What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Excuse me if this has already been addressed here, but I noticed in this picture Will Power Will Power posted in the “shields” thread that the 3 Barlows (middle bottom, middle right, middle top) all appear to have squared-off tips. At first I thought the one on the bottom was snapped off, but when you look at the identical one closed (middle right), it does not appear to be the case. If this was a design feature, it would be cool to see it revived - or maybe they are just broken.
 
Just Tom. said:
Excuse me if this has already been addressed here, but I noticed in this picture Will Power Will Power posted in the “shields” thread that the 3 Barlows (middle bottom, middle right, middle top) all appear to have squared-off tips. At first I thought the one on the bottom was snapped off, but when you look at the identical one closed (middle right), it does not appear to be the case. If this was a design feature, it would be cool to see it revived - or maybe they are just broken.
Click to expand...

Navy/rope knives?
 
Just Tom. said:
Excuse me if this has already been addressed here, but I noticed in this picture Will Power Will Power posted in the “shields” thread that the 3 Barlows (middle bottom, middle right, middle top) all appear to have squared-off tips. At first I thought the one on the bottom was snapped off, but when you look at the identical one closed (middle right), it does not appear to be the case. If this was a design feature, it would be cool to see it revived - or maybe they are just broken.
Click to expand...
I think someone already did;) (not my knife or pic,snagged from the interwebs)
27034197980_21076cddcf_b.jpg
I think Charlie waynorth waynorth could give the story of the inspiration for these and the original purpose of the blade shape.
 
Misplaced Hillbilly said:
I think someone already did;) (not my knife or pic,snagged from the interwebs)
View attachment 1500184
I think Charlie waynorth waynorth could give the story of the inspiration for these and the original purpose of the blade shape.
Click to expand...
Aha! Thanks!
That does seem like a reasonably faithful, if somewhat gentrified reproduction. I don’t have the money or patience to chase after GEC’s, otherwise I might have seen that already...
 
J Just Tom. I was just pondering that too;) The handles certainly look scratted and the blade is extremely long re the frame, it looks like a Rope type or a Sheepfoot variant that would be easy to open. Given these are mid c19th knives (some Whoppers there too if you compare them to the c.3.5" Barlow ;) ) that type of blade may have had an agricultural connexion like the Cotton Sampler or to cut plug tobacco as seen on Congress knives. What's astounding is how well these knives remained preserved in the mud&silt.

Anybody living near this museum should visit it, lot of interesting artefacts apparently, boots, tableware even firearms.
 
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