GEC #77 Medium Barlow Impressions

Leslie Tomville said:
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This is looking very promising. I thought that was the Elderberry, but was corrected that it is the sawcut blood red. I hope the Elderberry is as saturated and retains rich color after polishing. The Ironwood looks like it will every bit as spectacular as the 78’s were.

@Ramrodmb I have never bought one of these from Mike. Will he just randomly ship them or will buyers be able to choose?
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Normally random with the SFO's :)
 
Sabercat said:
Although I wouldn't say this is 100% definitive, I'm pretty sure the TC is for Tidioute Cutlery.

I think I've seen Charlie specifically say that "TC is for Tidioute Cutlery", but I couldn't find it, and won't swear to it.

I won't claim to be an expert, but I think Tom's Choice is mostly reserved for clip main.
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Yes. Tidioute Cutlery. I just looked at tubes from TCs from 3 different runs. They are all actually called "Sawyer Barlows", as an homage to the knife that Tom Sawyer carried. The regular 15s are called "Huckleberry Boy's Knives" referencing Tom's friend Huck Finn. But those are still Tidioute Cutlery branded. "Tom's Choice" is a blade etch that appeared on later runs, although was not limited to the clip, as it showed up on some spears. Barlow bolsters were always stamped with a brand, and "Tom's Choice" is not a brand.

@waynorth ?
 
Babalu32 said:
As I've never seen a 77 in the flesh, may I ask:
On smooth bone options, is it customary for the butt end to be rounded? The gods smiled upon me and I lucked up on an elderberry camel bone reservation.
I like how the sawcut ones have a square-er end.
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The “rounded butt” or “radius-ed end,” whatever we’re supposed to be calling it, is something that’s come up in this thread before and it’s a topic that is dear to me. For whatever reason, I just seems to me that the end should be finished flat, or “squared off” (obviously it’s not exactly “flat” or 90 degrees, but we all understand what I mean). It just seems to me that “a barlow” has a squared end, not one that is radius-ed or rounded. Take for example the #15 barlows. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that is rounded (is the smooth white bone TC barlow radius-ed?). I’m sure there are some historical examples of some, but to me, a barlow is not radius-ed. But….I’m not everyone and I’m not the person ordering or making these. So I get that other people like other things.

I posted a picture a while back of the first ebony 77 barlow made next to an ebony from the spear run. The first barlow was pretty “squared off” while the spear run was definitely radius-ed. Another example is the natural canvas micarta 77, which was radius-ed, compared to the micarta version of the single blade clip point with a match-strike pull, which was squared-off.

So in the 77 barlow line, we’ve seen wood that’s squared and rounded. We’ve seen micarata that is squared and rounded. I believe we’ve only ever see smooth bone that’s rounded (and I wrong?). And clearly we will only ever see sawcut that is squared off (jigged bone seems like it’d be the same as sawcut). Finally, the only stag I can recall is squared off.

This issue actually affects which barlows I want. In other words, it’s used to actually affect which one I put in a restoration for. One year I emailed Mike and even asked which covers would get which treatment, so I could reserve accordingly.

While I much prefer the squared-off treatment on ALL cover types, I have surprised myself and hung on to two 77s barlows with the radius-ed finish—one of which is probably my all time favorite.

Anyone looking to do an EO-mod, I think you definitely want a radius-ed model. It just looks odd with the other.

Finally, it’s interesting that some of the #14s where radius-ed! If you are going with this treatment, I do think it lends itself better to smooth bone.

But, please, please leave us our wood squared off. :D
 
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I'm pretty certain I have seen it stated by (or he said it to me privately) Charlie that GEC can not make or market the TC Barlow without his permission. If the TC logo is owned by GEC, I would be very surprised.
 
LastRodeo said:
I'm pretty certain I have seen it stated by (or he said it to me privately) Charlie that GEC can not make or market the TC Barlow without his permission. If the TC logo is owned by GEC, I would be very surprised.
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GEC does make agreements with dealers. So they would never run TC Barlows without working with Charlie, just like Mike is king when it comes to 77 Barlows.
 
traumkommode said:
GEC does make agreements with dealers. So they would never run TC Barlows without working with Charlie, just like Mike is king when it comes to 77 Barlows.
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I had always thought Charlie contracted the production of the knife to GEC , but he owned the rights to it. I stand corrected.
 
Let's put it this way. If I were be inclined to purchase the "TC Barlow brand" who would I be writing the check to, Bill or Charlie?
 
LastRodeo said:
Let's put it this way. If I were be inclined to purchase the "TC Barlow Brand" who would I be writing the check to, Bill or Charlie?
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Bill. TC barlow is a style of SFO, not a brand. It's not even a model number. In contrast, Northwoods is a brand. If you wanted to buy Northwoods you would need to purchase from KSF/Derrick.
 
cbr1000 said:
Bill. TC barlow is a style of SFO, not a brand. It's not even a model number. In contrast, Northwoods is a brand. If you wanted to buy Northwoods you would need to purchase from KSF/Derrick.
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Thanks for the clarification. It's very confusing , as Charlies' Waynorth Cutlery website could lead someone to believe the TC is his brand.
 
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MCar said:
The “rounded butt” or “radius-ed end,” whatever we’re supposed to be calling it, is something that’s come up in this thread before and it’s a topic that is dear to me. For whatever reason, I just seems to me that the end should be finished flat, or “squared off” (obviously it’s not exactly “flat” or 90 degrees, but we all understand what I mean). It just seems to me that “a barlow” has a squared end, not one that is radius-ed or rounded. Take for example the #15 barlows. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that is rounded (is the smooth white bone TC barlow radius-ed?). I’m sure there are some historical examples of some, but to me, a barlow is not radius-ed. But….I’m not everyone and I’m not the person ordering or making these. So I get that other people like other things.

I posted a picture a while back of the first ebony 77 barlow made next to an ebony from the spear run. The first barlow was pretty “squared off” while the spear run was definitely radius-ed. Another example is the natural canvas micarta 77, which was radius-ed, compared to the micarta version of the single blade clip point with a match-strike pull, which was squared-off.

So in the 77 barlow line, we’ve seen wood that’s squared and rounded. We’ve seen micarata that is squared and rounded. I believe we’ve only ever see smooth bone that’s rounded (and I wrong?). And clearly we will only ever see sawcut that is squared off (jigged bone seems like it’d be the same as sawcut). Finally, the only stag I can recall is squared off.

This issue actually affects which barlows I want. In other words, it’s used to actually affect which one I put in a restoration for. One year I emailed Mike and even asked which covers would get which treatment, so I could reserve accordingly.

While I much prefer the squared-off treatment on ALL cover types, I have surprised myself and hung on to two 77s barlows with the radius-ed finish—one of which is probably my all time favorite.

Anyone looking to do an EO-mod, I think you definitely want a radius-ed model. It just looks odd with the other.

Finally, it’s interesting that some of the #14s where radius-ed! If you are going with this treatment, I do think it lends itself better to smooth bone.

But, please, please leave us our wood squared off. :D
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I believe the other term you are looking for is an 'arrised' edge - an incorrectly used term that has, oddly enough, become the standard term used for a 90 degree angle that has a slight bevel applied to take the sharpness off the edge.
 
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So happy to see the updated production pictures. That Ironwood looks absolutely stunning and I really like the dark hues of the red sawcut. I am looking forward to seeing how the Elderberry smooth turns out.
 
Already the camel bone has got alot to live up to. Ironwood sooo nice, any color sawcut always money.
C'mon camel bone!
 
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MCar said:
The “rounded butt” or “radius-ed end,” whatever we’re supposed to be calling it, is something that’s come up in this thread before and it’s a topic that is dear to me. For whatever reason, I just seems to me that the end should be finished flat, or “squared off” (obviously it’s not exactly “flat” or 90 degrees, but we all understand what I mean). It just seems to me that “a barlow” has a squared end, not one that is radius-ed or rounded. Take for example the #15 barlows. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that is rounded (is the smooth white bone TC barlow radius-ed?). I’m sure there are some historical examples of some, but to me, a barlow is not radius-ed. But….I’m not everyone and I’m not the person ordering or making these. So I get that other people like other things.

I posted a picture a while back of the first ebony 77 barlow made next to an ebony from the spear run. The first barlow was pretty “squared off” while the spear run was definitely radius-ed. Another example is the natural canvas micarta 77, which was radius-ed, compared to the micarta version of the single blade clip point with a match-strike pull, which was squared-off.

So in the 77 barlow line, we’ve seen wood that’s squared and rounded. We’ve seen micarata that is squared and rounded. I believe we’ve only ever see smooth bone that’s rounded (and I wrong?). And clearly we will only ever see sawcut that is squared off (jigged bone seems like it’d be the same as sawcut). Finally, the only stag I can recall is squared off.

This issue actually affects which barlows I want. In other words, it’s used to actually affect which one I put in a restoration for. One year I emailed Mike and even asked which covers would get which treatment, so I could reserve accordingly.

While I much prefer the squared-off treatment on ALL cover types, I have surprised myself and hung on to two 77s barlows with the radius-ed finish—one of which is probably my all time favorite.

Anyone looking to do an EO-mod, I think you definitely want a radius-ed model. It just looks odd with the other.

Finally, it’s interesting that some of the #14s where radius-ed! If you are going with this treatment, I do think it lends itself better to smooth bone.

But, please, please leave us our wood squared off. :D
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I think that when I originally read your post I did not understand exactly what you were saying . I now think that what you are talking about is the Butt End Cover Edges being Radiused or Square . Is that correct ?? I just checked mine . Stag = Squared //// Sawcut Bone = Squared //// Jigged Bone = Slightly Radiused //// Smooth Bone = Radiused //// Wood = Was traded & is gone but I believe it was just like Smooth Bone . Thank you for pointing that out because I had never really paid any attention to that .

Harry
 
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