What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Rookie82 said:
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Sweet looking Barlow. 🤠 :thumbsup:
But I wish they had picked a different bolster stamp, seems like a Russell rip-off... unless there's a story behind it.
 
…and if you wanna see other Jordan Fowler Beerlows, visit his YouTube posts…search Fowler Beerlows…they are short and have some good country music. Here is my Fowler Beerlow again, it is perhaps my most photogenic knife. If you go to Jordan’s YouTube post on this knife, you’ll see (well hear) why I call this one “Big Iron.”C163B0B6-C519-4B59-A43F-031F3A2D72BF.jpeg
 
6Strings said:
Looking good, what is the fit and finish like?
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It's right here in my hand as I'm writing this, so I'll try to cover everything. Blade is centered nicely. Handles/liners/spring are very tight, no gaps or odd areas. Seem between handles and bolster is tight and flawless. Blade has nice strong pull, probably a 7. Very strong snap at 1/2 stop, and at full open, and very strong snap closed. No blade movement at all when open, very stiff and tight. At full open the back of the tang meets the spring tight, but not 100% flush, maybe 1/32 inch difference in height. Bolster arrow stamp is clear and clean, not too deep. Nail nick is nice and deep and easy to access. Blade grind is consistent from tang to tip. Not super hair-splitting sharpness on the blade, but it would cut you if not careful. When closed the tip of the spear is still below surface by 1/16 inch so no worries about a proud tip.

Overall I can't complain about any of it. I don't have other barlows from other makers to compare it to, but to me it is a great made Tuna Valley, and well above the level of a "factory made knife" and closer to custom knife level. The handles on the burl wood version are thinner than their chunky gnarly stag, so for those that want a thinner knife to ride in the pocket, the wood is a good option. Total width at it's widest point is just under 1/2 inch. I think that covers it all. I'm really happy with this one.
 
Markeologist said:
…and if you wanna see other Jordan Fowler Beerlows, visit his YouTube posts…search Fowler Beerlows…they are short and have some good country music. Here is my Fowler Beerlow again, it is perhaps my most photogenic knife. If you go to Jordan’s YouTube post on this knife, you’ll see (well hear) why I call this one “Big Iron.”View attachment 1652237
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Classic! Love the saw cut covers!
 
Rookie82 said:
It's right here in my hand as I'm writing this, so I'll try to cover everything. Blade is centered nicely. Handles/liners/spring are very tight, no gaps or odd areas. Seem between handles and bolster is tight and flawless. Blade has nice strong pull, probably a 7. Very strong snap at 1/2 stop, and at full open, and very strong snap closed. No blade movement at all when open, very stiff and tight. At full open the back of the tang meets the spring tight, but not 100% flush, maybe 1/32 inch difference in height. Bolster arrow stamp is clear and clean, not too deep. Nail nick is nice and deep and easy to access. Blade grind is consistent from tang to tip. Not super hair-splitting sharpness on the blade, but it would cut you if not careful. When closed the tip of the spear is still below surface by 1/16 inch so no worries about a proud tip.

Overall I can't complain about any of it. I don't have other barlows from other makers to compare it to, but to me it is a great made Tuna Valley, and well above the level of a "factory made knife" and closer to custom knife level. The handles on the burl wood version are thinner than their chunky gnarly stag, so for those that want a thinner knife to ride in the pocket, the wood is a good option. Total width at it's widest point is just under 1/2 inch. I think that covers it all. I'm really happy with this one.
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Sounds fantastic, thank you for the thorough walk through! sounds like I need to add one to the collection
 
JohnDF said:
Check out the bone handles on this beauty... a wonderful gift from tmd_87 tmd_87
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Sventhelumberjack said:
What a wonderful, generous gift! That is a "Drake Well" Barlow, I can just see the remnants of the blade etch in your photo.
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Interesting. I thought the Drake Well Barlows were all made in stainless. That looks like a carbon blade, but I could just be reading the photo wrong, or I just hadn't seen a carbon version yet. Either way, a great gift!
 
Travman said:
A Boys knife/Barlow comparison.
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When does a single-blade Barlow become a boy's knife? Is it just the small (actually regular size) bolster? Many of the patterns Boker calls Barlow are actually Boy's knives, it seems. Beautiful knives both!!!!
 
Dave Dallam said:
When does a single-blade Barlow become a boy's knife? Is it just the small (actually regular size) bolster? Many of the patterns Boker calls Barlow are actually Boy's knives, it seems. Beautiful knives both!!!!
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I agree Dave, Boker is very liberal with the term barlow. I have a couple of their Prime Barlows (carrying one today in fact), great knives, but they won’t be pictured here because they aren’t really a barlow. 😊
 
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