What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[JTB_5]

A stag and sawcut Cripple Creek barlows...

I love the spear shape on these knives. I wish GEC would emulate this once in awhile.

 

[JohnDF]

Totin' the Old Queen this evening...

 

[bigfish64]

Totin' the Old Queen this evening...

Great looking barlow John.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I agree bigfish64, John- that Bone has beautiful detail my friend - that's a Great looking Knife!

 

[cudgee]

Totin' the Old Queen this evening...

A beautiful looking knife, that bone just reeks of class. You don't see much better bone than that.

 

[JohnDF]

Great looking barlow John.

I agree bigfish64, John- that Bone has beautiful detail my friend - that's a Great looking Knife!

A beautiful looking knife, that bone just reeks of class. You don't see much better bone than that.

Thanks to all you fine gentlemen for the kind words.
The Queen Barlow was a great gift from Taylor. I don't carry it often but I do love it.

 

[Ironbut]

What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?​

A low price. Traditionally Barlows were inexpensive knives.

I love a pretty Barlow with fancy bolsters and premium handle materials like those shown in this thread as much as the next guy. Love em!

But when you ask about a traditional Barlow . . . to me, it's all about an inexpensive utilitarian knife.

You're right of course. My Dad always had a Barlow in his pocket. He'd give me & my brothers his old, dull, nicked up Barlows. This was back in the 1950's, and he used to get them at the feed store or the hardware in town for about $2-3. Any more expensive than that and he'd never have been able to afford one.

 

[Lander boy Matt]

 

[bigfish64]

View attachment 1741568

Great post shot Matt, and some super looking patina.

 

[Lander boy Matt]

Thank you!

Great post shot Matt, and some super looking patina.

 

[Johnnythefox]

All my Russells have three pins, but that doesn't mean that a four pin is not authentic!!View attachment 1730508View attachment 1730509View attachment 1730507

Outstanding collection with character.

 

[paulhilborn]

Totin' the Old Queen this evening...

Those old Queen Barlows are great John and you got a nice one

View attachment 1741568

Aging nicely Matt

 

[Lander boy Matt]

Those old Queen Barlows are great John and you got a nice one

Aging nicely Matt

Thank you Paul, this is by far my most cherished pocket companion and a real joy to carry. Very much looking forward to trying out a 77

 

[JohnDF]

Those old Queen Barlows are great John and you got a nice one

Thank you, Paul.

 

[Modoc ED]

I posted this some time ago but thought I'd bring it back for grins and giggles or whatever.

"
The following Barlows are Queen Steel #22 Barlows with one piece aluminum bolsters and frame.

The first one was Air Evaced from the previous owner to our airport and then delivered by ambulance to me by a U.S. Postal Medic. It was in rough shape when it got here and took quite a bit of cleaning to make it presentable. I did not polish out the scratches on the blades as I didn't want to disrupt the Queen Steel #22 etch on the clip blade. Whoever the previous owner was, he or she was ham fisted when it came to sharpening. It was manufactured between 1961 - 1971.



The second one arrived in excellent condition - almost pristeen. It was sharp when it arrived and it was manufactured between 1984 - 1989.



A couple of subtle differences made between the years of manufacture. The nail nick of the first knife is placed along the top of the blades spine. The nail nick of the second knife is placed way forward at the downswept clip of the blade. The etch of the older knife only has the etch "Queen Steel #22" on the clip blade while the etch of the second knife has the etch "Queen Steel # 22" with the etch "440 Stainless" below it. The first knife has half stops while the second knife does not. There are some other very subtle differences between the two such as tang stamps and tang stamp placements and can be seen if making comparisons of the two knives. Both knives have Winterbottom Saw Cut covers.

 

[Travman]

 

[waynorth]

Totin' the Old Queen this evening...

Nothing like an old Queen from that era!! The beauty still shows through!!

 

[JohnDF]

Nothing like an old Queen from that era!! The beauty still shows through!!

Thank you, Charlie.
I can tell you that the 'walk n talk' on the main blade is like a symphony of music.

 

[waynorth]

Those Ebony Ancients turned out to be great looking with that second-grade ebony!! The Ebony was good wood, but did not make it to musical instrument grade, because it wasn't Black enough!! Make's a lovely handle for an economical old Barlow though!!
(I use the term economical, only in the historical sense!!)

 

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