Something about Barlow

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
2,907
Hello everyone!

I admit that I am Canoe-holic and its my favourite pattern. However ever since I got Queen Dan Burke small Barlow I've gotten more appreciation for Barlow type knife. Infact I carry my small Dan Burke Barlow more often than any other type of knife.

I just like so much Barlow and I kick myself everytime I saw BladeForums knife 2009 :D

I admit that I am not huge fan of clip point blades. I like good spear point Blade (and Wharncliffe's), like Dan Burke has (probably due I live in Europe and SAK's are very popular in Europe) but I think I would not hate any Barlow knife, regardless of blade type they have.

I like my Barlow and when I have money I will get some other Barlow's and check wether its just Dan Burke barlow... or all Barlows.

However there's somethings that are common for Barlow and Canoe: Stout blades and generally stout build. I do like more refined patterns like Pen Knife or Sway back Jack but I do seem favour the stout patterns.

Its been 1½ years since I began actively knife-nutting. It took me around half that time to find that I am traditionalist and I am begin to feel that now I am closer to find my favourite patterns. No time waisted, though my wallet hates me :D

Are here any Barlow fans? I'd like to see your Barlow's too ;)
 
One of my favorites.
Greg

orig.jpg
 
thejamppa said:
.

However there's somethings that are common for Barlow and Canoe: Stout blades and generally stout build.
Click to expand...

I agree. The only thing that has made me hold off on barlows (until seeing the Queen Dan Burke one -- which I ordered yesterday), is that I tend to prefer single backspring knives in this size. I owned a few railsplitters, harness jacks, and such (and I do have the 2010 forum knife on order), but I usually prefer my canoes -- or if I'm wanting something "double spring" on a particular day, I'll carry a CSC cannittler, a Queen mini-trapper or split-spring whittler, a sub 4" stockman, or a SAK Pioneer/Soldier... Over time, I've sold or given away my railsplitters & harness jacks as they were just too bulky for my pocket IMO. I do think that the DB barlow I have coming will be a keeper as I just don't think I'll be able to talk myslef out of owning anything with that blade combo.
 
Last edited:
My very first knife was an el-cheapo Imperial Barlow in carbon steel, with awful plastic scales. It was given to me as my Cub Scout knife. In hindsight, it is a horrible piece of junk, but it was the most wonderful thing in the world to me at the time. I still have it, it's still in excellent condition, although the years have done nothing to improve the horrendous "fit and finish" (such as they are).

My only other Barlow is a Case Select in pearl, which is pretty much the exact opposite of that Imperial. :D It is beautifully made, and handsome to boot!

The barlow is not my favorite pattern, because I find that the big bolsters make them a bit heavy in the pocket, and the blade to handle-size ratio is not particularly great. But they are nice, heavy-duty knives with a lot of interesting history behind them. :thumbup: I'd love to pick up one of those Queen Dan Burke barlows, but I'm trying to limit myself to buying only Case for a while.
 
The Barlow is one of my favorite two patterns. Here is my Case A62009½ SS Appaloosa Bone Barlow.

casebarlowappaloosabone.jpg


casebarlowappaloosabone.jpg
 
markksr said:
The Ultimate Barlow Picture Thread.
Click to expand...

Fantastic link! Thanks for that.

I just realized, I do have several more barlows than I remembered. I have a clutch of GEC #25s I'd forgotten about. Although whether they are true barlows or not is a matter of some debate. I think Tony Bose said they are technically not, because the bolster is not a full third of the handle length. They're close enough for me though. Nice little knives. Looking at the "Ultimate Barlow picture thread", I think I may like barlows more than I had thought I did. :D
 
I actually prefer the clip blade versions to the spear. If the Dan Burke barlow had a clip blade I would probably have one by now. The D2 that Queen uses is awesome. I have an older Imperial like Andy described that was my grandpa's. The backsprings are lazy and the main blade rubs the liner on one side but it still has sentimental value to me. Here is a Boker that I picked up recently. I am liking this one a lot.

DSCF0114.jpg
 
Dan, I've been looking for one of those in oak, but so far haven't found one. Boker's carbon steel is good stuff, maybe not as good as Queen's D2, but still good steel. I really like yours and Ed's Appaloosa too. Between you two and Jani, I may just have to pick one up for myself. I forgot about Greg's Cripple Creek up there; it's killer too.

Ed
 
Edited - Oops, Mark already posted a link to the old Barlow thread.
 
Last edited:
I have some slippie but the one I carry everyday is this one. My 2 years ole son dropped it around 4 times.

zjtaa9.jpg
 
I have a couple of cheap Barlows . Use to have a Case, but it got swiped.

I have a metal detector. At one farm house I dug up a half dozen rusted barlows.
 
This thread has me now thinking that I'd really like to get a high-end clip/wharncliff bladed barlow. Long pull & swedge on the clip... perhaps in 154cm / NS / Blackwood? Perhaps I'll have to get in touch with Ken Erickson again....
 
Hi,

I didn't appreciate the Barlow when I first tried one as a young man. It just felt heavy compared to the medium Stockman I normally carried. I don't think it lasted 2 weeks in my pocket before being tossed into the drawer.

I've since changed my tune. I often carry this Boker. A fine hard working pattern
101_0422-1.jpg


Dale
 
After seeing the great pic thread, I won't post of pic of my favorite Barlow. You can get a good idea from some of the older knives and patterns on that thread. It is an old fella, and was carried by my grandfather off an on from (according to my Dad) around 1920 to the mid '50s.

He gave it to my Dad before he passed in 1962, and my Dad sharpened it and put it away. This was a $1 KeenKutter with questionable edge holding (hey... waddaya expect for a buck!), and my Dad always preferred CASE.

At 84, my Dad is now in a home and passed it to me. The sawcut slabs are worn smooth, the blades are worn down from sharpening, but it is still a great knife to me. Amazingly, it still has pretty good snap. If only it could talk....

Robert
 
I am a history nut so I found the following info on the barlow pattern fascinating regarding the origins of the design.

"The history of the barlow knife has been difficult to trace. At least four American Barlow families have claimed that they invented the barlow knife. According to Laurence A. Johnson in his article, "The Barlow Knife", that was published in The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc. in June 1959, the Barlow knife was probably first manufactured by Obadiah Barlow at Sheffield, England, around 1670. Obadiah's grandson, John Barlow, joined the business around 1745 and it was he who was chiefly responsible for developing the exportation of the Barlow knives to America. Another source says the barlow knife was also made by Luke Furnace of Stannington, which in the eighteenth century was a small village on the outskirts of Sheffield. Luke Furnace's name occurs in the Sheffield directories from 1774 and 1787, but not in the 1797 directory, so he was presumably dead by then. He put the mark "1760" on his knives. The original Barlow, after whom the knives are named, was working in Sheffield at the same time as Luke Furnace."

The barlow pattern is probably one of the oldest patterns you still see widely produced by modern manufacturers.

I am a fan of the pattern as well. I have a nice Northfield #25 in stag that sees a lot of pocket time. It is kind of cool to think about all of the people of past history that likely had something very close to it in their pockets over the centuries.
 
They said Georgeo Washington had one... But hey, if it was good enough for Mark Twain, its good enough for me :)
 
I went over to that Barlow picture thread. Man!!! I had to get out of there quick! I really missed the boat by not being able to get in on the 2009 forum knife. That's a great looking Barlow in itself.

Ed
____________
A knifknut and his money are soon parted....
 
@ thejamppa:

This thread of yours has got me thinking of what I'd like to see the 2011 forum knife to be...

A Queen-made Canoe w/ spear primary & Wharncliff secondary (both D2). This would combine the blades like on the Dan Burke Barlow with the config. we love so dearly. I'm thinking Blackwood, NS bolsters, and brass liners... Maybe a stylized "skinny" shield like on the GEC Cocobolo Sleaveboard carver.... How's this sound?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top