First traditional (unless you count SAK) -- Ray Smith coffin barlow

Very nice knife! I personally would take it with you to school, just be careful and don't leave it lying around if you have a roommate (or visitors) you don't know well. It would be a shame to leave your custom ordered knife sitting at home! As for carry on campus, I would get something small and inexpensive so it doesn't push the rules and you won't be afraid to lose or abuse it. I almost always carried a SAK in college. The extra tools came in handy, it never raised eyebrows, and when I eventually lost it I was only out $20.
 
that is a great looking barlow, I don't see any flaws in it from the pictures. I would have asked the maker to reprofile it for me, though I routinely reprofile all my knives, that looks a bit too special to take any risks on.
 
I give all college bound relatives a lock box for college. They come with a steel tether. Keeps honest students honest :)
 
I am really drooling over this one. Great looking knife!
 
A great looking single noobie1. I have always had a love for that coffin shaped handle. Not knowing how hard the HT was run on the ATS-34 I don't know what the edge retention is like on it in your uses. That being said, I doubt you will sharpen it enough to wear away the whole knife in your lifetime. What sharpening system / stones do you use to maintain your edges?
 
fatcorgi said:
that is a great looking barlow, I don't see any flaws in it from the pictures. I would have asked the maker to reprofile it for me, though I routinely reprofile all my knives, that looks a bit too special to take any risks on.
Click to expand...

Its several small things, like the bolsters sitting slightly uneven from each other and the half stop not being flush. One side of the liners is more "seamless" than the other, but overall I'm just nitpicking. Its overall fit and finish is superb and all the major things are done right. Not really sure what HRC its run at and I don't really want to test the knife extensively to get a feel for where. It does sharpen and accept stropping fairly well though as it currently has a mirror polished edge, much sharper than it was received as. Replying to xceptnl, I use shapton glass waterstones for all my knives. For stropping I use a piece of paper + diamond spray/paste wrapped on a piece of glass.
 
Bladenoobie1 said:
Its several small things, like the bolsters sitting slightly uneven from each other and the half stop not being flush. One side of the liners is more "seamless" than the other, but overall I'm just nitpicking. Its overall fit and finish is superb and all the major things are done right. Not really sure what HRC its run at and I don't really want to test the knife extensively to get a feel for where. It does sharpen and accept stropping fairly well though as it currently has a mirror polished edge, much sharper than it was received as. Replying to xceptnl, I use shapton glass waterstones for all my knives. For stropping I use a piece of paper + diamond spray/paste wrapped on a piece of glass.
Click to expand...

If it already responds well to the stropping, you should certainly be able to maintain a nice edge using those tools and only occasionally the Shapton stones for reprofiles or full sharpenings.
 
Bladenoobie1 said:
My reason for considering it is that it's small with a 2 5/8 blade and a 2-2.5 inch cutting edge. The carry rules for a knife on campus though require the blade to be a fixed length of 2.5 inches and less. I'm not sure if this knife will be acceptable b/c its fixed length is marginally over 2.5 inches.
Click to expand...

There are lots of guys here with a lot more life experience than me advising you to leave it at home, and it may be better to listen to them. But me personally? I would take it without hesitation.

As someone else said, a GOOD lockbox is absolutely necessary in college. A tether is certainly preferable. Just don't leave it lying around and keep track of it.

As for the blade length limit, that is a bit of a problem. Going absolutely technically, you would be breaking the rules. BUT, I don't think you would have trouble unless you brandished it unnecessarily or stabbed someone with it. I can't find any specific blade length rules for my school, it just says "no weapons", but I have carried modern clipped knives of pretty large size without trouble (and they are incomparably more aggressive looking than that barlow).

Anyway, do what you feel you should do. I usually trust my gut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top