First Barlow?

steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
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Time to restart my knife collection and I'm kinda partial to beginning with a Barlow or two. This will be a working knife... not a beater, but I don't want something that will lay in a drawer.

What should I be looking at?
 
If you are wanting a new knife go with a GEC barlow. Lots of options. I have several old vintage barlows I carry that are great working knives.
 
Even the old cheapie like Colonial and Imperial have great steel. Personally, I'd look for an old Imperial.
 
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Not too many barlows on the market these days. I suppose you'll prefer some US made, so why not try the Uticas? Unexpensive and good looking.
Do not forget A. Wrights, if you consider them a bit large for pocket use, then Joseph Rodgers or IXL siblings could be the thing.
Another option is to wait GEC's TC to come (but when? :(). Second market ones could be overpriced imho.
 
If you don't care where they are made, Rough Rider makes a good user Barlow. Several choices on handle material, too.
Their 440A has a good heat treat, and holds an edge quite well.

The Sarge Boy Scout Barlow is very nice, allegedly it has 440C blades. They also have a half stop on both blades.
I don't know for sure where the Sarge is made. I've heard both the USA and offshore. There is no country of origin on the blades.

The Szco Rite Edge is also a nice one, and has a lanyard hole.

I don't know about the new BTI Schrade Imperial, Old Timer, and Uncle Henry Barlows. I don't have one yet.

For an older, used Imperial, either the Prov. RI or Ireland made are good. I have one of each, and cannot tell any real difference between them.
Ulster is another on the used market to keep an eye out for. I know they made the Ulster with clip, spear point, and sheepsfoot main blades.

Good luck in your hunt. :)
 
I have a few Camilluses and Japanese Sabers from flea markets and antique stores, and a couple of Kutmasters (Utica), but they're few and far between. Imperials are the ones I see most.

I love Utica, but I don't know if they've gotten over whatever was causing them to mix carbon and stainless blades on knives that are supposed to be one or the other.
 
jmh33 said:
All great suggestions.. I will throw this out.. Find a nice older CASE..;) John
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I wonder why Case dropped the Barlow back in the mid or late 70's and has not brought it back.
There is definitely a large market for the pattern.
 
GEC made Barlows are probably some of the nicest production Barlows, but they don't show up often on any of the on line dealer sites & if they do get some in, they don't last long. If you want a new one, you usually have to get it from one of the dealers offering special factory orders. There's usually a couple a year offered.

I've found a few very nice old Barlows at flea markets for $3-8, but finding one that hasn't had most of the blades ground away on a bench grinder is rare. I've gotten my nicest Barlows from the traditional exchange here, but the Barlows seem to get snatched very shortly after posting. I check several times a day looking for Barlows & usually miss them by a few hours, or even minutes.
 
afishhunter said:
I wonder why Case dropped the Barlow back in the mid or late 70's and has not brought it back.
There is definitely a large market for the pattern.
Click to expand...
You and me both!
It think if Case brought back the Barlow no store could keep them in stock. I'd love one in that classic Case yellow delrin.
 
If you aren’t limited to US knives, Boker Tree Brand sells some solid barlows. I picked a two blade on EBay for around $40 and they also sell a single blade that’s in a similar price range. I don’t know how they compare to cheaper knives but I like the one I have.
 
Railsplitter said:
Boker makes a nice Barlow with 440C stainless steel. A rather attractive one just sold in The Exchange yesterday.
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Böker does make a nice looking Barlow. :)
But, their claim of "440C" I've learned to take with a grain ... O.K. ... maybe a pound of salt.
The three Böker's I have that claimed 440C have "440A" on the tang stamp.
Knives are a "Plus" series Stockman and Trapper, and a Magnum series Scout/Camp knife.
They are still a great knife, and I do carry the stockman and the scout/camp knife.
 
Older Queen barlows, including the Robeson branded ones, can have (but not always) their most useful D2 steel. Older ones (say before 2007) were of very high quality, and they aren't a fortune on the secondary sites.
 
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