The ? to myself was not "Why buy a Craftsman barlow?"... it was "Why not?!" :)

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Was able to slide the little card out'a the plastic container... not a thing on it, other than sharpening and oiling instructions (no numbers)... darn! As for the scales, don't believe they are Delrin (at least not like any delrin I've ever seen). Thinking either real bone, or that bonite stuff... but rather convincing if it is a synthetic. As for the satin polish of the blades, it was done by the factory from spine to edge, not the length of blade... but, sadly, somebody during it's history, likely used a polish or some kind of polishing cloth course enough to leave the long fine scratches into the blade. It does not overpower the original application of the spine to edge satin finish, but one can see it. Guess my being an old dog in woodworking, and knowing one should always sand with the grain, not against, makes me shake my head. But, to be fair, such things are simply not common knowledge to many folks... so, I guess it is what it is.

Overall, it seems like a very nice knife... but it's real age and it's actual factory maker, may remain a mystery to me

If this is what they call "bonite"... again I say that it's some pretty convincing stuff!

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

This picture I found online of an Ulster 10OT (old timer) with an identical blade pull as on my Craftsman, makes me believe mine is indeed an Ulster made knife. So, manufacture date is likely anywhere from the early 60's to the late 60's... placing it more in the 50 year old range, rather than the 60 year range.

Here is mine again to compare blade pulls, blade finish, and overall knife styling. I think it's pretty safe to say it's a match (except for the stamped in lettering...

This likely 50 years old knife, with a real genuine "bonite" handle, is half it's way to becoming a genuine antique. Of course, I won't likely be around to see it achieve that milestone... but, I am the one responsible for carrying on it's care until, hopefully, another person with similar interests gets handed the responsibility. How else are future generations going to be able to see, and possibly handle, items that were around way before they were Reproductions may come along, but obvioiusly there is nothing like the originals (carrying years and years of survival and history with them). Again, this is neat, and fun, stuff!

 

[Codger_64]

Bonite was just another Baer tradename for Delrin molded to resemble bone. Meerschaum bone was another. I agree that it is most likely an Ulster #10. From 1941 on, Baer pretty much had a lock on the Sears knife business. Some of that was moved over to the Camillus factory after he obtained full ownership of that company.

For definitive proof of maker, compare closely the ridges and valleys of the "sawcut". The same molds were used for both knives.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Bonite was just another Baer tradename for Delrin molded to resemble bone. Meerschaum bone was another. I agree that it is most likely an Ulster #10. From 1941 on, Baer pretty much had a lock on the Sears knife business. Some of that was moved over to the Camillus factory after he obtained full ownership of that company.

For definitive proof of maker, compare closely the ridges and valleys of the "sawcut". The same molds were used for both knives.

Thanks again for your input, sir!

 

[jon_slider]

The long pull on this Old Timer (I think thats an Ulster tang stamp)
pic #1

is not like this Old Timer also with Ulster tang stamp.
pic #2

Can someone educate me how that can happen? We know Baer owned all 3 companies, Schrade, Ulster, and Camillus by 1963. Could Camillus have made the knife in pic #1 and stamped it Ulster? Other possibilities?

I agree Jimmy's looks like the Ulster in pic #2
fun thread, thanks for sharing

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Since we are digging for info, us being the curious bunch that we are... here is another question...

With Baer having control of Ulster, Schrade, Imperial?, and Camillus... which factories, if any, did he close and combine into another. I mean, Camillus stayed in Camillus NY, and I know that Schrade was in Ellenville NY until it's demise... but which firms got condensed into other companies? In other words, was a factory somewhere still making Ulsters after the Baer buyout, or did it get shut down and equipment transferred to another, like to the Schrade factory? Thanks

 

[Codger_64]

Ulster was Dwight Divine & Sons, bought by Baer in 1941. Schrade was owned by the Schrade family and bought by Baer under the Imperial Knife Associated Companies banner in 1946. Schrade was Schrade Walden in Walden New York until circa 1958 when it moved to Ellenville, for a time producing knives and knife parts at both factories. Ulster and Schrade Walden were made in the same factories, on the same machinery by the same workers until the Ulster mark was discontinued except for a few nostalgia issues. The Schrade Walden name continued to be used after the move until 1973 when it became Schrade Cutlery Co. Baer bought Imperial circa 1983 and after moving Schrade into the Channelmaster building in Ellenville, eventually closed the Imperial factory in Providence, moving production to the same expanded factory in Ellenville. Shortly the name was changed to Imperial Schrade Corp. Camillus remained Camillus Cutlery in Camillus New York and made some knives for Schrade and Imperial, and a few with the Ulster nostalgia mark. Imperial Schrade busted in 1004 and Camillus in early 2007. Camillus factory burned this past year while undergoing renovations into offices or apartments or something. Canal Street Cutlery moved into the old Schrade Walden factory and began making high quality short run traditional knives in circa 2005-6.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Great job putting it all together, thank you
As an interesting tid bit, I think I worked at a shopping center in Walden NY that was atop of the property that Schrade/Walden owned and had a factory on. Over twenty years ago, I was working at one of the biggest, if not the biggest, gun selling sports shops in Orange County NY. This sports shop was owned and run by a family that owned the entire shopping center that the sporting goods store was at. This shopping center, including a grocery center, was called 'Thruway Shopping Center'... obviously in Walden NY. Anyhow, one time while I was helping one of the owners with some inventory move, he asked me if I had been in the back part of the building. I said no... and so he took me to a part of the shopping center I never knew was there. It was an old'ish looking section where they stored some odds and ends, but mostly was absolutely there serving no purpose. This unknown part of the building was supposedly what was left standing of the, as my boss put it... "the old knife factory". He did mention Schrade, so I imagine his family had purchased this land from them. Anyhow, he told me how they found all sorts of knife blades and parts when they purchased the place. As far as I know, Thruway Shopping Center is still a thriving business still located in the same place I used to drive by the Ellenville Schrade factory quite often when I lived downstate NY (now my living in Central NY). The Camillus Cutlery firm was still in business when I moved to Syracuse, and it's only about 8 or 10 miles away from where I live, and often still drive by it. All just history now
Here is a picture I took a few months back of the front view of the old Camillus firm..

Btw... the street address in Walden was at the very bottom of Oak Street

 

[Codger_64]

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Some neat photos! My seeing these types of pics before, I never really paid attention as to how many people wore hats. I myself have my hair, but love wearing hats (one can never have a bad hair day when wearing a hat)
After I put up my post about the shopping center that I believe was on the grounds of the former Walden Knife, later the Schrade company in Walden... I did some research and found out that they too are about all gone and going down in the history books. Everything just going way of the DoDo bird as time passes. Sears struggling and likely heading that way too, likely taking their Craftsman tradename with them... Schrade & Camillus being somewhat recent losses of the knife world... things are constantly changing, as expected... but sad too.

"After 58 years of proudly serving our community, Thruway Food Market and Shopping Center will be closed as of 5/1/13. Thruway Sporting Goods and Thruway Liquor Store will continue to operate as usual. Thruway Hardware and Home Center is now open! Thank you for your years of business and we look forward to your continued support."

WALDEN NY:
"The village began in the early 18th century as a mill town along the Wallkill River. One miller, Jacob Walden, was so successful the village that incorporated in the mid-19th century took its name from him. Later on, it would be the three separate knife manufacturers based in the village that brought it growth and prosperity. They are gone today, but other industrial concerns remain. Walden has been best known in the Hudson Valley as the home of the Thruway Markets hypermarket complex, which closed in 2013."

 

[thawk]

The long pull on this Old Timer (I think thats an Ulster tang stamp)
pic #

is not like this Old Timer also with Ulster tang stamp.
pic #2

Can someone educate me how that can happen? We know Baer owned all 3 companies, Schrade, Ulster, and Camillus by 1963. Could Camillus have made the knife in pic #1 and stamped it Ulster? Other possibilities?

I agree Jimmy's looks like the Ulster in pic #2 fun thread, thanks for sharing

The tang stamp on PIC #1 is indeed ULSTER over USA over 10OT.

Long pull vs extra long pull? How can this happen? Lots of possibilities, but in the world of Schrade and Camillus during those times these kinds of differences were commonplace. We see many differences like this within a specific pattern throughout the life of the run. The 10OT was produced from 1964 through 1970, so there were a lot of knives produced during this time frame. The Ulster 10 pattern was produced long before they came up with the OLD TIMER version of this pattern. I've not seen an Ulster 10OT with genuine bone handles, only the bonite, but if one showed up it would not surprise me at all.

 

[thawk]

What are the chances this knife was made by Camillus, or Ulster? Or did Western Cutlery make it out in Boulder Colorado? Camillus made knives on contract for many, if not most other USA knife companies.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I know there is little visual difference between all these barlows we are discussing here, but I do admit to liking how the "WESTERN" name looks on that bolster. The wording or marking on a barlow bolster can either really jazz up the overall look, or give a bland look. The "Craftsman Barlow" mark on my specimen seems to lean more towards the bland side of things, imo, but... she will still get treated with much love and care, lol!

 

[glennbad]

Very cool thread. I was enjoying looking at all the examples, and remembered that I had a done a mod some time back on an "Old Crafty" Here's a pic I found...



Unfortunately, the bolster etch was affected a little from wear and my work on it, but is still visible.

They are quite solid knives!

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Very cool thread. I was enjoying looking at all the examples, and remembered that I had a done a mod some time back on an "Old Crafty" Here's a pic I found...



Unfortunately, the bolster etch was affected a little from wear and my work on it, but is still visible.

They are quite solid knives!

Those scales almost look red, did ya re-dye them somehow, or did it simply turn out that way after smoothing them down? Looks like your ole crafty is still ready for many more years of being around

 

[glennbad]

That's new bone, that came from Culpepper's. I think it is a crimson red. They do some of the best dyeing and jigging around, IMO. I can't remember if the original had broken covers, or if the owner just wanted a change.

 

[Simple Man]

I have two of my Grandad's knifes, both Barlows, one with the clear plastic tube packaging, both almost sharpened down to nubbins as I recall. I wouldn't consider trading them for a dozen mint ones. I'll try to dig them out for pics.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Very cool thread. I was enjoying looking at all the examples, and remembered that I had a done a mod some time back on an "Old Crafty" Here's a pic I found...



Unfortunately, the bolster etch was affected a little from wear and my work on it, but is still visible.

They are quite solid knives!

Nice Job there Glenn, that's a really nice looking knife that! and I think the worn Bolsters look just perfect - most important to try and retain some of that great old knifes history - which you have done :thumbup:

 

[Simple Man]

Oops I was wrong, it was a CAMCO in a Craftsman box. Still not going anywhere, and yeah, nubbins.