button and bladestamp images are extracts from my family history.
Specifically, the "Trinacria" is the symbol of Sicily, and the red and yellow diagonal, are the colors of her flag. My grandfather, and three of his many brothers, joined the melting pot that is America, in about 1895 from La Bella Sicilia! This seems like a good "guild" stamp to fit that history . . . . . . . . . if there were a guild for SFOs.:eek: But I digress!!:D

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The Ancient TC Barlows debuted at the GEC Rendezvous on August 6th, 2015. A Scratted parchment bone single lambfoot blade was the main attraction, with 156 total pieces produced. A smooth parchment bone with 77 total pieces, an Ebony wood with 75 total pieces, and ten Soupbone Ancients were also introduced.

The Ancient run marked the first TC Barlows released with stamped blades. The stamp proved very attractive and very popular. The stamp was placed where it is visible with the blade closed. The bolsters and blades were antiqued by GEC.

Additionally, there were Rendezvous Soupbone specials released along with the Ancients. There were 5 spey blade "New Day" TC Barlows released by GEC, ten spey blade "New Day" TC Barlows with pen behind main, and nine sheep foot Soupbone TC Barlows with cap lifter secondary blade. All cap lifter tubes were marked CNRFCL, which converts to "Charlie not responsible for cap lifter."
 
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Updated August 18th, 2015.

TC Barlows released since order #1 in 2012, taken and organized from GEC production totals for the years 2012-2015:

These are the orders of TC Barlows - special ordered by Charlie Campagna and produced by Great Eastern Cutlery Company.

2012 Complete List:

1st Run (Harness Maker Label), Genuine Barlow etch and PPP etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull, the Ebony is striped Macassar:

152112LP
Ebony Wood 57 pcs. no serial numbers
Copperhead Saw Cut Bone 57 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 51 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 20 pcs. no serial numbers

1st Run (Harness Maker Label), Genuine Barlow etch and PPP etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull and pen blade:

152212LP
Ebony Wood 20 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 39 pcs. no serial numbers
Copperhead Saw Cut Bone 5 pcs. no serial numbers

2013 Complete List:

2nd Run (Apple Cider Vinegar Label) Genuine Barlow etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull:

#152113STL Inside Out Saw Cut Bone 14 pcs. no serial numbers
#152113STL Ebony Wood 25 pcs. no serial numbers
#152113STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 23 pcs. no serial numbers

2nd Run (Apple Cider Vinegar Label) Genuine Barlow etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull and Pen blade:

#152213STL Ebony Wood 32 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 31 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 1 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213 Genuine Pre-ban Elephant Ivory 1 pcs. no serial numbers (A gift to Charlie from Bill for the success of the TC Barlow SFO's)

* The Rust Red, Gabon Ebony, and Charlie's Ivory 152213 models had pile side pens.

2nd Run (Canada Whitewasher Label) Tom's Choice etch Clip Blade with Long Pull:

#151113STL Soup Bone 6 pcs. no #
#151113STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 49 pcs. no #
#151113STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 49 pcs. no #
#151113BE STL Black Ebony Wood 47 pcs. no #
#151113BE STL Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 55 pcs. no #

2nd Run (Canada Whitewasher Label) Tom's Choice etch Clip Blade with Long Pull and Pen blade:

#151213BE STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 28 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 28 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Black Ebony Wood 55 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 26 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Ebony Wood 35 pcs. no #

3rd Run (Orchardist Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch and Long Pull:

#153113STL Smooth Ivory Bone 48 pcs. no #
#153113STL Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 44 pcs. no #
#153113STL Walnut Wood 45 pcs. no #
#153113STL African Blackwood 36 pcs. no #
#153113STL Saw Cut Soup Bone 25 pcs. no #
#153113 Palo Santo Wood 2 pcs. no # (one etched "Prototype")

** The two Palo Santo Woods were Prototypes that were built by Bill, to show Charlie the wood for an upcoming run. Bill sent one to Charlie and retained the other. **

3rd Run (Orchardist Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch, Long Pull and Pen blade:

#153213STL Smooth Ivory Bone 47 pcs. no #
#153213STL Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 48 pcs. no #
#153213STL Walnut Wood 52 pcs. no #
#153213STL African Blackwood 49 pcs. no #

4th Run (Speying and Chicken Feed Label) Days Work etch Spey Blade with Crescent Nick:

#154113STL African Blackwood 48 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Smooth Yellow Bone 47 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Saw Cut Saddle Brown Bone 49 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Soup Bone 17 pcs. no serial numbers

4th Run (Speying and Chicken Feed Label) Days Work etch Spey Blade and Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#151213STL Smooth Yellow Bone 50 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL African Blackwood 48 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL Soup Bone 7 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL Saw Cut Saddle Brown Bone 46 pcs. no serial numbers

4th Run Tom's Choice Clips with Crescent Nicks:

#151113STL Inside Out Saw Cut Bone 10 pcs. no # (Canada Whitewasher Label)
#151113STL Che Chen Rosewood 30 pcs. no # (Apple Cider Vinegar Label with Reversed Positions)
#154113STL Smooth Yellow Bone 50 pcs. no #(Canada Whitewasher Label)

2014 Complete List:

(Shoe Polish Label) Genuine Barlow Etch Spear Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#152114 Blood Red Jig Bone 38 pcs. no #
#152114 Chestnut Jig Bone 38 pcs. no #
#152114 Gabon Ebony Wood 80 pcs. no #
#152114 American Walnut Wood 40 pcs. no #
#152114 3rd Cut Stag 18 pcs. no # (Recycling Label)

** GEC production totals show a clerical error of this release as EC suffixes. Edited out of this history thread in order to correct history on August 1, 2019, as per discussion on page 22 on August 1, 2019.

(Shoe Polish Label) Genuine Barlow Etch Spear Blade with Crescent Nicks and pen blades:

#152214 Blood Red Jig Bone 40 pcs. no #
#152214 Chestnut Jig Bone 39 pcs. no #
#152214 Gabon Ebony Wood 20 pcs. no #

Stew's Blade etched Razor Blade with long pull and (Charlie's Hooks & Bait Label):

#15A114STL African Blackwood 34 pcs. no #
#15A114STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 34 pcs. no #
#15A114STL Chestnut Saw Cut Bone 34 pcs. no #

#15A114STL Oil Sucker Rod Wood 30 pcs. Serialized ( Made for GEC Event and not a Special order )
#15A114STL Oil Sucker Rod Wood 3 pcs. Non-serialized ( Made for GEC Event and not a Special order )

Stew's Blade etched Razor Blade with long pull and pen blade (Charlie's Hooks & Bait Label):

#15A214STL African Blackwood 20 pcs. no #
#15A214STL Chestnut Saw Cut Bone 17 pcs. no #
#15A214STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 17 pcs. no #

(Drake Oil Label) Tom's Choice II Etch Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#151114STL 3rd Cut Stag 20 pcs. no #
#151114STL Walnut Wood 42 pcs. no #
#151114STL Rust Red Jig Bone 40 pcs. no #

(Drake Oil Label) Tom's Choice II Etch Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks and pen blade:

#151214STL 3rd Cut Stag 22 pcs. no #
#151214STL Rust Red Jig Bone 48 pcs. no #
#151214STL Walnut Wood 40 pcs. no #
#151214STL Dead Skunk Acrylic 7 pcs. no # (Skunk added to Drake Oil Label)


Anniversary Edition (Charlie's Soup Label with Red Sneakers):

#151114STL Red Soup Bone 155 pcs. no #
(Long pull clip blade)

#151114STL Brazilian Rosewood 11 pcs. no #
(Long pull clip blade)

#153114STL Brazilian Rosewood 6 pcs. no #
(Long pull sheep foot blade)

#152114STL Brazilian Rosewood 7 pcs. no #
(Spear blade with Crescent nail nick)

2015 Complete List:

(Mutton Stew Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch and Long Pull:

#153115 Palo Santo Wood 66 pcs. no #
#153115 Antique Yellow Jigged Bone 64 pcs. no #
#153115 Tan Jigged Bone 61 pcs. no #
#153115 Amber Soup Bone 33 pcs. no #

(Mutton Stew Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch, Long Pull and Pen blade:

#153215 Palo Santo Wood 33 pcs. no #
#153215 Antique Yellow Jigged Bone 28 pcs. no #
#153215 Tan Jigged Bone 31 pcs. total no # * ( includes one factory re-covered with Walnut Handles, previously tan jigged bone and stamped "R" on tang.)

(Green Eggs and Ham Label) "A New Day" etch Spey Blade with long pull main:

#154115 African Blackwood pcs. no serial numbers
#154115 Copperhead Jigged Bone pcs. no serial numbers
#154115 Evergreen Jigged Bone pcs. no serial numbers

(Green Eggs and Ham Label) "A New Day" etch Spey Blade with long pull main and pen behind main:

#154215 African Blackwood pcs. no serial numbers
#154215 Copperhead Jigged Bone pcs. no serial numbers
#154215 Evergreen Jigged Bone pcs. no serial numbers

(Ancient Label) Stamped Lamb Foot Blade with nail nick blade:

#15C115 Scratted Parchment Bone 156 pcs. no serial numbers
#15C115 Smooth Parchment Bone 68 pcs. no serial numbers plus 4 smooth factory seconds
#15C115 Smooth Parchment Bone 5 pcs. no serial numbers - handles reverse installed (red star on tube label) production error (handles upside down)
#15C115 Ebony Wood 74 pcs. no serial numbers plus 1 factory 2nd piece. (Pertinux got the factory second Ebony)
#15C115 Amber Soupbone 10 pcs. no serial numbers

GEC Rendezvous Special TC Barlows:

#153215 Amber Soupbone sheep foot and cap lifter - tube marked CNRFCL 9 pcs. no serial numbers

(Green Eggs and Ham Label) "A New Day" etch Spey Blade with long pull single blade:

#154115 Amber Soup bone 5 pcs. no serial numbers

(Green Eggs and Ham Label) "A New Day" etch Spey Blade with long pull main and pen behind main:

#154215 Amber Soup bone 10 pcs. no serial numbers


*Total TC Barlows produced to date is 3,110. (does not include "A New Day" release at this time)

STL = steel frame BE = bare end
 
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Here's Charlie's story on the beerlows. Bill Howard played a little joke on him!
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Bill caught wind of my determination to not use caplifters on my Barlows, because I have never seen one on a traditional Barlow.
He presented me with a surprise box of Soupbones when I got to the factory, for which I was delighted!!!!
Then I saw his devilish grin as I opened them, and saw some of them had cap lifters!!!!:eek:

What to do?? They are beautiful knives!! So I signed each one with a disclaimer!!

As Bart Simpson said, "I didn't do it!!
 

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Thanks for the photos and comments, everyone. And a special thanks for all the production run details, Rob!
 
Rob, thanks for all the production numbers and other details. For a collector like me who catalogs everything, this is invaluable!
 
That list is a great resource Primble :thumbup:
 
"A New Day" etch Spey Blade with long pull single blade:

#154115 Amber Soup bone 1 of 5 pcs. no serial numbers

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Kind words deserved Ron :), that soup is all killer no filler.

Just wanted to mention how grateful I am for this thread. It's really great being able to thumb through the history and photos specifically with a timeline.
 
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