What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[RDaneel]

Three generations of Camillus Barlows. My favorite is the Tip Top.

 

[pistonsandgears]

New addition to the fold has arrived

 

[sf fanatic]

Not sure this qualifies as traditional Barlow but for $15 I’m amazed at the good fit and finish and snappy action. The blades are centered and very sharp and I’m a sucker for smooth white bone.
View attachment 1496367

 

[waynorth]

mrknife said: ↑
John, I gotta ask, did these ever come as a single blade?

Jack, I would imagine they did but I don't recall seeing any, when these were made single blades were not popular and most Barlows and Jacks were 2 blade. If Tip Top's came in a single I would bet Charlie has one.

You win the bet, John!!

 

[Old Engineer]

Thank you. It's a hair over 3 inches, maybe by 1/16th, and I believe the bolsters are integral, too.

Thanks for the measurement and the additional photos my friend . Yes they are Integral Bolsters .

Harry

 

[tmd_87]

Impatiently waiting for Charlie's Barlow to show up! In the meantime...

 

[mrknife]

mrknife said: ↑
John, I gotta ask, did these ever come as a single blade?



You win the bet, John!!View attachment 1496370 View attachment 1496371

Neat! the godfather of barlows indeed!

 

[waynorth]

Neat! the godfather of barlows indeed!

Just lucky on that one, Jack!!

 

[B.F.U]

Not sure this qualifies as traditional Barlow but for $15 I’m amazed at the good fit and finish and snappy action. The blades are centered and very sharp and I’m a sucker for smooth white bone.
View attachment 1496367

What would disqualify it? I think they’re a very classic traditional Barlow.

 

[solphilos]

What would disqualify it? I think they’re a very classic traditional Barlow.

Yep! They’re good quality and made to be an affordable working knife, so I’d say very traditional in that respect.
I got one to practice scrimshaw on and was surprised how much I liked it. A solid knife, and I really like the radiused bolsters. Feels nice in the hand

 

[Headwinds]

As long as we’re talking RR, here’s mine - comfortable in the hand and built like a tank. If they had just left off the shield....

 

[bigfish64]

Not sure this qualifies as traditional Barlow but for $15 I’m amazed at the good fit and finish and snappy action. The blades are centered and very sharp and I’m a sucker for smooth white bone.
View attachment 1496367

Me too! I have that one also, they are actually pretty nice, especially for the money!

Yep! They’re good quality and made to be an affordable working knife, so I’d say very traditional in that respect.
I got one to practice scrimshaw on and was surprised how much I liked it. A solid knife, and I really like the radiused bolsters. Feels nice in the hand

That looks awesome, great job!

As long as we’re talking RR, here’s mine - comfortable in the hand and built like a tank. If they had just left off the shield....

Very nice, I have several RR Barlows, like’em all, you have a nice one there!

 

[B.F.U]

I have a RR mini Barlow that was a heck of a deal for $5. It is a good little watch pocket knife.

I’d really like to see them use the stamp that’s on their Sous Chef Knife on the Barlows going forward.

 

[Augie]

mrknife said: ↑
John, I gotta ask, did these ever come as a single blade?



You win the bet, John!!View attachment 1496370 View attachment 1496371

Ha Ha, I thought so. What a beauty Charlie, does it have a Camillus tang stamp on the pile side tang?

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I’d really like to see them use the stamp that’s on their Sous Chef Knife on the Barlows going forward.

I absolutely agree, considering what vintage bolster stamps looked like it would fit in and be more classy imho. They put that stamp on a daddy barlow with a carbon steel blade I'd be all over it.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

It makes me smile.

THAT is the most important criteria of all

 

[Old Engineer]

Not sure this qualifies as traditional Barlow but for $15 I’m amazed at the good fit and finish and snappy action. The blades are centered and very sharp and I’m a sucker for smooth white bone.
View attachment 1496367

Definition of a Barlow : A Jack Knife with the bolster approx. 1/3 the total length of the closed knife unless it is one of the Grand Daddy Barlows . One of the definitions that I saw was the knife was to be approx. 3 & 1/2 inches long , but then there were some short ones like my old SEO&S at 2 & 7/8 inches . There are now some knives sold by people in Sheffield that call them Barlows but have the short bolsters . It would appear to me that you RR meets the criteria .

Harry

 

[waynorth]

Ha Ha, I thought so. What a beauty Charlie, does it have a Camillus tang stamp on the pile side tang?

Yup, 4- line Camillus Stamp on the pile side!!

 

[Pàdruig]

Giving this one a good run so far.

 

[waynorth]

Giving this one a good run so far.

Love to see that Patina develop!!