Does anyone remember "Barlow" brand knives?

H

HighlanderNorth

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Jun 23, 2012
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I can remember back in the late 70's when I was like 10, and there was this gas station/convenience store nearby our development in Piedmont region of NC, and when I'd go into that store, the first thing I'd notice was this cardboard display hanging on the wall directly behind the cashier, and it had about 20 Barlow 'brand' folding knives on it. These things had fake bone handles, non-stainless, non-high carbon steel blades that starting rusting as soon as you bought the knife! They cost like $4- $5 at the time. But when I was 10, they seemed cool, because I didnt know any better.


Then I finally got one and it rusted very quickly, and by the time I was 11, I realized the importance of stainless steel for everyday outdoor knives that get regular use. I used it for Boy Scout outings, but after it quickly rusted, got really stiff, lost its sharpness, I finally got a little better knife for Christmas for camping, etc.

Anyone remember those knives?
 
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Most Barlows have carbon blades I believe, as do the majority of serious outdoor/bushcraft knives. It just takes a little maintenance. My first knife was a Barlow given to me by my grandfather when I was 7 or so. Never rusted. Check out the traditionals forum, Barlow is the knife of the month.
 
Bigfatts said:
Most Barlows have carbon blades I believe, as do the majority of serious outdoor/bushcraft knives. It just takes a little maintenance. My first knife was a Barlow given to me by my grandfather when I was 7 or so. Never rusted. Check out the traditionals forum, Barlow is the knife of the month.
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I just did a google search, and this can be a bit confusing. There are Barlow "style" knives, but there were also Barlow brand knives as well. There are several companies who make Barlow style knives, but what I am talking about are the Barlow "brand" knives that I used to see in the 70's and 80's. These things cost $4 - $5 apiece, were always sold off a cardboard display just like combs were. They had fake bone handles, cheap steel that rusted very easily, and didnt hold an edge.

There's a big difference in what I'm referring to vs. the better name brand Barlow "style" knives that undoubtedly cost significantly more than $4 - $5.
 
Hm, I always thought Barlow was just a pattern, didn't know it was a brand as well. As to those, I couldn't say then.
 
I had a Barlow Brand knife when I was 10. It was my first knife my Dad got for me for Boy Scouts...I used it for a year or two before getting a Swiss Army knife. I had it in my junk drawer for many years even after college. Don't know what happened to it though.
 
I have one of two around. My Grandfather always had one in his pocket, as well as a flashlight. One of them
is now mine... good memories. Thanks for starting this post!
 
I believe the ones that were stamped "Barlow" on the bolster were made by Camco, (the economy department of Camillus) and Imperial.

They did they're job well as a beater knife, and Ironically that is the Traditional pattern of the month if you feel like checking it out in the traditional forum.

Edit: not to step on anyone's toes, but just because it rusts easily doesn't mean it's not high carbon, take a look at a lot of simple carbon steels like the 10xx series, in fact, I'm willing to bet a shinny penny that those barlows had 1070 (or equivalent) grade steel. As to the edge being lost easily, could be a lower RC, like you said they were cheap knives.
 
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i've got an old Imperial brand barlow with "BARLOW" stamped on the bolster
 
I've still got mine (I'm 50). Has a nice patina on it and holds a good edge. One my girls even took it to girls camp years ago. I bought mine at a Circle K store when I was a kid in Arizona. Mine is a 2 blade model and says Barlow on the bolster. Thanks for the reminder of that knife. Think I'll slip it in my pocket this week for old times sake!
 
HighlanderNorth said:
I can remember back in the late 70's when I was like 10, and there was this gas station/convenience store nearby our development in Piedmont region of NC, and when I'd go into that store, the first thing I'd notice was this cardboard display hanging on the wall directly behind the cashier, and it had about 20 Barlow 'brand' folding knives on it. These things had fake bone handles, non-stainless, non-high carbon steel blades that starting rusting as soon as you bought the knife! They cost like $4- $5 at the time. But when I was 10, they seemed cool, because I didnt know any better.


Then I finally got one and it rusted very quickly, and by the time I was 11, I realized the importance of stainless steel for everyday outdoor knives that get regular use. I used it for Boy Scout outings, but after it quickly rusted, got really stiff, lost its sharpness, I finally got a little better knife for Christmas for camping, etc.

Anyone remember those knives?
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They are still around. You can pick up new-looking ones at the Raleigh state surplus for about $10. They are the older carbon steel models.
 
dman62 said:
I've still got mine (I'm 50). Has a nice patina on it and holds a good edge. One my girls even took it to girls camp years ago. I bought mine at a Circle K store when I was a kid in Arizona. Mine is a 2 blade model and says Barlow on the bolster. Thanks for the reminder of that knife. Think I'll slip it in my pocket this week for old times sake!
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Now that I think about it, I was only 10 when I bought that knife, and when you are 10, you dont necessarily take great care of things! I'm sure I got it wet many times and didnt dry it off, then just closed it and put in in my pocket. Any non-stainless steel probably wont hold up to well under the conditions its forced to endure when owned by a 10 year old.....
 
Yeah, I had a Barlow that was on a "silver" nameplate on the knife. Just one blade. Nice knife, but then I never put it to a test.
Sonny
 
I also got one of those off the cardboard display but at our downtown news stand and in the early 70's. Mine was stamped "Barlow" on the bolsters but I'm sure it was made by Imperial. I gave it away many years ago. Wasn't a bad knife but back then it was what I could afford.
 
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Stag brand - made in Ireland
 
You're prolly thinking of the old Imperial Barlow. I'm 57 tomorrow and that was the knife I grew up with. You'd get one and the "shell" combination scales/fake bolster would come off after a few weeks/months. I'd get a new one every so often and have a couple without the sides in my 11 year old boy's junk drawer.

I just got a used one at a gun show this year for old times sake. The steel doesn't seem to be bad at all. The blade is a little thin and the whole knife sure doesn't live up to the "tank" Barlow rep. Still, this one will be a "drawer queen" for sure, for trips down memory lane.

AHEM.. so anyway, Barlows are my favorite pattern and the old Camillus/Camco ones are great, sturdy knives. I just bought a Boker Barlow yesterday for my birthday. The not-so-little woman took me to a knife store and told me to pick what I wanted.
 
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i have one of these, says 'the ideal' on the bottom of the larger blade. someone gave it to me when i was a teenager.
 
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