Help me find a good Barlow

H

Hjalmar69

Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
172
My son read Huckleberry Finn so I gave him my Taylor Schrade Barlow, which I found to be excellent even though I really would have wanted a carbon bladed one. He was amazed by the quality cost ratio. Now I'm looking for a new one for myself.
Two blades and carbon steel. What do you suggest? I've been thinking about getting a Bear and son's.
 
My BF search does not seem to be working at the moment, but try typing barlow in and you might find some information to help.
 
For the money I suggest ebay.
You can get a nice example from Schrade Camillus or ULSTER for a good price.
Theres also the Colonial ranger series which is great but not exactly a fancy heirloom quality piece.
I really like the imperial Barlow's too , but they were made much more economically.
 
Hickory n steel said:
For the money I suggest ebay.
You can get a nice example from Schrade Camillus or ULSTER for a good price.
Theres also the Colonial ranger series which is great but not exactly a fancy heirloom quality piece.
I really like the imperial Barlow's too , but they were made much more economically.
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I agree, the Ulster 10OT comes up quite a bit for auction and is a good working knife. Otherwise if you want to spend a little more, JA Henckels barlows will stand the test of time and takes a very sharp edge.
 
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Rough Ryder Classic Carbon for new.

Ulster, Imperial, Camillus, Russell, NYKC, Cattaraugus, Robeson, Hammer Brand, Utica, Old Timer, Schrade Walden, Western (I'm pretty sure Western made a Barlow, at least for a short while), Colonial, Simmons Hardware, Boker Tree Brand, or other Solgien, Germany brand, or pretty much any of the grand old Sheffield, England makers, if used.
(I know I'm forgetting at least a gross of high quality, now long defunct pre-Depression brands ... :( )
(the Imperial, and possibly some of the Schrade era Hammer Brand, will have shell construction, but the same high quality, properly heat treated 1095 blades as the more expensive Imperial Schrade brands.)

Note, Please: Not all Ulster Barlow's are Old Timer, or from the Reynolds/Prince Albert tobacco promotion.

Ulster main blades: Number 10 is clip point. Number 11 is spear point. Number 12 (very rare) has a sheepsfoot.
I don't remember the number for the 5 inch closed single blade "Daddy"/"Grand Daddy" Ulster Barlow.
 
Böker Germany, carbon blades. Comes with Clip or Spear.

Böker made Rusell

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I have grown fond of this A Wright & Son barlow.
Not sure what the steel is but it's not stainless.
The pull was super stiff when I got it and it's still pretty stiff but it has lightened up to the point that I can pinch it open.

 
Norcaldude said:
I have grown fond of this A Wright & Son barlow.
Not sure what the steel is but it's not stainless.
The pull was super stiff when I got it and it's still pretty stiff but it has lightened up to the point that I can pinch it open.

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I have a few of those, the ones i have are good quality. According to their website, it is described as C-70 carbon steel. 54-56HRC. Hope this helps.
 
Norcaldude said:
I have grown fond of this A Wright & Son barlow.
Not sure what the steel is but it's not stainless.
The pull was super stiff when I got it and it's still pretty stiff but it has lightened up to the point that I can pinch it open.

Click to expand...

If that’s the one you picked up from me, then cudgee cudgee is correct, it is C70 steel. :)
 
The new Barlows from Case have been pretty good. Only CV steel one I can currently find is the yellow delrin handle version.
 
Halfneck said:
The new Barlows from Case have been pretty good. Only CV steel one I can currently find is the yellow delrin handle version.
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They really are fantastic knives. If one can be found, a Case CV barlow would be my first choice if I HAD to have a two bladed barlow.

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Personally I prefer a single bladed barlow. Solingen made Bokers have been my first choice for a single bladed barlow. They have several offerings in both O1 and C75 carbon steel (their 440c stainless really isn’t half bad either).

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I've been looking on Ebay and I have seen some Ulster and Imperial I like. I did really like my Taylor Brand Schrade and they are in the same style with Delrin, however no carbon blades. And I do like the worn but good condition of some of the old ones.
 
Hickory n steel said:
For the money I suggest ebay.
You can get a nice example from Schrade Camillus or ULSTER for a good price.
Theres also the Colonial ranger series which is great but not exactly a fancy heirloom quality piece.
I really like the imperial Barlow's too , but they were made much more economically.
Click to expand...
So the Ulster is better quality compared to Imperial? They look quite alike on pics on eBay.
Regards Erik
 
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