Russell Barlows

BJE

BJE

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Apr 12, 2006
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I have been itching to pick one up, but I never hear anything about the newer ones. What is the quality/F+F like on the current models made by Boker? Are they just like most other newer Bokers I have seen with sloppy fit and weak springs? Do all the current Barlows made by Russell have carbon blades or do they have a stainless out there, most places don't list it as having carbon steel? Sorry for so many questions, just interested in this pattern and want to give one a shot.

I would really appreciate any pictures of the new or old ones (please specify), close up shots would be great so I can see what the fit is like. Thanks!
 
I have one of the Boker made Russell Barlows in antique green saw cut bone and carbon steel. The fit and finish is better than most of my other Boker, Case, Bulldog and Moore Maker knives. The springs are tight with a lot of snap. Way more snap than my Boker Copperheads. I'm not sure if they offer stainless models. Great little knives for the money. They're not as nice as the Great Eastern Cutlery Barlows, but they cost about half as much.
 
As augustus88 has mentioned, the Boker made Barlows (built under license from Dexter-Russell) are high quality (carbon steel) knives. I think I originally got mine from SMKW for about $25. I've sent it to TX so I don't have it any longer to take images.

The knives are quite a bit different from the "original" Russell Barlows but they are a great little knife for the pocket. I was very impressed with the quality especially at the price.

(In years past the knives were also made by other manufacturers such as Colonial, Schrade etc.)
 
I bought one of the Grand dad Barlows a few years back, I really like the knife it looks like it would cost more than it actually did $28. although turn the knife on it's side and you could drive a bus sideways through the gaps in the springs and handles. for $28 I was not going to send it back, works fine, maybe just had a Friday knife.

Russell
 
I loved mine, the stag was well matched, knife was tight with no blade wobble yet opened easily. Blade sharpened nicely and held the edge well. It fit nicely in a large William Henry clip case. And if you noticed the past tense I used it is because this one now lives in my Dad's pocket. He saw it not too long after I bought it and admired it enough that I gifted it to him on the spot.

dad2.jpg
 
Blues said:
I've sent it to TX so I don't have it any longer to take images.
Click to expand...

The bottom one was sent to TX by a guy I know.
The top one is one of the Russell Commemorative Barlows made by Schrade in the mid-70's.

IMG_2859_2.jpg
 
The top four are original Russells which you asked to see, and the bottom one is a well done reproduction by Camillus (RIP).
BarlowRussells.jpg
 
d.parker said:
Charlie Great Russell Barlows. Is the top knife in pix wood scales or bone?
Click to expand...

When I first saw it, I thought it was wood also, but it is absolutely 100% bone! I've seen that grain thing show up on bone before, either from an unusual dye process, or the type of bone; or, both!
 
Those are some nice knives everyone. Makes me want one even more. Could someone please post a pic of the knife in different positions so I can get an idea of the thickness and taper, also the fit of the liners and handle scales. I want to get one but I am torn, I like the look of the Barlows with the drop point blade better than the clip, but I think the clip will prove more functional, what is your opinion? Also, I love the look of that stag but I think the bone is more traditional for a Barlow, which do you like better? Thanks again for all the help, I have never seen one in person and I am trying to get an idea of what it feels like and which type I like best.
 
There are a lot of small variations among Barlows. I think the most traditional might be saw-cut bone like my group above. Spear blades are likely the most common among the old ones as well; again referencing my group, the 2nd and 3rd ones. I have carried single spear blade Barlows, because they are thinner, and rarely found myself "under-bladed", in the city anyways.
But the nicest feature I've found for a front-pocket Barlow, is a rounded bolster. Here's a comparison of a Case XX and a 1950s (I think) Robeson. The Robey is much nicer in the pocket.
Barlowcomparo.jpg

Utica (later Kutmaster) made round-bolstered Barlows for several companies, including Case and Schrade!!
DNAquestion.jpg

BarlowStudyA.jpg

UticaDNAbarlows.jpg

I hope I haven't gone over the top on this subject. I relished my first vintage Barlow (the red Robey in the top pic) and think that it would suit anyone well, and give you an appreciation of the old time goodness those oldies hold!
 
Great knives Waynorth. Do the stag handled knives have thicker handles in general?
 
Stag handles vary a lot. That new little "Fat Boy" #25 from GEC has some of the nicest stag on a Barlow I have seen! I like it thinner, with texure all through. I don't like too much "white" at the bolsters like you get with fat stag.
Fatboys-1.jpg

Here, I actually like the clip blade better, as well as the stag on the left barlow.
They are both nice though, and have carbon steel blades!
I'll try and get you a thickness shot.
 
Here are two comparison shots, BJE.
FatboyComparo.jpg

FatboyComparoSpines.jpg

The stag GECs are 3" long. The old Miller Brothers is 1/32 shy of 3 1/2",
and the Belknap at the bottom is just 3 3/8" which is the most usual size of a Barlow.
The GECs would be too small for my clumsy old hands, but the nice grip of the stag makes up for it. And they fit a watch pocket nicely. I like totin' around those little devils, as a back-up for my backup!;)
Hope this helps you more than it confuses you, BJE!
 
Interesting group of knives Charlie. Please send me that Clip bladed Tested in pix A. I promise not to molest it.. Are sure those aren't Sleeveboards they are round on both ends? I heard that some where Charlie that's not my thoughts...
 
Well they are definitely Barlows, Darrell. The long bolsters attest to that. But they are sleeveboards in profile. Really I just ask myself which word will best describe them.
If you call them by the "Sleeveboard" name, you will get a lot of arguments. And "Sleeveboard Barlow" seems too long to me, as does "Round-bolstered Barlow".
But I guess you have a "Sow-belly Stockman", and "Equal-end Harness Jack".
A Barlow is most often a "Long-bolstered Regular Jack", when it has a more squared bolster. Lots of names, long winded discussion. . . . . . . .
call it what you like; just don't call me "Late for Dinner":D.

2:39 A.M. What's your excuse??:p
 
My barlows have both squared and rounded bolsters but to me they are all barlows. Names of knife patterns, especially slippies, can be a slippery subject...no pun intended.

barlowcollection2copy-1.jpg
 
Waynorth, those are some very useful pix thank you:thumbup:

So useful that a dealer will be getting some of my ill-gotten cash very soon for one of those stag Barlows:D I'd like a jigged yellow bone one but they haven't released on with the clip blade yet,with spear yes but I just missed getting one:mad:

The Russell Barlows are well made and very good value for not much cash, I prize my bone scaled one and it gets plenty of garden work.
 
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Those Russels are beauts. I would think there would be more in Ma.They've all been grabbed up.
 
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