steel liners on an old Utica?...

IVANKERLEY

IVANKERLEY

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May 30, 2007
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i have an old Utica 2 bladed Barlow with cattle bone scales probably from the WW2 era (info thanks to Mr Levine) anyway it doesnt have the usual brass liners, was it common to use steel for the liners, the knife is a tank and walks and talks with authority:D What other metals were used for liners, etc.???
No pictures just curious, all of my old slippies have the usual 'cept this one. Was my grandpas and it still sees the occasional day in the pocket, oldie but a goodie!
thanks
ivan
 
Yes, it was pretty common - though they're usually called iron liners (they used iron with very low carbon content - makes them more malleable and have a greater resistance to rust). The older you go the more common iron liners are. If you go way back - before about 1850 - you'll even find integral iron liners and bolsters - all forged in one piece. I've got a couple of old Sheffield congress knives with these. Nickel silver is also seen for liners - though not nearly as much as brass and iron. A lot of the higher quality old Remingtons have nickel silver liners (even integral nickel silver liners and bolsters in some cases).
 
I am not too sure about these knives, but I do like the knives I have with what looks to be SS liners. I guess it could be NS liners like the bolsters, but like you I have a few that seem to be SS. I am interested to hear what others have to say about them.

Thanks,
John
 
I have an early 1950s Providence made Imperial (made after 1953,probably before like 1955/6 IIRC) that has steel liners. Considering the knife has a lot of dark patina, they look good, but I prefer brass. The steel liners got pitted and less smoothe over the test of time. The knife I have would have been a pretty affordable user in it's day. It feels good in the pocket and the hand- it was my first non-SAK traditional. I bought it used and abused at a gunshow when I was 18 for $2.
 
IVANKERLEY said:
i have an old Utica 2 bladed Barlow with cattle bone scales probably from the WW2 era (info thanks to Mr Levine) anyway it doesnt have the usual brass liners, was it common to use steel for the liners, the knife is a tank and walks and talks with authority:D What other metals were used for liners, etc.???
No pictures just curious, all of my old slippies have the usual 'cept this one. Was my grandpas and it still sees the occasional day in the pocket, oldie but a goodie!
thanks
ivan
Click to expand...

If it was definatly made durring the WW2 conflict, its possable steel was used instead of brass, as copper and brass were a much higher stratigic material, and rationed carefully to industry. They even made steel pennies durring the war to save copper. Brass was needed for a heck of alot of ammo!
 
I see a lot of barlows and regular jack knife patterns with steel liners and bolsters too. I think maybe they tried to make the barlow pattern as cheaply and sturdy as they could for the regular working man to be able to afford a good no nonsense working knife. even the original old russell barlows were all steel.
 
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