What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[solphilos]

View attachment 1495791 I really like the character on this one... great work Charlie

I really like that one
I don’t know if there’s a name for those little flecks but I like the character they bring to bone covers.

 

[knowtracks]

This thread sure has been good lately! Big ones, old and new ones I love it when there's a new release!

In the mail today :



Harry

That's a BEAUTY Harry!


Dave

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I've been eyeballing a couple of Daddy Barlows - I might just pull the trigger on one or two. It helps that the demand is not as high. If I enjoy using the large Coke Bottle pattern, I suspect the Daddy Barlow will be a good fit.

I like them quite a bit, due to where the nail nick is and the swedge I believe the OVB is Camillus made. Here are a couple more of mine plus the 97 for comparison.

The Remington is Camillus made though of more recent manufacture, the nail nick on Camillus made ones tend to be closer to the tip along side of the swedge from what I've seen. Rough Rider probably has the widest selection of covers currently available. Actually now that I think on it they're the only ones currently making them.

If the RR had a carbon steel blade and a long pull under that neat swedge it would be awesome imho,as is its a great knife

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Just got this one out of the mailbox.
Someone used a bench grinder on the blades.
But it looks good hanging out in my knife cabinet.

Here's mine, well what is left of it , got this in a box of miscarriages knives at a flea market for a pidly sum, I need to drag out that box and do a thread on it lol, its interesting

I'm not sure how that even happened
Edit to add I'm not entirely sure mine is a real one

 

[Old Engineer]

Here's mine, well what is left of it , got this in a box of miscarriages knives at a flea market for a pidly sum, I need to drag out that box and do a thread on it lol, its interesting

I'm not sure how that even happened
Edit to add I'm not entirely sure mine is a real one

David my friend : Your's is an original Russell Barlow . 2 key things to look for : The center Covers pin should be about in the middle of the length of the cover 2. The tip of the Arrow should be below the Pivot Pin . You need to clean yours up a lot . It don't look much worse than my first Russell did but it is a Russell . Most likely the first American Made production model Barlow . They are great to collect .

Harry

 

[Modoc ED]

Ed, I just scooped up a Queen Barlow - should get it in a couple of weeks (or longer depending on the Postal Service). Different vintage and configuration than yours but I haven't tried a Queen Barlow before so I am looking forward to checking it out.

I think you'll like it Dylan. This one has an aluminum frame. Very light and pocket friendly.

 

[JohnDF]

That aint half bad.

 

[btb01]

That aint half bad.

Yeah, but the other half…

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

David my friend : Your is an original Russell Barlow . 2 key things to look for : The center Covers pin should be about in the middle of the length of the cover 2. The tip of the Arrow should be below the Pivot Pin . You need to clean yours up a lot . It don't look much worse than my first Russell did but it is a Russell . Most likely the first American Made production model Barlow . They are great to collect .

Harry

Thanks for the info on what to look for. I figured the bolsters are iron and not steel due to being able to see the grain in it. I dabbled in forging and knife making years ago. It definitely behaves differently from steel in the forge and you gotta learn to work with the grain of the iron. I'll definitely be giving it some tlc and some oil

That aint half bad.

I bought a box of mostly junk knives for 3 dollars without really looking at any of them. I wanted it to be a bit of archeology dig lol. When did dig into it I seen the bolster before I seen the missing blade, I thought Oh WOW a Russell !! Then the realization that it wasn't half the knife it used to be lol. Still happy to have found one really, I should have opened the pen blade for a pic as its in remarkably good shape

 

[Txjohn]

I really like that one
I don’t know if there’s a name for those little flecks but I like the character they bring to bone covers.

Pepper

 

[waynorth]

I'm basically a Barlow collector, it's hard to find vintage Barlows in high condition, most were heavily used, so I was pretty stoked when I pulled this mint unused Camillus 4 line Tip Top out of the padded envelope. I swear I cleaned some original shipping oil off the metal. Has beautiful saw cut ebony handles.


View attachment 1495358 View attachment 1495359 View attachment 1495360 View attachment 1495361

Nice TipTop, John!!! I love it when they show up like that!!!

 

[waynorth]

QUOTE - @L.H.S; "idk if I showed it in those videos, I plan to in the longer video, but they also had a little surprise on the bottom of the tube. Idk if the ones sold through dealers will also (these were from the factory):

Tell us how you really feel, Bill

I didn’t really get the story on why these were included ?? - QUOTE

Despite his high pressure job, Bill always has a little time for a laugh or two!!

 

[waynorth]

Has anybody heard from Charlie, or has he been hanging low through all this commotion?

Sometimes, I take a break for a day or two, NewBlades!!
The Knife Scramble gets a little tense when a knife comes out!!
I wish I could produce one for everyone that wants one, but that's not how the cards are dealt!!

 

[dovidola]

Got my first ever GEC Barlow today - the Sepia #15. I'm not wanting to speak out of turn as I'm new to this, but it's the only GEC (of 26 in total) I have where the spring is not flush when fully open (it's a bit raised - perfectly flush when closed though), there's a little bit of gapping between spring and liner, one of the covers is a bit nibbled where it meets the bolster, and the pull is somewhat on the weak side (3-4). Put alongside my other #15, a Tidi Micarta Huckie Boys, the F&F on the Barlow looks rather shoddy, dare I say more reminiscent of Case's current offerings. Loving my first feel of GEC's Barlow bolsters though...
Maybe it's the hype and prices surrounding GEC Barlows, but I'd been expecting the usual GEC excellent level of F&F, particularly from a prestigious SFO.
My questions to those here who have Barlow experience: Is this typical or have I just been unlucky? Is it a Barlow 'thing' or just this particular run? Anything I can do to adjust the spring to sit flush when open (the only flaw which really irritates me)?
Apologies but I'm still trying to work out how to post photos.

 

[Pàdruig]

Got my first ever GEC Barlow today - the Sepia #15. I'm not wanting to speak out of turn as I'm new to this, but it's the only GEC (of 26 in total) I have where the spring is not flush when fully open (it's a bit raised - perfectly flush when closed though), there's a little bit of gapping between spring and liner, one of the covers is a bit nibbled where it meets the bolster, and the pull is somewhat on the weak side (3-4). Put alongside my other #15, a Tidi Micarta Huckie Boys, the F&F on the Barlow looks rather shoddy, dare I say more reminiscent of Case's current offerings. Loving my first feel of GEC's Barlow bolsters though...
Maybe it's the hype and prices surrounding GEC Barlows, but I'd been expecting the usual GEC excellent level of F&F, particularly from a prestigious SFO.
My questions to those here who have Barlow experience: Is this typical or have I just been unlucky? Is it a Barlow 'thing' or just this particular run? Anything I can do to adjust the spring to sit flush when open (the only flaw which really irritates me)?
Apologies but I'm still trying to work out how to post photos.

The pull on mine is pretty darn good for what I have come to expect from 15s (around a 6) but I have the same issue with my spring, it really isn't flush in any of the positions. No gaps though and no wobble, which is something I have experienced with 15s in the past. I am not too put off by the minor issues, however - it makes it a lot easier for me to put it to work. If I compared it to my TCs from past runs, it doesn't quite measure up but again, it makes it a lot easier to want to put it to work.


Speaking of putting it to work, is that a patina starting to form? This is a sturdy knife - one that I am fortunate and quite proud to own.

 

[solphilos]

Got my first ever GEC Barlow today - the Sepia #15. I'm not wanting to speak out of turn as I'm new to this, but it's the only GEC (of 26 in total) I have where the spring is not flush when fully open (it's a bit raised - perfectly flush when closed though), there's a little bit of gapping between spring and liner, one of the covers is a bit nibbled where it meets the bolster, and the pull is somewhat on the weak side (3-4). Put alongside my other #15, a Tidi Micarta Huckie Boys, the F&F on the Barlow looks rather shoddy, dare I say more reminiscent of Case's current offerings. Loving my first feel of GEC's Barlow bolsters though...
Maybe it's the hype and prices surrounding GEC Barlows, but I'd been expecting the usual GEC excellent level of F&F, particularly from a prestigious SFO.
My questions to those here who have Barlow experience: Is this typical or have I just been unlucky? Is it a Barlow 'thing' or just this particular run? Anything I can do to adjust the spring to sit flush when open (the only flaw which really irritates me)?
Apologies but I'm still trying to work out how to post photos.

While I wouldn’t compare my sample to a Case, it does seem a bit more rushed than my previous #15s.
The blade is mostly centered, great action, walk and talk. No gaps. Spring is mostly flushed in all positions but you can feel it just a bit when closed. Not bad, but not as smooth as I’m used to from GEC.
The spine is oddly finished as well, it’s sort of satin like most Tidioutes, but there are clear circular patterns where it looks like it was bouncing off the wheel or belt when it was being finished.
The fitting of the covers is also a bit sloppy; there are visible gaps at the bone and bolsters junction and a gap between the covers and liners that I can fit a fingernail under.

The factory effort definitely seems lower than what I would expect from GEC but I still consider it good. I also have lower standards than some when it comes to non-functional details, so long as it’s snappy and the action is good I’m happy.

 

[solphilos]

Sorry for the bad garage lighting. I love this knife, it’s amazing holding this and feeling the history. You can really feel the love and passion put into it.

 

[btb01]

Here's a pic with the current TC darkened as per Barrett's method...a sharpie Barrett said it wears really well and it's safe to assume one could easily take back to factory if they wanted

Factory

Sharpie

Factory

Sharpie

Looks pretty good to me, Paul! I was curious how it would work out, since the letters on the SCOUT shield I’ve tried it on are significantly smaller than the TC bolster stamp. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to undo if you wanted (I imagine, like my own experience, that the excess sharpie wiped off the bolster very easily?)

 

[paulhilborn]

Looks pretty good to me, Paul! I was curious how it would work out, since the letters on the SCOUT shield I’ve tried it on are significantly smaller than the TC bolster stamp. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to undo if you wanted (I imagine, like my own experience, that the excess sharpie wiped off the bolster very easily?)

Worked very well Barrett and exactly right, excess wiped right off

 

[r8shell]

The extent of the Tip Top collection, they are great Barlows.



View attachment 1495627

That's a nice collection of Tip Tops! They hardly look used at all.
I've got one:

Blond bone is my favorite handle for vintage Barlows.

Just got this one out of the mailbox.
Someone used a bench grinder on the blades.
But it looks good hanging out in my knife cabinet.

The blades don't look bad from this angle. How badly ground are they?