How Do Charlows and the Northfield 77 Barlows Compare?

5K Qs

5K Qs

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TC Barlows and the recent 77 Barlows sure have gotten a lot of love here on The Porch, and I think there are several folks that have at least one of each. Any chance of a "comparative review" of the two popular knives? Which is better? More accurately, probably, what are the pros and cons of each? Or is it an apples/oranges thing? I'll probably never own either one, but I'm curious about their relative merits.

- GT
 
I have a couple of Charlows, a marrow clip and one of the original spears in ebony. I don't own a #77 barlow, but I do have one of last year's forum knives. Build quality is a wash. I like the all steel construction of the Charlows better than the brass and nickel silver used on the #77s. But I prefer the size of the #77. The Charlow's #15 frame is just a tad bit small for my tastes.
 
They're both outstanding honestly. The TC Barlow by Charlie is all-steel construction and is a 3.5". The original Barlows were nearly all 3.5" back then and were all steel construction including the bolsters and liners. Charlie's TC Barlows are arguably the finest ever made in quality and construction and they're absolutely true - in detail and build - to the finest originals in the heyday of British cutlers in the 1800's.

The 77 Barlow by Mike Latham is a wee bit larger at 3 5/8" and an absolute beauty. It's a bit fancier with it's nickel-silver bolsters and liners (versus all steel), but every bit as beautiful as any Northfield pocket knife I've seen GEC put out. I'd call it a Deluxe Barlow.

I love both the #15 TC Barlow and the #77 Barlow. Both are extremely high quality and well made. You couldn't go wrong with either.
 
I prefer the 77 if i am carrying it as a "primary" ie with a smaller knife or alone. The 15 is great to bring along with something larger or for dressier occasions. Ymmv and such
 
The TC Barlow is by far my favorite as it is 100% traditional. The 77's are just a bit too fancy for a barlow pattern (IMO), although I love the 2014 forum knife and the Washington Jacks built on the same frame.
 
I strongly prefer the Northfields. I wrote out all the reasons why, but I'm not posting them because it comes across as bashing the TCs, and they don't deserve that. They're both fine knives, but the 77 is far and away preferable to the TCs in my mind.
 
Like others have said, no real discernible difference between the two in build or execution. Personally I prefer the all steel construction of the TC's and the size of the Northfield. My hands down favorite for looks however is the original TC spearpoint, simply a gorgeous design all around.
 
I prefer the all-steel of the TC's but honestly more important to me is an appealing handle material and blade shape. As long as I get the "configuration" I'm looking for, they are both equally stunning in my opinon.

I do prefer the look of the TC's long-pull clip, but I prefer the look of the 77's long-pull sheepsfoot. The longer swedge with the sheepsfoot just looks awesome in my opinion!

These are my two favorite traditional patterns, along with Derrick's Forest Jack from knives ship free.
 
They have their pros and cons as mentioned. I think the ideal GEC Barlow has yet to be made: an all-steel long pull spear blade, sawcut bone, on the 77 frame. I am sure it will happen eventually ;)
 
I have one of each. My #77 is a little better made, with GEC I tend to overlook issues such as slight imbalances with finish, missed buffing spots etc. However, the backspring sits a little low on the TC when it is open. Doesn't bother me hugely and I wouldn't take that as an assumption that all #77's are better made. It wouldn't surprise me if I'd received the next two knives and had a different result.

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Besides the increase in size I was interested to see if there was any difference thickness. There isn't on the sawcut bone versions. This makes the #77 a very slim knife. The pull is noticeably stronger on my#77, I'd call it and 8 as opposed to a 4-5 on the TC. Both have superb walk and talk but the stronger spring on the #77 really accentuates that. I'll stick my neck out here and say it has the best w&t of any knife I own, custom or otherwise!

98179DA5-E47B-4868-86F1-1F80F44C5250_zpsas5h58ak.jpg


Again, perhaps I was lucky but the #77 is the first ever slipjoint I have received (including high end custom's) where the backspring sits perfectly flush and and in exactly the same position in both open and closed positions! There have been some comments about the spring not being flush at half stop, I wouldn't expect this in a production knife (I've never had it on a GEC) and it doesn't bother me. Having said that, seeing the way GEC are ironing out little niggles it may only be a matter of time.....

From an aesthetics perspective I've always treasured my one TC and enjoyed carrying it. I love how the steel and bone are evolving. Having said that I always hankered for a slightly larger knife.... The #77 is perfect for me in that respect, I also like the contrast between the nickel silver liners and backspring as it patinas:)

Sam
 
Here are two of mine aging very nicely. The back spring on the NF is absolutely perfectly flush at the closed and full and the TC is perfectly flush closed and ever so slightly recessed at the full. Same exactly as yours Sam. Both are slightly proud at the half. I would call the NF a 7 pull (might be somewhat mitigated because of the easy pinch ability of the SF) and the TC around a 5 on mine. I love the all steel on the TC and the way all metal patinas evenly versus only the blade and back spring on the NF. I would agree the W & T on the NF is near perfection. However, the TC is no slouch either in the W & T department. I would call all other construction details near perfect and co equal on both. In the final analysis in my opinion it is what size better suits you? Don't know get plenty of both!
 
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I have several of the #77's and now have two of the #15's and beside the 77's being larger and a tad more on the fancy side the build quality is spot on for both knives. I guess it comes down to the job your doing and the size of knife you want.......to me both are great but I like to carry my SFO Northfield UN-X-LD Washington Jack as to me its the perfect knife.
 
Actually, I'm hoping GEC will make another run of Charlows soon so I can find out the difference myself. I love my 77.

Single blade sheepsfoot Charlow in primitive bone... Yum! :beguiled:
 
Sonnemann said:
They have their pros and cons as mentioned. I think the ideal GEC Barlow has yet to be made: an all-steel long pull spear blade, sawcut bone, on the 77 frame. I am sure it will happen eventually ;)
Click to expand...

YES PLEASE! In blood red sawcut bone! :D I'll be all over that one for sure :thumbup:
 
In terms of build quality, both knives are superb, but I do much prefer the steel frames on the TCs for their added stability and traditional look. For the aesthetics, I also lean towards the TC for a variety of reasons.

Here is what I find to be the BIGGEST difference between the two:

The TC is an original design with Charlie's heart and soul poured into it, and I find that to be clearer with each run he puts out. The 77 barlow lacks that soul, and (to me) just feels like an unoriginal rip-off of an extremely popular, and market tested design. When I unwrapped the sawcut sheepsfoot 77 I ordered, I was overwhelmed with that feeling, and it just ruined the knife for me. The next day it moved on to someone else.

I think I remember finding a little piece of cloth tucked in with the knife... Looked to me like it was a piece of Charlie's coattail...
 
I love my 77 but can't compare as I keep missing out on sales of the Charlow. I keep hoping.

Update: Just snagged a Charlow so will be able to make my own eval.
 
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To Esnyx:

And Charlie's knives remind me of old Russell Barlows, I wouldn't say he ripped them off though.

They are all interpretations of a classic pattern, in my humble opinion.
 
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I only have the 77, and I like it but would like to get that steel Charlow. Nickle and brass is simply more work than steel to keep looking nice. Honestly, I've given up on ever getting my hands on a Charlow. I simply don't have the time to sit on the trigger and hope I can fire fast enough to get one before they are all bought and then relisted at a 100% + markup. I love GEC but the difficulty in getting certain patterns because of such low numbers, and the price point has honestly started to sour me. A knife I bought a few months ago for less than a hundred goes for over three now. I've held a Charlow and think it's a very fine knife, but for that price I can get a custom that is one of a kind. GEC is no longer fun for me. I've put my handful away, and don't really even want to look at them now.
Sorry for the rant guys.
 
I still have a single blade long pull spear with ebony, and a two blade PPP yellow bone long pull spear blade barlow. I had a bunch of 15s, sheepsfoot, clips, spear points, long pulls all. I wish I had them back, they were great knives.

I'm going to miss the 77s I just sold to a knife maker on Facebook so they can get his regrind treatment. One was a two blade 77 from the initial run, and one was a 2014 forum knife.

I really liked the look of the single blade clip point 77s, but I'd take the Charlows in a heartbeat.
 
I think the others have covered the basics of size and the materials used. I'll add that the single blade 77 barlow is my favorite of the various patterns on this frame. As mentioned about it is very slim with the sawcut handles. The 15 has been my long time favorite and still is. It makes a good everyday companion. The 77 is also fine in this role.

So the answer is always: get both! :D
I'd like to see Charlie do a barlow on this frame. Perhaps a daddy TC? It might not be historically correct but it would be cool!

esnyx said:
In terms of build quality, both knives are superb, but I do much prefer the steel frames on the TCs for their added stability and traditional look. For the aesthetics, I also lean towards the TC for a variety of reasons.

Here is what I find to be the BIGGEST difference between the two:

The TC is an original design with Charlie's heart and soul poured into it, and I find that to be clearer with each run he puts out. The 77 barlow lacks that soul, and (to me) just feels like an unoriginal rip-off of an extremely popular, and market tested design. When I unwrapped the sawcut sheepsfoot 77 I ordered, I was overwhelmed with that feeling, and it just ruined the knife for me. The next day it moved on to someone else.

I think I remember finding a little piece of cloth tucked in with the knife... Looked to me like it was a piece of Charlie's coattail...
Click to expand...

Harsh dood! :eek:
 
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