What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Campbellclanman]

A person just can't go wrong with any cover choice. I am locked into the Walnut---I love the story/history behind it.

Paul

Yep -I'm with you there Paul, and of course the pure lovely aesthetic qualities that Walnut has as well.
I wish to all who are at the big meet that it all goes well, PLEASE guys ( and gals of course ) PHOTO'S

 

[joepa150]

Wow, that blackwood is gorgeous. I take back what I thought, it's not so similar to the ebony after all.
~Patrick

I have a Clip point Charlow that I bought from Waynorth about 1 month ago. I assumed it was Ebony wood. To my eyes it looks similar to the African blackwood pictured above.
Can you explain what the difference is in appearance?

From reading other forums about African blackwood vs Ebony wood, it looks like they are very hard to tell apart by visually looking at them. Both will vary in shade. Some people can tell the difference when working with each would because they smell a bit different and Ebony seems to be more "ashy" when drilling it.

 

[arizonaranchman]

A person just can't go wrong with any cover choice. I am locked into the Walnut---I love the story/history behind it.

Paul

What's the history behind it? Now I'm curious!

 

[MerryMadMonk]

What's the history behind it? Now I'm curious!

Here ya go:

There will be some Ebony, two sawcut bone colors, and possibly some black walnut.
My father had a couple of walnut gunstock blanks in his closet from the 1950s. My brother gave me one of them, and I of course immediately thought "knife Handles"!
We are just looking at it to see how it finishes up.

 

[puukkoman]

Hey Duncan, good to see ya.
I'm really partial to the walnut as well, especially considering the source of the wood!

 

[Jack Black]

Hey Duncan, good to see ya.
I'm really partial to the walnut as well, especially considering the source of the wood!

I love the look of the white bone, but that walnut is pretty special.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Here ya go:

Thanks Merry, that IS really neat! Cool thing so know and adds a lot to the knife.

 

[WA Martin]

Oh, boy! Here we go again!

Honey? Have you seen my credit card???

 

[pertinux]

I just saw a picture of a closed Sheepsfoot and I think I'll have to pass on this run of TC's and keep looking for some spear blades. While open, the knife looks cool, but as short of a knife as this is, it looks very wide when closed and on its side...

I hear what you're saying. I could see how it might be an issue with the 2 blade version when using the smaller pen blade, but because of it's shorter length, I don't think it will make much of a difference.

I too was concerned about the main blade's profile when closed, expecting I'd want a single blade instead of the two-blade edition.

However, I am very pleasantly surprised by how streamlined the sheepsfoot is, how well it fits into the handle-- higher of course than a spear point, but not by as much as I'd assumed. I like it well enough that I opted for the two-blader instead of a single, gaining the benefit of the bellied pen in combination with the sheepsfoot's straight edge.

Here is a two-blade sheepsfoot between two #15s with spear mains, one with the pen in front and one with the pen behind:

Any pictures to be had yet of the soupy Charlows?

Here's one I picked up for a friend. I'm now noticing that the single blade's sheepsfoot appears to ride higher than that of the two-bladed version; I'm not sure if this is universal or simply a variation between these two knives. More investigations tomorrow!

A couple more can be glimpsed in Charlie's mix:

~ P.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Wow-great Sarah, thank you for going to the trouble for us here, I personally do not mind the higher profile of the blade whatsoever-it doesn't matter to me, but that's what knife carrying is all about-personalisation.
Beautiful knives.
How is it there at the big meet?

Lol...just clicked=well done Charlie with the plasters on the table!!! just beautiful - that gave me a much needed real good chuckle.

 

[MerryMadMonk]

Thanks for the comparison pics, Sarah. That walnut gets better looking every time I see it... beee-u-tee-ful

 

[paulhilborn]

Wow Sarah!!! Thanks for the pictures!!!

Again---Lucky Duck you!!!

Paul

 

[SHEBOP]

Great pictures, Sweetie!!!

 

[pipedreams308]

It's here! Fit and finish are perfect. A truly fine knife.

 

[burnside]

I too was concerned about the main blade's profile when closed, expecting I'd want a single blade instead of the two-blade edition.

However, I am very pleasantly surprised by how streamlined the sheepsfoot is, how well it fits into the handle-- higher of course than a spear point, but not by as much as I'd assumed. I like it well enough that I opted for the two-blader instead of a single, gaining the benefit of the bellied pen in combination with the sheepsfoot's straight edge.

Here is a two-blade sheepsfoot between two #15s with spear mains, one with the pen in front and one with the pen behind:

Here's one I picked up for a friend. I'm now noticing that the single blade's sheepsfoot appears to ride higher than that of the two-bladed version; I'm not sure if this is universal or simply a variation between these two knives. More investigations tomorrow!

~ P.

Great shots P! Can you please take a photo of it with the Pen blade fully open and the Sheepsfoot blade closed?

It's here! Fit and finish are perfect. A truly fine knife.

I knew you were gonna like it! That Charlow has the most reassuring opening snap out of all the Charlows I've owned. Definitely a keeper! :thumbup:

 

[Pokerface]

Thanks Sarah, I'm convinced on the Sheepsfoot once more!

 

[meako]

Have I missed out? I would be sad if walnut of this degree came up and I missed the boat. I ve emailed and messaged Charlie but I don't want to be a pest either (probably too late for that). Are you there mate?
Ive got tax refund dollars eating through the material of my pockets and its got charlow written all over it amongst other things.)

 

[scruffuk]

^^ Don't stress meako, he's away at the GEC get together these past/next few days. If they don't snap all his beauties up there, you should be okay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[mike Berkovitch]

It must be a absolute beautiful feeling seeing your Dads wood on those superb knives, there is NO WAY I am missing out on one of those, they are simply superb looking knife - and from what I can see everyone agrees!

Got in after long time out... This is fantastic knife in every aspect. NO WAY am missing out on one of those... Oh someone has said it already... nevertheless
Great job Charlie
Mike

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Not a Barlow, but the new sheepfoot remind me of older Schrade jack

Mike