Walden EO Grandaddy Barlow

ea42 said:
Vince,

I think the handles were done in house back then. Bone was shipped into Walden by the boxcar-full back in those days, in fifty pound burlap sacks like a sack of potatoes. I believe Schrade alone went through two carloads of bone per month! There are records of fires at each plant's handle making facilities over a period of years, most of which were caused by the dreaded spark igniting celluloid dust. Luckily those buildings were purposely made of brick and located away from the main plants. Napanoch, due to the location of its cutting rooms, wasn't so lucky.
Before the advent of jigging machines the old pick bone from Walden's (the town) knife manufacturers was extremely similar, NY Knife, Walden Knife Co., and Schrade Cut. all had nearly identical handles for a time, probaby due to the fact that the bone jiggers likely were trained similarly. Heck, in a town with three major cutlery companies located in a half mile radius, I'm sure there was a lot of "job relocation" going on over the decades. In fact, there was a shop called the Walden Cutlery Handle and Manufacturing Company that was a joint partnership between those very companies, formed to insure a steady supply of bone for the local industry, (although I think the partnership existed even before that company was formed). Schrade eventually bought the handle company out and absorbed it into its manufacturing facilities.

That's a fine example Vince, I've definitely got a soft spot for those old Waldens!

Eric
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Eric,
Thank you,very much for this info.That is better than alot of books on the subject.
-Vince
 
Eric,you seem to know,could you tell me ? Is my guess at this blade being around 1/4" short a good one.
Its a 5" frame,tip to bolster the blade measures 3-3/4",now.
TIA,
-Vince
 
That is simply superb! I really like the size of that one, I bet it feels really solid in the hand.
 
Vince, it does appear to be a bit short. I don't have an EO, but assuming that the regular large barlow had the same blade, you should be at 3 3/4" from the shoulder of the tang to the blade tip.

Eric
 
ea42 said:
Vince, it does appear to be a bit short. I don't have an EO, but assuming that the regular large barlow had the same blade, you should be at 3 3/4" from the shoulder of the tang to the blade tip.

Eric
Click to expand...

The tang measures 1/4" from the beginning of the grind,to the scales,so I'd say my guess was right on,Thanks Again & Thanks for the comments all,
-Vince
 
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