Difference between a Jack and a Barlow?

L

lobodelanoche

Joined
Feb 7, 2012
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I actually woke up thinking this (I know I have a problem, that's why I belong) if the characteristic for both is a large clip blade and a pen blade, what differentiates them? is it the handle style? The bolsters? just wondering.
 
Others will give a more detailed answer, but meanwhile...
A jackknife is a slipjoint with one or two blades on the same end. It's a very generic definition and doesn't imply a specific blade combination.
A Barlow is a jackknife with one or two blades, barehead, with a long bolster (around 40% of the total handle length, more or less), and also available in different blade configurations; usually, though (to my knowledge), it has a larger main blade and a smaller secondary blade (if any), usually a pen blade.
Not much for now...but maybe it's a little help to guide you.

Fausto
:cool:
 
A barlow is a particular handle shape and bolster. I think a jack just has the blade(s) at one end. So a barlow is a subset of all jacks.
 
A barlow is a jack but not all jacks are barlows. As Fausto alluded to, traditionally, barlows have a pattern (frame) and bolster (at a particular ratio to the overall length) that makes them easy to pick out from other jacks. (Some companies and makers have taken liberties with this and call their designs "barlows" even if not built in strict accordance with the historical pattern.)

The idea of the increased bolster length was to add strength to this robust design.
 
What the other guys said. Just to add though, many jack knives and Barlows have spear point main blades instead of clips. And many Barlow knives are single-bladed, and some knives are called jack knives even though they only have one blade.

I hope that makes everything perfectly clear. ;)
 
The others above have already told the differences... a Barlow is a jackknifepattern with longern bolsters. There are other jackknifepatterns out there: Peanut, etc etc

What would be something to add about the Barlow in comparison to a regular Jackknife: The Barlow was the workingman´s knife in the past. They were easier to make, because of the bolsterdesign and there are no bolsters on the end of the knife. Usually Barlows are made of steel bolsters and Jackknives have nickelsilver bolsters. (This is the quintessence I learned of the difference here on the forums - thanks for the lessions)
 
A Barlow with brass bolsters? Not a common practice, but like practically everything else, it's been done.

GDOTbarlow.jpg
 
Thanks for the pic, Bob. I said "usually" - so the regular way. Other versions were out there, for sure. Great knife, BTW :)
 
Thanks for the interlude Bob. This is a very good album I have not listened to for a while. The cd is going in my car as soon as I lay my hands on it.

Updated to say I found the Mudcrutch cd, and have been listening to it while driving about town this afternoon. Thanks again Bob.
 
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Had to hit the like on that Charlie! She's mainly playing three finger style but it looked like about half way or a little over she did some hammer/claw playing. Either way is good I much enjoy hearing folk music about the great barlow as reading about the rich history of it!
 
A great song that, lots of good versions, got quite a few of them (a shame The Poozies fluff the Barlow line in their version). Hard to think of a more iconic knife :)
 
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Barlows are often adorned with a huge bolster engraving, even if it just says "BARLOW"...
 
When I was a kid the Imperial Barlows from Providence, R.I. were very common. I think they were simply marked "Barlow" on the bolster. I've seen many other Barlows with the same bolster stamp - Sabre, McGrew, and others. I also have a low-quality Camillus Barlow with plain bolsters - not sure how typical that is.

Other companies marked the bolster with the brand name or logo. Aside from the knife a few posts up, this is the only other Old Timer Barlow, an Ulster.

10OTcloseup.jpg
 
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