Here's a funny one-

[screened porch]

Japanese Sabre granddaddy Barlow. The blade seems to show rotting celluloid damage, but I think the handles are bone.

I have an Irish Sabre granddaddy Barlow, with Imperial type hollow handles, so I was surprised to see solid bolsters on this. The grain on the covers looks natural, and the material doesn't smell of muscle rub (celluloid) or formaldehyde (bakelite) when dipped in water just off the boil.

I think someone did a nice job rehandling this after the celluloid original covers had done their damage.

The other side shows smaller pitting all along the line where the edge of the handle meets the middle of the closed blade.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The corrosion above the line of the handle may be from in-pocket and handling exposure to sweat, from a knife that's been carried a lot, but not used so often. I've noticed a handful of my delrin and bone-handled knives spotting, patinating or otherwise darkening more on the steel that's above the handle when closed. The areas of corrosion on the blade almost look like they could've originally begun with sweaty/salty finger/thumb prints. Looks like the part of the spine that might be 'pinched' when opened (to me).

Those covers do look like bone, and nice at that. :thumbup:


David

 

[sitflyer]

Interesting...I have a regular size Sabre brand Barlow, and both blades have deeply etched rust lines where they meet the liners, and mine is also a bone handle. Quite solid actually, and excellent edge taking and retention on the blades. Ill be curious as to what will be said about yours, its a nice looking knife, that's for sure:thumbup:

 

[screened porch]

Thanks, guys-
What makes me think celluloid is the deep pitting in a blade where otherwise the chrome plating is quite solid. And the line along the middle of the blade. But Sitflyer's pic is a good counterexample, and it's possible I've become a bit paranoid about celluloid. I'll try to get a picture of the other side to come out.
Anyway, I'm happy with the knife. Plenty of blade left, strong walk and talk, nice smooth bone. Definitely worth the $6.

 

[sitflyer]

I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to pick another one of these up myself. This one has proven itself above and beyond to me on the workbench. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find out that yours is as constructed, and like obsessed pointed out, carried much and used little.

 

[screened porch]

Oh, yours is a Sabre too! It looks so much like an Imperial, which is what I see most of, I didn't realize.
I've got several Imperials, and they work fine despite the imaginary bolsters, but on a Barlow I really don't like not having real bolsters.
Added to the1st post is a pretty good shot of the pitting on the other side.

 

[sitflyer]

Looks like a bunch of grinding marks where someone removed some heavy rust. The things can't tell us where they have been or what they went through, but that one looks like its got some great life left in it :thumbup: