To use or to save- an Old Timer barlow.

[Sword and Shield]

I've had an itch for a decent carbon steel barlow, problem is, EBay seems to have gone insane on prices for same. A worn-out Russell I could have had for $20-30 last year is now $100. A broken-down old Case that needs serious work is still $25, should be about $10.

Yet, I have one in reserve. It's an Old Timer barlow, as near to mint as I can see. Carbon, perfect size, the works.

So, my conundrum. I was originally planning to build a set of the three Prince Albert giveaway knives, but I've never even seen the 114OT- the Scout pattern- for sale since. The barlow is the easiest piece of the three to find. The 10OT, the 58OT and the 114OT are all uncommon, but I could replace the barlow easily by comparison to the other two.

I'm of two minds. What says the Forum?

 

[Liberando]

Hone the edge a bit, two drops of oil, and drop that Old Timer in your pocket!

 

[jon_slider]

Use it and smile!
and start shopping for a replacement
win win

pictures please?

 

[Mink]

I've had an itch for a decent carbon steel barlow, problem is, EBay seems to have gone insane on prices for same. A worn-out Russell I could have had for $20-30 last year is now $100. A broken-down old Case that needs serious work is still $25, should be about $10.

Yet, I have one in reserve. It's an Old Timer barlow, as near to mint as I can see. Carbon, perfect size, the works.

So, my conundrum. I was originally planning to build a set of the three Prince Albert giveaway knives, but I've never even seen the 114OT- the Scout pattern- for sale since. The barlow is the easiest piece of the three to find. The 10OT, the 58OT and the 114OT are all uncommon, but I could replace the barlow easily by comparison to the other two.

I'm of two minds. What says the Forum?

Sent you an email

 

[338375]

Use it and enjoy it. Don't get discouraged by prices on the interwebz. They can, and do fluctuate. Just because people are asking higher prices now, next year they could be completely the opposite.

 

[Codger_64]

They may be uncommon, but by no means rare. If you want to use your 10OT, do so. They are well made knives meant to be used.

There may be a temporary uptick in interest in Barlows just now, but IMHO it is cyclical. When those who are currently interested in buying get their fill, prices will lower and more will appear on the market. This is where it pays to have interest in several patterns or brands. When one or two are up, another will be down. Keep your eye open for a Kwik-kut as well. This was a Sears branding of Camillus barlow pre-1941 (before Baer introduced the Craftsman mark on his Ulster supplied pocket knives).

 

[Bob W]

I don't use mine:

So how did I find all three knives in unused condition? Easy, I bought the set that was hanging on the Schrade factory wall.

If I had an unused USA Old Timer I would not use it. There are so many lightly used examples out there, including the Barlow, that there's no reason to.

If you're really having difficulty finding a good condition Old Timer barlow, expand your search to include the Old Crafty Barlow #9540. There is also a Grand Dad's Old Timer Barlow (black Delrin and brass):

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, the most common knife around was the Imperial Barlow. Made in the USA with carbon steel blades, I believe they are quite common on some auction websites.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Back in the early 90s when Remington first introduced the Musket Series the Musket-1 was a Granddaddy Barlow. They offered it in jigged bone and in Delrin. I picked up one in bone and even getting it through the shop I worked at part time in AK it was pricey. I kept that thing in the box hoping to add the rest of the Musket Series as they came out. To my knowledge, they never did come out with another in the series. So I worried that the Musket-1 Gdaddy barlow would be even more valuable.

Fast forward to around 2006 when I joined here or maybe 2007. Besides having some encouragement from here to use that knife, I also found that on eBay you could find them and the prices they were going for in both bone and Delrin were much less than I paid for mine originally. I even picked a few up on auction in both materials for pretty cheap. The ones I picked up didn't have the crisp walk and talk or the sharp half-stops mine had so I eventually got rid of them. But what happened first is that I got tired of just keeping the one I had in the box and put up. I finally said stuff it and slipped it into my pocket.

It rode well and I got a lot of pleasure out of using it. I enjoyed just taking it out and looking at it and rolling it around in my hand. It rode vertically in my pocket and just lined up nicely against the outside edge of the pocket and never got in the way or poked me. Sometimes I would slip my hand in my pocket and just sort of roll that big ole barlow around in my hand.

The fact is I got more pleasure out of carrying and using that knife in a few short months than I ever got close to having when it just sat in the box waiting. Even though I don't carry it these days I still enjoy pulling it now and then and using it a little or slipping it into my pocket for a few moments. It fits into a generic little suede, pouch sheath I picked up sometime back and I might just do another lanyard for it and wear it in the pouch as a neck knife.

Bottom line: Which is more valuable to you? Leaving it pristine or enjoying carrying it with you as knife? For me I've never looked back. If I looked and saw that my knife in unused, mint condition was suddenly selling for several hundred or even thousand dollars, I wouldn't worry about it. I've enjoyed mine too much actually carrying it.

 

[Old Hunter]

You may also want to add the Schrade Scrimshaw Barlow to your search - there seem to be plenty of them floating around for sale - I don't think Delrin w/ imitation Scrimshaw handled knives are ever going to command museum prices and the steel is good old vintage Schrade. OH

 

[Double Ott]

You may also want to add the Schrade Scrimshaw Barlow to your search - there seem to be plenty of them floating around for sale - I don't think Delrin w/ imitation Scrimshaw handled knives are ever going to command museum prices and the steel is good old vintage Schrade. OH

I have the very same Schrade Barlow. It came with sharp carbon blades. It is a stout knife for it's size.

Tom

 

[B.F.U]

I pretty much would always say use it. I would use it.

 

[glennbad]

I say get that one as a keeper. Finding a "used" one should be easier than finding a minty example. Then use the heck out of it.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Man, I had just that Schrade Scrimshaw, the 79 one. A guy was taking orders for them at the factory I worked at as a mig welder back then and I bought one in that year.

I've had, gotten rid of, got back, and gotten rid of again a couple of various Scrim Barlows.

Good idea for a good carry knife.