The Barlows

Absintheur

Absintheur

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Jan 31, 2008
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I think that for many of us the Barlow was the first pattern knife we owned. The number of inexpensive Barlows made must place this pattern near the top of the list of highest number made in a single pattern. It has always been a favorite of mine, my first knife was a Barlow made by the Providence Cutlery Company and I have owned others since. ( I still have that Barlow 40 years later) I don't think I owned that knife for less than 5 minutes before I cut myself the first time. Mother was upset but Pop knew it was a right of passage and after the cut was cared for he showed me how to care for the knife. I have also given away more Barlow pattern knives than any other type and my nephews have all enjoyed them as well. Almost, if not all, US cutlery company produced at least one knife in this pattern and manner companies still do. Currently I have just seven Barlows in my collection...I know I have given away at least twice that many. They carry nice in the pocket, are a very nice size, can be found in a variety of main blades with clip, spear, and one handed man being the most common. Here are the few I currently own...tho I am always on the lookout for more...

From top left to right..
Unknown maker, two blade marked Barlow on bolster, black plastic scales
New Russell stag scales
Rough Rider jigged bone scales
bottom left to right
Rough Rider bark pearl scales
Providence Cutlery plastic scales
Imperial with dark red/brown scales
bottom front
Colonial with plastic scales



Do you still have a Barlow? SHow it off and add a story if you have one. I think everyone has fond memories of their first knife, what are yours?
 
I have one Barlow, for many years.

Imperial in SS
Made in Ireland

But the second blade seems to be carbon?

When I am next in England I will get a Wright in Carbon Steel
 
That Russell Stag is a nice looking job there. Have the same but in green sawn bone,it gets major use in the garden and I think it's an excellently turned out model. Might have to get that stag too...

Which blade do most of you prefer on a Barlow? Clip or spear? Spear me
 
While we're on the subject of Barlows... Are they as "thick" feeling in the pocket as they look in photos? I'm considering the one for sale in "Knifemakers" forum, but have always shied away because they look so ?fat.

Mike
 
I don't find them to be bad at all. I think there's a reason why the pattern has endured.

I'd not let that "fear" hold me back if everything else was tempting.
 
Here's my one and only.It's a user and sits well in the pocket. I used to be a proud owner of a Samual Barlow knife with a razor type blade, one piece steel bolsters and liners with stag(I think) It was too old to tell if it was bone or stag.I kick myself to this day for trading it off.
IMG_1086.jpg
 
I saw the Erickson in there, love the execution but am not a big MOP fan in general, would love to see it in a deep forest bone. I think the Barlows carry nicely in the pocket but then I am seldom out of jeans, in dress slacks it might be a bit large for some.
 
Rough Rider orange smooth bone:
509778071_d6b84442f4.jpg



Schrade Imperial with 'shell' bolsters and scales (Ireland):
2438159028_2378f95bc9.jpg



Schrade Imperial "NRA edition" - I like the 'tactical' synthetic grip:
2438158950_12193e20d4.jpg



Colonial Barlow with nice, thick Delrin (I think) scales and solid bolsters:
2437338091_e61b830abe.jpg



Pakistani-made Barlow with horn scales - surprisingly robust for a Pakistani import:
2438158818_3b48f76ccd.jpg
 
Here's a couple of promotional Barlows I'm putting back to use after failing to trade them off. The Imperial USA on top has had a cleanup and some serious sharpening; the Colonial (probably a better-finished knife) is in the cleanup queue. Both have crimped bolsters.

barlows.jpg


After carrying the Imperial for a week, I want one with solid bolsters and a different blade, maybe a sheepsfoot or even a spearpoint.

Mike, these are both about 3 1/2" long, and just disappear in the pocket; I notice the Barlow less than a trapper the same length. I think the flat sides help it go unnoticed.
 
I've got an 1890's version single blade spearpoint Russell Daddy Barlow.
1930's Russell single blade clip point Barlow.
A set of the 1998 Commemoratives produced under contract by Colonial.
A recent edition two blade (spearpoint, pen, carbon steel) Russell produced by Boker.
A custom made single blade clip point barlow (forged 52100) by ABS MS, Raymond Smith.

Plus I've given away a couple of Barlows here on the forum.

Yeah, I guess I like 'em alright. :thumbup: :cool:

(Images of the ones I still own can be seen via the link below my signature in the Custom and Factory albums.)
 
Garth, promotional barlows used to be common as dirt where I grew up. They were like gimme hats, and every seed and equipment salesman gave them to potential customers every year. Mostly it was the farm kids who carried them because they could talk their dads out of them--town kids didn't really have the same access. I never knew of one to keep the handles intact for more than six months or so when actually used.

My hometown had one store where you could buy knives, and all they carried were the shell-handled cheapies, much like the barlows. At school, the trade ratio was usually 3 of the imprinted-handle barlows (like the white one above) for 2 of the brown handled barlows with logos etc etched on the blade. The fake sawn bone was easier to hold on to while working. Two or three of the brown barlows would swap for a cheap scout/camp knife (depending on condition, of course). To give you an idea of cash value, the cheap scout knives sold for around $2.25 and the barlows cost about $1.

Occasionally someone would win a knife (usually a toothpick or fishing knife) in one of the rigged games on the midway at the county fair, but the promo barlows and shell-handled scout knives were pretty much it in the schoolyard knife exchange.

By the time we hit Junior High most of us had acquired slightly better knives, either as gifts, mail order, or in exchange for labor. We had a lot of demo knives and TL-29s. I always though the barlows would be a decent little carry knife if only they were made better, and 30 years later I'm finally getting around to trying different models--but knives like the imprinted handle promos still don't fit my hands right!

When I cleaned up the brown one by laying the blades flat on a stone, the etch pretty-much disappeared. Then I reshaped and sharpened the blades, and it isn't a bad little knife, but I know it won't last long before the handles are shed.
 
I never got one of the promo barlows....always seemed to be caps where I grew up. The Providence that was my first knife is still very tight and in great condition. It was used quite a bit but always cleaned afterwards and cared for. Of course I knew if Dad ever asked to see it and it wasn't clean and oiled I probably would never see it again. My Dad was a Master Sergeant at that time and yes, our school shoes were polished nightly. (we did not wear tennis shoes to school) The gifts you received tended to reflect the care you took of your prior gifts. When I was 14...and my brother 15...for Christmas I got a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt/45acp, my brother got a 22. Guess who had the better rep for taking care of their things...lol.
 
A "demo knife" was what we called the little all-metal 4-blade folders formerly issued by the US military. Sorta like a SAK with no scales. They were a good piece of kit. Spearpoint blade, can opener, bottle opener with screwdriver on the end, and awl.
 
Demo = Demolitions, the knife got this name thanks to the awl blade that was great for punching holes in blacks of explosives (tnt or c-4 for example) in order to place a cap in them. Here is my 1982 dated Camillus. The ones made in the 60s had a thumb stud on the blade with the cap lifter...they knew what blade a GI would want to open quick...lol.



“A Special Forces Soldier”
(Author Unknown)

A Special Forces Soldier

As seen by his Post Headquarters:
A drunken, brawling, Jeep stealing, woman corrupting, Liar, with a star sapphire ring, Rolex watch and Demo Knife.

As seen by himself:
A tall, handsome, highly trained professional killer, female Idol, star sapphire ring wearing,
Demo Knife carrying Gentleman who is always on time due to the reliability of his Rolex watch.

As seen by his Commander:
A fine specimen of a drunken, brawling. Jeep stealing, woman corrupting Liar, with a star sapphire ring, Rolex watch and a Demo Knife.

As seen by the Department of The Army:
An overpaid, over ranked tax burden who is indispensable because he has volunteered to go anywhere, do anything at any time as long as he can booze it up, brawl, steal Jeeps, corrupt women, lie, wear a star sapphire ring, Rolex watch and carry a Demo Knife.

As seen by the enemy:
The meanest mother in the valley.​
 
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