Tom's Choice

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saltaire

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I have been searching all over the internet trying to find a Tom's Choice Barlow...and I can't find one. Does anyone know if Great Eastern still makes this knife and where I might purchase (staying within the bounds of this forum, of course]? :)

Thanks
Jim
 
They come up for sale in the Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey" style knives For-Sale forum occasionally. Your best bet at this point is to diligently check there if you are looking for the clip blade or spearpoint blade versions.

Definitely try gunstockjacksknivesandcollectibles.com

I think he might have some 'seconds' which GEC labels as 'EDC's.
 
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Another dealer has one too, wood handles and sheepsfoot blade. They aren't a paid sponsor at Bladeforums, so I'm perhaps not supposed to say the dealer's name. And you haven't set up your profile with an email link.

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My point, there's a few out there yet, but they're all sheepfoot models.

If you don't want a sheepfoot blade, you're probably out of luck. A while back all I could find were the clip points. Now, only sheepfoot. I've never seen a spear point in stock at a dealer.
 
Thanks Bob! Do you happen to know if I could order directly from GEC or have they stopped making that one? I don't want the sheep's foot.
 
GEC doesn't have any TC Barlows in stock. Like Burnside said, your best bet is to check the exchange frequently. You've got to be fast and expect to pay a premium.
 
The TC Barlows (Tidioute Cutlery Barlows aka 'Charlows') Are a Special Factory Order made by GEC and commissioned by Charlie Campagne (waynorth here on the forums). As far as I know, there are only TC Barlows with Sheepsfoot Blades still available. GunstockJackKnivesandCollectibles still has a few of those in stock in various cover material. You can also try emailing waynorth (Charlie Campagne) to see what he might have available. As far as I know only waynorth, collectorknives.net, and gunstockjackknivesandcollectibles.com are the only BladeForums sponsored members/dealers that provide the SFO TC Barlows. Barry who owns and runs gunstockjackknivesandcollectibles might have some seconds (EDC) TC Barlows with spear or clip point blades (you should seriously get in touch with him. He is a great guy to deal with and is a paid dealer member here at the forums).

The first run of TC Barlows (also known as the Pattern Production Premiere with an etched 'PPP' on the back of all the blades) only consisted of Spearpoint blades, and there are far fewer of these than any others.

The 2nd run of TC Barlows consisted of more Spearpoints as well as the Clip Point blades. The Clip Point Blades have the words "Tom's Choice" etched on the blade which is referring to Tom Sawyer's choice of knife. Only the Clip Point Charlows have "Toms Choice" etched on the blades.

There was also a mini side-run of Inside/Out Charlows with single Spear and single Clip point blades which were also very limited and made in even lower numbers I believe. The Inside/out saw cut bone is the marrow side of the bone and has imperfections that give them special character (I love mine). The inside/out charlows are also referred to as the 'Soup-Bone' Charlows.

The 3rd run of Charlows is the most recent one, and they all have a Sheepsfoot main blade. Still yet to come are the Spey blade Charlows and the Razor/One-Armed-Jack Charlows.

If you set up your account to use email or private messaging, I might be able to offer you some more direction and help. Better yet, set up a gold membership account here, and you will be able to use the Exchange forums which will give you a better chance of scoring a Charlow.

...Or just shoot me an email ;)
 
Thanks burnside! I'll fix the email issue right now.
 
Here is a "Tom's Choice" Charlow in Gabon Ebony Wood with a single Clip Point Blade...

9774994973_9591f79a35_b.jpg
 
You might know this already but the TC Barlow is based on the GEC #15 Pattern (Boy's Knife). If you're looking to buy a TC Barlow because you want the pattern, your other option is to buy a GEC Boys knife. Most dealers will have both the spear and clip version of the Boy's Knife in stock.
Here's a pic....

Hover over pic to enlarge
View attachment 378936
Pic is from collectorknives.net
 
That's the one I've been looking for... You called it a Charlow. Is that the name of another company?
 
Most of the TC Barlows are sold out (including seconds) except for the sheepsfoot models, and they won't last much longer. The #15 Boys knife is still available and is similar, but you'll have to look for any others on the secondary market. :eek:
 
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saltaire said:
That's the one I've been looking for... You called it a Charlow. Is that the name of another company?
Click to expand...

pertinux said:
"Charlow" is a relatively new colloquialism coined by Thomason as a shortened form of "Charlie's Barlows," the Tidioute Cutlery (TC-stamped-bolster) barlows that Charlie Campagna-- waynorth-- has commissioned as SFOs from GEC.

TCpertinux_zps5fbeb623.jpg~original


It all started here, in the "Whatcha got on order?" thread:

Thomason said:
akadave2 said:
Charlies Barlows! What else!?
Click to expand...

Me too. Charlows:thumbup::D
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

There ya go. :)


Good luck on your hunt. :thumbup:


~ P.
 
saltaire said:
I have been searching all over the internet trying to find a Tom's Choice Barlow...and I can't find one. Does anyone know if Great Eastern still makes this knife and where I might purchase (staying within the bounds of this forum, of course]? :)

Thanks
Jim
Click to expand...

Jim, Send me a private message if you are interested. I have a few doubles in my collection. All are new in the tube, except for pictures. You need to update your profile to except private messages and emails.



Tom
 
Wow amazing how popular these have been. I sure do love my single-spear Charlow, it's one of my favorites and one that I will not let go of. I'm trying to keep my traditional folders at 5 to 6 knives max (I don't collect them they're all users).

The Barlow has got to be one of the all-time classic folders. Charlie and GEC collaborated to put out the best Barlow ever made.
 
I missed the boat on the original run of TC Barlows. However, the Pony Jack and Boys Knife fill the same niche for me in terms of size and blade configuration. I do like the looks of the long bolster with the embellished logo, though.

To the OP - you'll just have to keep an eye out in the Exchange forum and try to pick one up when someone posts one for sale. You'll have to be quick, though, they don't last long.
 
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