Grandaddy Barlows

CVamberbonehead

CVamberbonehead

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Nov 6, 2017
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I have seen plenty of Barlow knives on Bladeforums, but very rarely have I ever seen any Grandaddy Barlows. I was thinking about it, and realized that I really do not know much at all about these big, bad pocketknives. I have owned one in the past, and I liked it (a Rough Rider) and I just got a new one today (a Case), but all I know about them is that I like the pattern.
Does anyone know the history of this pattern? Does anyone else like using Daddy Barlows? Do you prefer them to the standard, wimpy Barlow? lol
Lets talk about these cool knives! If you want to put cool photos in the thread, feel free to let your elders have some time in the spotlight. Heres the Case I got today, for example.
20220512_173836.jpg
 
7BvK1m9.jpeg


5WrdP85.jpeg
 
I am thinking of trying one, but they were sold out when I went to place my order. Oh well ... maybe next month ... or one of the months after. 😁

Does anyone know if the big "Daddy" barlow came before or after the smaller 1 and 2 blade "standard" Barlow?
 
afishhunter said:
I am thinking of trying one, but they were sold out when I went to place my order. Oh well ... maybe next month ... or one of the months after. 😁

Does anyone know if the big "Daddy" barlow came before or after the smaller 1 and 2 blade "standard" Barlow?
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I have no idea on the history of them. I cannot find anything.
You should definitely get one though! I would suggest one of the Rough Rider ones but expect a pretty stiff pull on them.
 
I've bought two. One for me...then my dad liked it so I grabbed him one.


iBLjhWM.jpeg


The ats34 steel is nice.

If I'm being honest...the build quality was not great. I had to vice and peen mine. Gaps I could see daylight through. Dad's was gap free, but had a wonky edge I had to fix on the secondary blade.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I've bought two. One for me...then my dad liked it so I grabbed him one.


iBLjhWM.jpeg


The ats34 steel is nice.

If I'm being honest...the build quality was not great. I had to vice and peen mine. Gaps I could see daylight through. Dad's was gap free, but had a wonky edge I had to fix on the secondary blade.
Click to expand...
And a nice revolver too, great picture. Where might someone find one of those S&M's? I dont know much about S&M, are they still made?
 
I do have a few of the Daddy or Grand Daddy Barlows and there is no doubt that the then standard sized Barlows are pretty Wimpy as compared to them .The ones on the Left are CASE and the others are the Russell Commemorative made by Colonial and they are much heavier than the Case .


Harry
 
CVamberbonehead said:
I have no idea on the history of them. I cannot find anything.
You should definitely get one though! I would suggest one of the Rough Rider ones but expect a pretty stiff pull on them.
Click to expand...
RR is all I can afford. (unless Marbles has one in the same price range.)
Strange the pull is stiff. Have you tried flushing it? I had one of their (now long discontinued) 5.5" closed white bone copperhead coke bottle/swell center knives (no idea what happened to it) back around 2014/2015. The pull on it was a smooth "5".
 
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afishhunter said:
RR is all I can afford. (unless Marbles has one in the same price range.)
Strange the pull is stiff. Have you tried flushing it? I had one of their (now long discontinued) 5.5" closed white bone copperhead coke bottle/swell center knives (no idea what happened to it) back around 2014/2015. The pull on it was a smooth "5".
Click to expand...
Marbles had one in the same price range. I dont think that they still make it?
Mine was a Rams Horn Bone model and it just had a stiff spring, and the nail nick under a swedge that made it harder to open than other knives. I gave mine to a friend, but it was a great knife.
 
Not clear (to me) the history of the Grand Daddy Barlow, but this post, here, from 2013 by Obsessed with Edges Obsessed with Edges seems reasonable.

RARE SAMUEL BARLOW of NEEPSEND KNIFE 1780-1840

”This is an early Daddy Barlow pattern made by the last of the Barlow family. This is the family that invented the original pattern. This knife still snaps great and is?very solid after all these years. I would easily?call it excellent condition.?The smooth bone handles are in great shape, no chips or cracks. Outstanding example of a very rare maker.

Samuel Barlow of Neepsend (sheffield) made knives in the 1700's but was not allowed to use the Barlow name untill the death of John Barlow Jr. in 1780.

Obadiah Barlow invented this pattern in 1667. John Barlow inherited the name in 1710 and John Barlow Jr. in 1745. Samuel Barlow used the name from 1780-1840. Knives by any of these makers are very rare."

Here’s my (not historical) Amherst Cutlery Daddy Barlow
 
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