Compare Shrade 206 Barlow to the Russell Barlow

B

Bauer

Joined
Jun 16, 2004
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Over the holidays I found another 206 Grandaddy Barlow at a favorite West Texas hardware store. This has become one of my favorite patterns as it is my third 206 and is now an EDC. I was looking on Ebay and came across this Russell Barlow Knife 1975 100th Year Commemorative NR, Item number: 6591980813. I compared the scales on the Russell to my 206 and they are identical. It appears that Schrade made some of the Russell Barlows. Most of you probably knew this already but I thought it was interesting. I do prefer the Schrade over the Russell because of the nice bolsters.
Best Regards
 
In fact IIRC, Schrade made the 206 part of their regular knife line circa 1975, just after they made the Russell Barlow repros which were released circa 1973-74.
 
Does anyone know if the tooling for the Schrade 206 ended up with the Colonial Knife company? I noticed on their website (colonialknife.com) the claim that they made "...the John Russell Barlow knives for Russell Harrington." The current colonial old cutler B2 barlow, now listed in their Rancher series looks like a user version of the commemorative. I have an old one that has always impressed me with its stoutness. Just wondering...
 
I believe that Colonial made the 1998 reproductions for Russell Harrington (now Dexter-Russell). Don't know why Schrade didn't make those as well...probably just business reasons. :confused:

Bill
 
Thanks Bill, I have long wondered about who made what. Does anyone out there have pictures to post of any of these knives? It would be interesting for us new guys to compare them. I've always liked the Barlow design, especially with steel bolsters, as a working tool. Most of the newer ones seem directed at the collector market (my old wood handled colonial knife actually got smoother and better looking with use and some linseed oil, the handles were pretty rough when I got it). Thanks again-There is always so much great information on this forum.
 
Here are a couple of photos I happen to have, of two of my knives.

The first photo is not so hot (sorry), but it's the single bladed Russell reproduction by Colonial.
The second is a two bladed scrimmed Schrade 506.
I don't have the older Russell reproduction, made by Schrade, maybe someone else does.
The master blades are different, and the bolster on the Russell is longer.

Bill

P. S.
I don't know why the second photo won't load...I'll try another post....Nope, a rename? Nope, I had to remove it from another thread first?? OK, whatever. Oh...now the pictures are reversed. Sigh!
 
The Barlow pattern has always been a favorite of mine, and growing up, it seems like it was the knife most likely to come out of a boy's pocket when something needed cutting. It is the perfect boy's knife. To my way of thinking, no other slipjoint knife pattern says simplicity, utility, ease of carry and use like the humble Barlow. And yet.... with all the Schrade, Ulster, and Imperial knives I now own, there is not a single Barlow among them. Not a one has been received as a gift from friends or family, nor "oops'ed" on eBay, nor found in a discount bin at a store.

Since I bought my first 8OT a while back, I guess the Barlow is now my "hold-out" knife, keeping me from slipping into joints looking sharply for them, pointing them out to clerks, turning over folding money for them. I guess I am just fixed in my ways.

Codger
(undercover grovel here for those new members who do not understand what is hapening. Search "GROVEL" in the forum search pulldown for some classics):)
 
Schrade Russell Barlow:

6d_3.jpg
 
Thanks again, nice pics. The reason I have had the notion that Colonial might have used the old Schrade handle tooling for their standard Barlow is the position of the backspring pin, which seems further back on these than on Camillus and K-bars from the same era. Has anyone had experience with a recent Colonial Barlow? I'd like to know if they are still being made (and if they are still made in the USA). Another question, for those of you who have a knowlege of such things, when most people carried this style, was the steel bolster predominant?
 
Those pins are placed differently on Redshanks' Schrade made Russell, and the Colonial made Russell...as well as the easy open cutout and the placement of the nail nick. But, I've got no idea if there is a reason why?? :confused: Ah, except that the red handled one looks like a Daddy Barlow maybe, and the other two are the smaller versions.

Here is the Barlow from the Dexter-Russell site...

http://www.dexter-russell.com/history.asp

Of course it's the pile side, with no nail nick. :mad:

Bill
 
Here is a picture of some of the Barlows I have.
Top row: Kutmaster, Camco & Russell (the newer ones made in Germany).
Middle: three Schrades
Bottom: a Remington

The Kutmaster and Camco are recent purchases from LT. Perhaps there is a thread where the relationship between Kutmaster and Camco to Schrade is discussed. If such a thread exists please point me to it. If not, can anyone tell me what their connection to Schrade is?

I will probably not be posting for a few days as I am having shoulder surgery tomorrow.

Thanks,
Dale

 
Dale,
When you get tired of sitting around after the surgery come on in and browse.
You can do it one handed. Oh stop that thought Lobo!!

Good luck and drop us a hello when you can.
Larry
P.S. Nice grouping of Barlow's
 
Dale,
Thanks for the sharp picture. We will keep you in our prayers for the work on the shoulder and recovery.
-Rich
 
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