Fodderwing
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2017
- Messages
- 9,182
Great review of the HHB history.A few days ago, I received a message from @Hatchet_Jack , asking me about the origins of the Hartshead Barlow. I referred him to the search facility and to the Thread Index, linked to from post 1, but realised that recent changes to the search function make finding information posted that far back difficult. I still get messages fairly regularly about their knives, so here's a little about their origins, for those who don't know.
I produced a number of SFOs for the Guardians, which were not only non-profit, they were actually subsidised, so that folks could get hold of a good quality Lambsfoot at a reasonable price. The Hartshead Barlow was produced, in Sheffield, in 2019, and made available to Guardians via my email list. The following is taken from the first email I sent out:
Presenting The Hartshead Barlow!
In the year 1654, a young lad, no more than a child, came to Sheffield from nearby Rotherham, to commence an apprenticeship with cutler John Courtnall. After thirteen years learning the trade, the young man registered his ‘freedom’, and mark, with the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. His name was Obadiah Barlow, and he and his descendants would give their name to the most famous pocket knife pattern in history. Obadiah set up his home and workshop in the small Hartshead district of Sheffield, close to the parish church, where knives were produced that are still talked about today. Some of the earliest Barlow knives had a blade shape very similar to what would later become known as the Lambsfoot, but the Lambsfoot did not evolve as a distinct blade shape until the latter half of the 19th century. The popularity of this versatile blade soon grew, and no later than the early 20th century, it was married to the Barlow knife, becoming a mainstay of Sheffield cutlers.
...The knives have been handmade by a single cutler, using traditional Sheffield cutlery methods. They are built on a straight ‘Candle-end’ frame, with a steel Barlow bolster, stamped both sides with the ‘AW&S’ mark, steel liners, and a swaged Lambsfoot blade, bearing a ‘Hartshead Barlow’ etch. Covers are either Rosewood or vintage Sambar Stag.
The knives are accompanied by a handmade pocket-slip made from vintage Yorkshire woollen cloth, produced between the two World Wars. There is also a special button/pin/badge. The knife and accessories are housed in a quality re-useable stainless steel tin.
For historical reasons, I'll give the original prices, which were £58 for the Rosewood model, and £77 for the Stag
In total, 21 were made with Rosewood covers, and 77 with Sambar stag. There were also 2 additional knives, with a file-worked back-spring, one of which I have.
I had hoped to produce further Hartshead Barlow runs, but unfortunately that was made impossible.
Such unusual wood. Is the surface smooth or can you feel the grain?
I'm going to be working all day today, but I'm hoping I get finished by the evening, so I've got a bit of time to myself 
Thought I'd carry my first Albers Lamb 
Pic and 
. Hope y'all have a good weekend. 
) wrist issue prevents carrying most things in LFP/LRP. Call button on a tether is about the only thing I can carry in LFP.
Nice result at the footy too! 
That's a beauty 
If you search on my posts within Charlie's Barlow thread, you will hopefully find some more info about both the Hartshead, and about Barlow history 
Cool pocket watch 
