Farmer’s Jack or Forager Jack. Not a Barlow.

[David Kramp]

Little WIP on this knife I’ve been working on. I’ve been loving these baby hawkbill/pruner blades as of late. Decided to add it as a secondary to a Barlow frame. On this particular knife I went with a short bolster to make it a boys knife.

I’ve not seen this configuration in my short number of years making knives. Idea is it would be a great little knife for foraging mushrooms, pruning and edc. Anyone seen this configuration on a Barlow type frame?

FYI. Cpm-154 steel, Westinghouse wood phenolic covers, pivots on a phosphor bronze bushings with .005” copper washers instead of a mill relief to the liners. Sorry for the scotch tape on the blades. Hope to have completed in the next days.


———Please Note——Pictured below is not an actual barlow. It uses the same frame. The post further down in the thread is an actual Barlow.

 

[screened porch]

Nope.
Looks great.

 

[kamagong]

That's more of a farmer's straight jack than a farmer's barlow. Barlows have longer bolsters.

 

[David Kramp]

Yes. Boys knife or Swell end straight Jack is basically a Barlow with the main difference being the bolster length iirc. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will clarify.

This is the exact same frame/pattern of mine. But an actual Barlow. It originally had the secondary hawkbill but I took it out to use as a patterned template.

 

[afishhunter]

I don't see why the pruner blade wouldn't work on a Barlow pattern.
If memory serves the Barlow was originally an sturdy and affordable "working stiff's" knife.

 

[Jack Black]

As well as a bolster the third of the length of the handle, Barlow knives come with specific blade patterns/configurations, which don't include a Pruner blade. Nice-looking knife, but as kamagong said, that isn't a Barlow

 

[David Kramp]

Sorry for the confusing thread title

Previous prototype build

 

[Alex.Y.]

Beautiful and very interesting! All rivets are steel?

 

[David Kramp]

As well as a bolster the third of the length of the handle, Barlow knives come with specific blade patterns/configurations, which don't include a Pruner blade. Nice-looking knife, but as kamagong said, that isn't a Barlow

For the sake of entertainment fun and discussion, having a Barlow style/framed knife with this configuration and calling it a Farmer’s Barlow doesn’t seem that far fetched considering it shares one blade type with a typical “Farmer’s Jack” (love that thread btw). The Farmer’s Jack is what inspired my thought of adding the pruner type blade in a Barlow frame. Countless companies have made barlows and millions produced I’d imagine. How many configurations are there or could there ha be been? One could say the limit being a maker’s or cutlery companies’ imagination.

Google searching “Farmers Barlow” didn’t produce much other than a company calling their Barlow with a clip and pen blade a farmers barlow.

If going on strict and polite purist lexicon I’d have to agree it’s not a Farmer’s Barlow.

But. Curious what would happen if a cutlery company has the name Farmers Barlow trademarked . I don’t see the benefit of that but it’s just a thought. I’m curious at what point does a pattern or name enter accepted lexicon? I imagine it takes a long, long time for something like this to take place since the pattern/frame itself already exists.

T.B’s WCT is a classic today but didn’t exist until he brought it to life with his vision and imagination.

In discussions with several of my custom maker friends, following Tony’s principles of reimagining, resurrecting and modifying classic patterns is what makes this art so much fun.

 

[David Kramp]

Sorry for the confusing thread title

Previous prototype build

Thank you. Spun pins are 316 stainless. Blade Pivot is 416 SS

 

[cudgee]

sturdy and affordable "working stiff's" knife.

 

[ea42]

For the sake of entertainment fun and discussion, having a Barlow style/framed knife with this configuration and calling it a Farmer’s Barlow doesn’t seem that far fetched considering it shares one blade type with a typical “Farmer’s Jack” (love that thread btw). The Farmer’s Jack is what inspired my thought of adding the pruner type blade in a Barlow frame. Countless companies have made barlows and millions produced I’d imagine. How many configurations are there or could there ha be been? One could say the limit being a maker’s or cutlery companies’ imagination.

Google searching “Farmers Barlow” didn’t produce much other than a company calling their Barlow with a clip and pen blade a farmers barlow.

If going on strict and polite purist lexicon I’d have to agree it’s not a Farmer’s Barlow.

But. Curious what would happen if a cutlery company has the name Farmers Barlow trademarked . I don’t see the benefit of that but it’s just a thought. I’m curious at what point does a pattern or name enter accepted lexicon? I imagine it takes a long, long time for something take this to take place since the pattern/frame itself already exists.

T.B’s WCT is a classic today but did exist until he brought it to life with his vision and imagination.

In discussions with several of my custom maker friends, following Tony’s principles of reimagining, resurrecting and modifying classic patterns is what makes this art so much fun.

David first let me say that's a very unique blade configuration for that pattern, what a great idea and excellent execution.

As far as the name, IMHO, the defining characteristic of a barlow knife is the long bolsters. That's the mark of a quintessential barlow and the the defining image of what most every knife company labelled a barlow. The average barlow is 3 3/8" long, which is also the standard size for many small regular and sleeveboard jack knives and boy's knives, and as was common in the day many of those companies merely changed the bolsters on their 3 3/8" jack knives to convert them to a barlow. They didn't call the whole pattern line barlows, just the long bolstered versions, so I think that's really the main requirement to call a knife a barlow knife. What you have there is a regular jack knife in that form, maybe a harvester jack?

Eric

 

[Graham24]

That’s unique, can’t go wrong with a Barlow. And the pruner makes it different.

 

[screened porch]

Farmer's Barlow is fine with me, as long as it has the long bolsters. The modifier "farmer's" makes it clear it's going to be a non-standard Barlow.
It's a great combination of blades, whatever you end up calling it.
Doesn't Boker have a Barlow that's nothing at all like a Barlow? [Yes, they do. No bolsters at all and the wrong handle shape.]

 

[David Kramp]

David first let me say that's a very unique blade configuration for that pattern, what a great idea and excellent execution.

As far as the name, IMHO, the defining characteristic of a barlow knife is the long bolsters. That's the mark of a quintessential barlow and the the defining image of what most every knife company labelled a barlow. The average barlow is 3 3/8" long, which is also the standard size for many small regular and sleeveboard jack knives and boy's knives, and as was common in the day many of those companies merely changed the bolsters on their 3 3/8" jack knives to convert them to a barlow. They didn't call the whole pattern line barlows, just the long bolstered versions, so I think that's really the main requirement to call a knife a barlow knife. What you have there is a regular jack knife in that form, maybe a harvester jack?

Eric

Firstly thank you Eric and a great reply.

Naming stuff sure complicates things haha. I had to edit my post so it doesn’t seem like I’m clueless on what a Barlow is lol. Any confusion about that is my fault . I do measure my bolsters at 1/3rd the overall length for a Barlow. On a straight Jack and other bolstered knives I take care to line the bolsters up with the kick in the halfstop or with tang edge at half. My pattern is 3-5/8” closed which feels good to me in my hand. I try to be pretty methodical in my measurements including the distal taper of the frame and the 1.5 degrees taper I add to the bolsters and scales (stag included). This being a personal preference for grip retention in the hand.

Maybe I’ll just call it a “Foraging Jack” instead lol

 

[Will Power]

Fine Spear and the small Pruner/Hawkbill is a versatile blade so this certainly brings something new & welcome to the table. I'm very fond of the SAK Pruner which has the blades each end, useful carry. Wonderful execution but I hope you decide on a Rat-Tail for the small bolster version too.

If it has the requisite long bolster it's in the Barlow realm, without it the knife is a Jack and I'd say 'Forager's Jack' works very well with it.

Back in 2009 the Forum Knife was a Stag Barlow with Clip/Wharncliffe, some people murmured about it being not a Barlow because of the unconventional blade combo, but that soon got forgotten when the end product materialised . I think Tony Bose was likely one of the first custom cutlers to put a Wharncliffe on a Trapper frame instead of the usual Spey, that proved influential.

You are making innovative and very interesting pieces, real artisan work

Thanks, Will

 

[David Kramp]

Fine Spear and the small Pruner/Hawkbill is a versatile blade so this certainly brings something new & welcome to the table. I'm very fond of the SAK Pruner which has the blades each end, useful carry. Wonderful execution but I hope you decide on a Rat-Tail for the small bolster version too.

If it has the requisite long bolster it's in the Barlow realm, without it the knife is a Jack and I'd say 'Forager's Jack' works very well with it.

Back in 2009 the Forum Knife was a Stag Barlow with Clip/Wharncliffe, some people murmured about it being not a Barlow because of the unconventional blade combo, but that soon got forgotten when the end product materialised . I think Tony Bose was likely one of the first custom cutlers to put a Wharncliffe on a Trapper frame instead of the usual Spey, that proved influential.

You are making innovative and very interesting pieces, real artisan work

Thanks, Will

Thank you Will. I believe that’s the most reasonable and appropriate direction to take. Forager’s Jack for the short bolster and Farmer’s Barlow with the long bolster.

I didn’t plan for fluting on this build. Normally, i would have done the fluting before attach the covers. On a Future build I’ll add be wider Sheffield style fluting.

Cheers

 

[David Kramp]

Maybe of interest. These photos are of my original prototype concept with a clip point blade. I may revisit this configuration. For some reason the spear point spoke to me.

Thoughts on a clip point version?

Fyi the dots are from a carbide straightening hammer.

 

[screened porch]

Maybe of interest. These photos are of my original prototype concept with a clip point blade. I may revisit this configuration. For some reason the spear point spoke to me.

Thoughts on a clip point version?

Fyi the dots are from a carbide straightening hammer.

Nice, but I like the spear better, myself.

 

[Matt_WY]

Definitely prefer the spear blade. Really like how this pattern is coming together David, been fun watching your progress on these builds.