Questions about the imperial jackmaster barlow

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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A few years ago my grandma showed me a Barlow that she has in one of her toolbox.
Today I asked about it and she said I could have it.
So I google " maroon handle Barlow " and the top results were the imperial jackmaster barlow.
( from what I remember it's an exact match having maroon synthetic scales and a stamped BARLOW bolster ) I'm pretty sure it was stainless as it seemed to look about new, but don't know how old it is.
So my question is how long they've used stainless Steel for, and if they ever used it for us production.
Cause I'm trying to find out if it could be us made, or if it's likely an Irish or Chinese made Shcrade imperial.
 
Imperial USA did use stainless.

Here's a US made Imperial Barlow (not mine) with BARLOW stamped on the bolster and maroon scales.
909_56199_1452782673_1.JPG
 
knarfeng said:
Imperial USA did use stainless.

Here's a US made Imperial Barlow (not mine) with BARLOW stamped on the bolster and maroon scales.
909_56199_1452782673_1.JPG
Click to expand...

Thanks! This one isn't as dark, it's a lighter color like the new China ones have.
I don't know how long she's had it for, so it may turn out to be made in Ireland at the earliest
I hope it turns out to be us made , but I'm starting to think it's probably not.
 
I've seen some variation in the color of USA made Imperials. These are both carbon steel, but the one in the first picture had very little patina when I got it, so you wont know 'til you have it in hand. :)




Good luck, I hope it's a good one. Post pics when you get it.
 
Thanks for the info.
When I saw the knife it was at a point when I kinda thought Barlow's were ugly so I didn't even really handle the knife, I just remember thinking that the knife looked cheap but then again so does a sodbuster compared to a buck 110.( and from what I saw it really looked like new )
I really won't know weather or not it's good till I get it, but either way I'll have some Barlow experience.
 
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They do look cheap. Almost like a toy knife, but once you sharpen up the blades and carry it around a while, you'll find they used good steel on these Bargain Barlows. :D
Warning: You'll be hooked, and start down the path of Barlow addiction.
 
They're great lttle knives.Dont be fooled by cheapo plastic handle- its from the era of 'plastic is new and better than wood or bone'.:)
 
While I get the feeling that it's probably a modern import model ( that's just my luck ), I really hope it's a good one ( or at least RR quality )
I'll make sure to post some pictures when I get it.

For some reason when I saw it I hat the impression that the bolster was a stamped piece of sheet metal and overall it reminded me of those lone ranger novelty barlows I see in smkw , but I don't know why.
 
I would say that it will likely be, as others have said of such knives, a decent functional knife (if a user is what you're after). And if it's for collecting, then you'll have a nice representative piece of that era and it's type. I know many of these less expensive type knives were used and even abused, and then just tossed away, because they were considered of little to no value. But, the way I see it, even though high numbers were likely made, they getting abused and thrown away so easily, makes them harder to find in any decent shape today. I picked up a few Colonial knives that were never expensive to begin with, but love how they represent their type within my collection 👍👍👍

9lh9bl.jpg


9a8kg4.jpg
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I would say that it will likely be, as others have said of such knives, a decent functional knife (if a user is what you're after). And if it's for collecting, then you'll have a nice representative piece of that era and it's type. I know many of these less expensive type knives were used and even abused, and then just tossed away, because they were considered of little to no value. But, the way I see it, even though high numbers were likely made, they getting abused and thrown away so easily, makes them harder to find in any decent shape today. I picked up a few Colonial knives that were never expensive to begin with, but love how they represent their type within my collection 👍👍👍

9lh9bl.jpg


9a8kg4.jpg
Click to expand...

I like both of those knives, I've never seen a novelty knife like that without a pen blade, and especially never one with a Sabre clip blade.

After searching google again, I'm now .99% positive that it has to be an imperial jackmaster .
I didn't find a single image of a cheap import that looked like them other than the Taylor brands stuff. ( which makes sense cause if your gonna copy American knives, why copy the lowest cost ones )
I may call my grandma and see if she'll get it out and read me the tang stamp and get back to you guys.
 
I just asked here and she said its over 20yrs old, which was promising.
Then she read the tang stamp and it read CHINA, so that's a bummer but it may still be rough rider quality I hope 😉
So that means that it's not an imperial jackmaster, just a Chinese copy😭😭😭

Looks lime I put the cart before the horse guys.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I just asked here and she said its over 20yrs old, which was promising.
Then she read the tang stamp and it read CHINA, so that's a bummer but it may still be rough rider quality I hope 😉
So that means that it's not an imperial jackmaster, just a Chinese copy😭😭😭

Looks lime I put the cart before the horse guys.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I've got an extra Imperial USA Barlow in carbon steel around here somewhere. If you shoot me an email with your address, I'll send one your way sometime next week. :)
 
I like to find Imperial and Colonial advertising Barlows on the bay. Here is an old shot of the box they live in. Would have to look at each one to find the Colonials and the Imperials. Like was said with a little work they can clean up and be made sharp.

 
edbeau said:
I like to find Imperial and Colonial advertising Barlows on the bay. Here is an old shot of the box they live in. Would have to look at each one to find the Colonials and the Imperials. Like was said with a little work they can clean up and be made sharp.

Click to expand...

Nice collection 👍 how many different handle colors do you think they came in ?
 
guy0783 said:
Very generous, very cool r8shell.
Click to expand...
+5K! :thumbup::thumbup:


edbeau said:
I like to find Imperial and Colonial advertising Barlows on the bay. Here is an old shot of the box they live in. Would have to look at each one to find the Colonials and the Imperials. Like was said with a little work they can clean up and be made sharp.
...
Click to expand...

I enjoy seeing your Big-Box-o-Barlows show up from time to time, Ed! :cool:

- GT
 
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