What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Rsmith_77 said:
I am not exactly entirely honest.
I DID win me one of those one hand opening Barlows. Probably something someone would be interested in. But it just wasn't for me. I am a little bummed because it got real rusty in my knife roll. Never used just cleaned periodically because..well Mississippi summers. It looks better than this now but I am not done cleaning it



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Lol different strokes for different folks as they say I personally love one arm blades. That one would be a grail to me, a bit of rust didn't hurt it imho.
 
Hi, I'm a hobby knifemaker spending most time in the bladesmiths q/a board. I thought some might find this of interest. I took apart an busted Colonial Barlow to use as a pattern. Mine is 8670 Carbon Steel, Stainless steel liners, nickel silver bolster, stainless steel pins (that is why the pin is showing), Canvas micarta. Non-relieved liners, so is showing scratches on the tang.

I did contour the whole handle. My next barlow, I'll try to make it more traditional with flat scales.
Any feedback welcome.
If anyone has any old broken ones they want to get rid of, let me know. I am learning a lot by taking them apart, and using them as patterns.

RVXbJgn.jpg

VIerW7e.jpg

xOtfgwP.jpg
 
ashwinearl said:
Hi, I'm a hobby knifemaker spending most time in the bladesmiths q/a board. I thought some might find this of interest. I took apart an busted Colonial Barlow to use as a pattern. Mine is 8670 Carbon Steel, Stainless steel liners, nickel silver bolster, stainless steel pins (that is why the pin is showing), Canvas micarta. Non-relieved liners, so is showing scratches on the tang.

I did contour the whole handle. My next barlow, I'll try to make it more traditional with flat scales.
Any feedback welcome.
If anyone has any old broken ones they want to get rid of, let me know. I am learning a lot by taking them apart, and using them as patterns.

RVXbJgn.jpg

VIerW7e.jpg

xOtfgwP.jpg
Click to expand...


Nice job !
 
ashwinearl said:
Hi, I'm a hobby knifemaker spending most time in the bladesmiths q/a board. I thought some might find this of interest. I took apart an busted Colonial Barlow to use as a pattern. Mine is 8670 Carbon Steel, Stainless steel liners, nickel silver bolster, stainless steel pins (that is why the pin is showing), Canvas micarta. Non-relieved liners, so is showing scratches on the tang.

I did contour the whole handle. My next barlow, I'll try to make it more traditional with flat scales.
Any feedback welcome.
If anyone has any old broken ones they want to get rid of, let me know. I am learning a lot by taking them apart, and using them as patterns.

RVXbJgn.jpg

VIerW7e.jpg

xOtfgwP.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice job! I like the contoured handles 👍
 
ashwinearl said:
Hi, I'm a hobby knifemaker spending most time in the bladesmiths q/a board. I thought some might find this of interest. I took apart an busted Colonial Barlow to use as a pattern. Mine is 8670 Carbon Steel, Stainless steel liners, nickel silver bolster, stainless steel pins (that is why the pin is showing), Canvas micarta. Non-relieved liners, so is showing scratches on the tang.

I did contour the whole handle. My next barlow, I'll try to make it more traditional with flat scales.
Any feedback welcome.
If anyone has any old broken ones they want to get rid of, let me know. I am learning a lot by taking them apart, and using them as patterns.

RVXbJgn.jpg

VIerW7e.jpg
Click to expand...

ashwinearl said:
xOtfgwP.jpg
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I think you did a great job on the covers and bolster. The basic blade shape is very good too, a very useable, pointy clip. The issue is the nail nick running into swedge. Both the swedge and nail nick need a little refinement as well but I think you are definitely heading in the right direction. Good luck to you.
 
majorpain1 said:
I think you did a great job on the covers and bolster. The basic blade shape is very good too, a very useable, pointy clip. The issue is the nail nick running into swedge. Both the swedge and nail nick need a little refinement as well but I think you are definitely heading in the right direction. Good luck to you.
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Nail nicks and basic grinding are the two things I am working on next. Either with a mill which is something I'll be buying sometime, or stone. But, yes definitely need to address better, repeatable approach.

thanks for the feedback
 
ashwinearl said:
Nail nicks and basic grinding are the two things I am working on next. Either with a mill which is something I'll be buying sometime, or stone. But, yes definitely need to address better, repeatable approach.

thanks for the feedback
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Purely stylistic note, traditionally Barlow types don’t have shields. But overall an awesome first effort and that knife looks beautiful. Nice work!
 
GaiusJulius said:
Purely stylistic note, traditionally Barlow types don’t have shields. But overall an awesome first effort and that knife looks beautiful. Nice work!
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Maybe not, but I think that shield sets the cover off. I'd leave it the way it is.
 
waynorth said:
Nice Barlow, Jason!! I sure enjoy the podcasts, BTW!!!
Say, is that a dark liner I see in that knife's handle??
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Thank you on all accounts Charlie. We would love to sit down and have a conversation with you if your ever up to it? ;)

That micarta was a vintage blend XX butterscotch paper. I milled the dark layer patina off the exposed side and left it on the underside so it would appear as a "accent liner". The exposed surface will get a rich creamy butterscotch color over time. It's really a phenomenal micarta blend if you like to see things patina with time and use.
 
ashwinearl said:
Hi, I'm a hobby knifemaker spending most time in the bladesmiths q/a board. I thought some might find this of interest. I took apart an busted Colonial Barlow to use as a pattern. Mine is 8670 Carbon Steel, Stainless steel liners, nickel silver bolster, stainless steel pins (that is why the pin is showing), Canvas micarta. Non-relieved liners, so is showing scratches on the tang.

I did contour the whole handle. My next barlow, I'll try to make it more traditional with flat scales.
Any feedback welcome.
If anyone has any old broken ones they want to get rid of, let me know. I am learning a lot by taking them apart, and using them as patterns.

RVXbJgn.jpg

VIerW7e.jpg

xOtfgwP.jpg
Click to expand...
Very nice work imho, the nail nick issue may be easier for the mean time by trying a long pull. Such as Signalprick Signalprick used on his, I'm sure he and other makers here would be happy to share tips.
 
Signalprick said:
Thank you on all accounts Charlie. We would love to sit down and have a conversation with you if your ever up to it? ;)

That micarta was a vintage blend XX butterscotch paper. I milled the dark layer patina off the exposed side and left it on the underside so it would appear as a "accent liner". The exposed surface will get a rich creamy butterscotch color over time. It's really a phenomenal micarta blend if you like to see things patina with time and use.
Click to expand...
Nice job!!!
 
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