Charlow Barlow History

[Kirkwood]

Wow! This is a very helpful thread for those of us who are late to the party.

 

[sitflyer]

pssst...soup bone was suggested by Gunstockjack a few posts before

 

[Campbellclanman]

Just a great Thread on one of my favourite subjects, the Barlows from Charlie. I think the knives are such great examples of just where GEC are now in the chase to perfect the quality that has been lost for some time from the yesteryear world of Master Cutlers.
Obviously the knowledge, darned hard work and passion from Charlie has been the combination that has got these knives to where they are now, its actually very hard to explain just how these knives have taken me.

 

[jon_slider]

pssst...soup bone was suggested by Gunstockjack a few posts before

thanks for adding to my understanding. I really admire Gunstockjack. He is apparently also quite a good artist. He also takes really beautiful photos. Certainly a very valuable member of the team that Charlie has marshalled to give these Barlows to the world.

12/3/13

The TC Barlow series is really something special! :applause: Thanks so much for bring these knives to life!


All in a day's work, eh Charlie?

its actually very hard to explain just how these knives have taken me.

For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not understand, no explanation is sufficient.

Here are some of the blade etch progressions on the Charlows, from this great thread honoring Charlies SFO's
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1155799-Let-s-see-your-Charlie-SFOs

I think this is the Charlow blade etch progression

Dec 2012 Long Pull Spear etch is Genuine Barlow with TC Knife etched between the words, (not sure this is a 2012 knife, but the etch is the same)

2013 Long Pull Clip blade etch is Tom's Choice with TC between (No Clip blades were made in 2012)

March 2013 Long Pull Clip blade etch is Tom's Choice

April? 2013 some Long Pull Spear bladed Charlows were released with the pen blade on the pile side, colors were Gabon Ebony and sawcut RedBone. They used the same Genuine Barlow with TC Knife etched between the words as the 2012 Spear run. There were also a few Soupbone handled Clip and Spear single bladed models released.

June? 2013 Long Pull Sheepfoot etch is Genuine Barlow, with a picture of a Rams head between and the word Sheepfoot below, this one is Blackwood

Oct? 2013 Crescent nail nick Spey etch is Days Work with a pic of a Rooster between, this one is Blackwood

2013 Crescent nail nick Clip etch is Tom's Choice, the same as all previous Clip blades etch.

imo, the TC on the Charlow bolster stands for Tidioute Cutlery, not "Totally Cool", "Top Choice" or "Thanks Charlie", but you can think of it however makes you happy.

Some incomplete info on handle covers in the different runs, please correct my errors and omissions

The Dec 2012 run included Macassar Ebony, and Sawcut bone in Antique Amber

the March 2013 run included Gabon Ebony, Saddle Brown Sawcut bone, and Rust Red Sawcut bone, and also Sawcut SoupBone in a "natural tan" color whose correct name I do not know

june 2013 Sheepfoot run … African Blackwood, Walnut, Antique Yellow, Smooth white bone, and Sawcut blackened Soupbone iirc.

The Days work series included Blackwood, Poisonwood (Che Chen Rosewood), Sawcut SaddleBrown, and Smooth Yellow bone, I believe

 

[arizonaranchman]

Originally Posted by Campbellclanman:

"its actually very hard to explain just how these knives have taken me."

jon_slider:

"For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not understand, no explanation is sufficient. "
__________________________________________________________________________________

So very true! The Barlow has become a fascination for so many here. It's reaching sort of a cult following among those who appreciate them. These Charlows are an outstanding tribute to the Barlow knife. Their quality and true-to-the-original attention to detail is fantastic.

 

[black mamba]

Great post Duncan. These knives are really special. I described a knife last week as being Charlow quality. Anyone who has one would understand the level that conveys.

 

[eschwebach]

Fantastic thread Jon, I really enjoyed reading through it and seeing all the various iterations of the wonderful Charlow. I am eagerly awaiting the next run.

 

[jon_slider]

Tube art, missing the 2012 run, if you have it post it up please. Also missing the Spey run..

Charlow production volume trivia (very incomplete), if you know more factoids, please contribute:

12/6/12
9 spear with mark side pen in macassar ebony, 20 macassar single spear

4/17/13
45 spear with pile side pen in gabon ebony, 9 single spear gabon,
55 spear with pile side pen in Redbone, ? single spear redbone
? single spear soup bone (I don't think any 2 blades were made with soupbone covers)

 

[waynorth]

The Spear Bladed Barlows of 2012 had these:

The Pen behind the Spear knife had a reversed (mirror image) front label, and a new back label:

Each time the label changes, there is at least one other small difference.
I have to look for them myself!

 

[waynorth]

Along came Tom's Choice, the clip blade version:

 

[philllll]

I love how you get a different 'title' on each bucket, Charlie.

 

[waynorth]

Getting a little closer to the Farm, The Sheepfoot Barlow came next, labeled thus:

When we brought out the ummm . . .Mutton Bone variation , the front label reflected those Baaad Boys!

 

[Campbellclanman]

These labels are a massive importance with these knives- I will try to retrain comments about just how good these SFO's really are- but to have the thoughts and passion and information along with each knife- to me it's huge.

 

[waynorth]

It's huge to me too, Duncan! It's nice to be able to provide some background about the creative processes that happen behind the scenes.
At the least, I hope it is entertaining!!
Here we are with the Spey labels. There is a small typographical error in this front label that was corrected at production. Spot it?

 

[Campbellclanman]

Yep - no T in agricultural.

 

[Thomason]

Outstanding job! You are a good man, Jon.

 

[jon_slider]

Outstanding job! You are a good man, Jon.

Thanks for the kind words, the credit belongs to Sir Charlow.

I thimk the error in the Spey label, is on the bucket: Speying should be Spaying

 

[sitflyer]

It's huge to me too, Duncan! It's nice to be able to provide some background about the creative processes that happen behind the scenes.
At the least, I hope it is entertaining!!
Here we are with the Spey labels. There is a small typographical error in this front label that was corrected at production. Spot it?

The labels are a big part of the fun
Umm, It's the bucket! Feeds became feed

 

[smiling-knife]

Beautiful knives and very interesting thread. I particularly like the saw cut bone scales with the clip and pen blades.

 

[jon_slider]

The labels are a big part of the fun
Umm, It's the bucket! Feeds became feed

thanks!
can you please post a pic of the corrected lable? (er, label)