First Barlow?

steve-in-kville said:
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?
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https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-makes-a-good-traditional-barlow.1009441/

Keep an eye out on this thread and watch the GEC site and you'll always know whats in GEC's pipe line. When they come up jump or reserve it ASAP.
You might also want to watch the exchange.
GEC makes a great user barlow that does not have to sit in a drawer. All my GEC's are users.
 
From what I have seen in my shopping in Antique Stores and Flea Markets : The best buys out there for Used Barlows are almost always Camillus and IMO as well made as any and better than most .

Harry
 
Other than discontinued limited runs, are any Barlows currently being manufactured domestically other than Bear & Son?
 
afishhunter said:
Allegedly the Sarge Boy Scout Barlow is made in the USA.
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Interesting! By whom? It looks a lot like the one made in China currently sold by Boker, similar to the one sold by Lehman's Hardware store under their own brand. I would sure try one out if it had a definite American source!
 
I don't know if they are a contract knife or who makes them for Sarge, or if they are made in house.

The description where I bought mine claims made in the USA. I don't recall off hand what it said on the Sarge website.

Like I said earlier, it is a very nice knife, regardless of where it was born.
 
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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GEC barlows are awesome, but availablity and cost are issues. Railsplitter is on the money here with the Boker recommendation. You can find them in high carbon and 440C (which is actually a really great stainless option). I have several Bokers and they are pretty great. They are not as great as GECs, but considering the price and availability, they are a great option.
 
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I will second (or third or fourth) the Boker Barlow. Easy to find, well made, and affordable.
 
Steve, I was able to pick up a couple recently. One Boker, one Russell, both made in Germany. They are identical so I'm guessing they were made at the same place. Very solid knives. They were new but not sure how long ago they were made. They were not over expensive.
 
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.
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They have brought it back to some degree as I have a modern case 62009 1/2 barlow. They also made it later than the 70's, I've seen 80's case barlows.
 
Bartleby said:
Other than discontinued limited runs, are any Barlows currently being manufactured domestically other than Bear & Son?
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Utica makes them, last I knew. Some made in USA, some I believe offshore. They tell you which is swhich, and you can tell by the price.
 
Consider a Queen made Barlow. This tough no nonsense carbon bladed one from their Workhorse series has pleased me very much. Rugged yet good finish, jigged delrin will put up with anything and the pin pivot can be tightened with a whack!

But take a look at Rough Rider's Barlows too. Great handle choices, tidy finish and their stainless is very respectable, a decently turned out knife from China.

IMG_3381.jpg~original
 
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