What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Lone Airedale]

Will we see the one hand opener in this run?

 

[jon_slider]

Just realized these don't have long pulls. How come? Just a stylish and functional feature

I wanted them different than the first run, so collectors holdings aren't "diluted".
All runs will be exclusive in some way.

Will we see the one hand opener in this run?

No, but in order to know that you would have to read this entire 188 page thread, so cant blame you for asking.

you may enjoy reading a digest I put together
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1156593-Charlow-Barlow-History

 

[Pokerface]

I just love it when cover stories are updated!

 

[Beekman]

Oh man, that walnut looks amazing. Why must there always be something else I just have to have? I just got in one of the Days Work Charlows with a spey blade and it is fantastic, just a classic knife. Something tells me I'll be pulling the trigger on this next run as well if I get a chance (so much for deciding to give my wallet a rest).

 

[waynorth]

I was real excited when I found that Schrade Cut Co Sheepfoot Barlow! Kinda Uber-patina-ed, but pretty Rare!!
Then along came this D-E! Off the same production run, IMO. (see previous page in this thread also).
Remarkably alike, wouldn't you say? They even walk and talk alike!! Twins for sure!!

 

[sitflyer]

.....

 

[jon_slider]

Do you have an idea of the age of these?

https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37996

Do you know when Schrade began tang stamping with the pattern numbers? I suspect it was during the Schrade Walden years, but not sure.

Bingo!

Great mystery (no, my name is not Charlie ), but my guess is circa 1926
the Shapleigh has a pattern number but the Schrade does not... hmmmm
That would make the Schrade pre 1946

Schrade catalogs
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/Catalogs/index.htm
I looked at all of them

here is the closest match I could find, from the 1926 Schrade catalog, with a ringed bolster and "stagged" bone
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/Catalogs/images/1926_Schrade_Catalogs.pdf

and closest match with a Sheepfoot and ringed bolster, also 1926 catalog, but the bone is saw cut

And the closest pattern number to the Shapleigh stamped A113

Here is what the numbers 113 would mean if they were Schrade, first 1 means single blade, second 1 is a pattern number, last number 3 means bone stag (jigged bone)

As you may note, the number 15 is Schrade's pattern number for a Barlow, something Charlie mentions below (15 is also the pattern number for a 3 3/8" Barehead Jack with short non-barlow bolster whereas the 13 pattern is a 3 1/2" barehead jack),

Thanks for the appreciative comments, everyone. This pattern development process is the best part of knife production in my opinion. Reproducing the oldies is a win-win situation!
These scans of a 1920s catalogue pages, show part of the inspiration for the pattern number "15".
Schrade's pattern number is the middle two digits.

Another part of the inspiration is, an engineer in GEC's establishment has a connection with Barstow, CA. And the Barlow, through rhyme and other word similarity, reminds him of that city on route #15!

Since I wanted to know what a pattern 13 was, I searched a bit and found it references a Jack Knife with no shield

I was just trying to see if the Shapleigh A113 number matched a known Schrade number, but could not find an exact match of a catalog photo to the Shapleigh knife Charlie posted above, the Sheepfoot 1 blade barlow with a ringed bolster and bone stag handles, that should be pattern 1153 1/2 and is not in the catalog. I also found none of the Schrade numbers start with A...

Then again, the owner or Shapleigh was named Augustus, and his company name included his initials A.F. Shapleigh & Co. So I suppose a case could be made for the A in A113, means made for Augustus.. the last 3 would be correct for bone stag. So, possibly A1 means Shapleigh single blade, the second 1 remains from the pattern number 15, but the 5 was dropped, and the last number, 3, would be a match for jigged bone.. Thats my best shot, so far

 

[MrVandercar]

Man oh man Charlie, didn't know you were having them throw that Gabon on there! Passed up a few other blades in recent months saving my nickels and pennies for one of these. Just gotta keep it under my hat from the new fiancé It's a true service to the community you're offering up having these made. Much appreciated.

 

[MrVandercar]

Oh yeah, Jon and Charlie, keep dropping those knowledge bombs. Great reading.

 

[Gevonovich]

Now those are some rare barlows indeed, Charlie. And...just spectacular!!

Jon, when does the guide come out? Keep up the fantastic work!!! I am consuming it with delight!

 

[scruffuk]

Great find(s) Charlie.

How is it the steel on these seems so grey and 'flat'? Is it the method that has been used to clean them?

Today I am toting my Ebony spearpoint that Duane kindly gifted me, so I thought I should (repost &) share a photo here:

 

[arizonaranchman]

Jonathan,

Excellent and very interesting ref the old catalog pages. The heritage of our TC Barlows is easily seen in these and the sketches in the catalog are very detailed. The shape and position of the nail-nick, etc

 

[jkulysses]

I really do love the Walnut on the Charlows and the story behind the wood makes them even better. I really wish I could have gotten my hands on one of the single sheeps foot bladed walnut TC Barlows when that run came out.

 

[JerryIsAlive]

I really do love the Walnut on the Charlows and the story behind the wood makes them even better. I really wish I could have gotten my hands on one of the single sheeps foot bladed walnut TC Barlows when that run came out.

What's the story with the walnut?

 

[puukkoman]

Wow, I too am very pleased to see another run in walnut! Very cool!

 

[jkulysses]

What's the story with the walnut?

I can't find where I had read about it so I'm going strictly off of memory which is a scary thing but I believe the batch of walnut was Charlies dads that was meant to be used for gunstocks but it never happened so Charlie sent it off to GEC to be put onto his TC Barlows. Hopefully my memory is not just completely telling it wrong but that is how I remember it.

 

[RobbW]

I love the look of these single-bladed spearpoint #15s. They are just about my ideal carry knife. Will these ever be offered with a long pull, or should I jump in now?

 

[jkulysses]

They were already offered with a long pull once so you would have to look for one on the exchange to find one.

 

[waynorth]

Your memory is good JK. That is exactly what happened.
This rifle blank sat in the back of Dad's closet for many years. I think he would have enjoyed seeing all his family carrying around a memento of him and his favorite sport of long range hunting.
For you rifle afficionados, his last custom rifle was a .22 Cheetah on a Mauser action. Imagine a small caliber bullet at 4000 FPS!
He also carried FB knives, Morseths and a few customs, and always a Buck folder.

 

[waynorth]

I love the look of these single-bladed spearpoint #15s. They are just about my ideal carry knife. Will these ever be offered with a long pull, or should I jump in now?

The next long pull will be on the one-hand-opening "Razor" bladed Barlow, RobbW.
There might be more long pulls if GEC ever comes out with a Northfield Barlow, but that is likely a long way into the future!