What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[jon_slider]

A good traditional barlow has a single spear blade with a crescent nick, and bone scales.

 

[jon_slider]

Researching Charlow tang stamps I came across some variations. This knife has the Titusville Iron Works stamp, TIW, on the pile side (fwiw, I believe only 21 Single blade Ebony Spears were made in the first spear run)

This two blade Ebony Spear lacks the TIW (fwiw, I believe only 9 two blade Ebony Spears were made in the first spear run)

GEC had a few pieces of Ebony left from the one blades, so they put together some of these, but only a few. . . .

(apparently not all the first run with 12 on the tang, got a PPP etch) Edit, this knife also has the PPP etch, very hard to see

Another example of a two blade ebony spear tang stamp with no TIW, and yes PPP

Here is my Gabon single Spear with TIW stamp (I believe only 9 single spear Gabon were made), and my Redbone two blade Spear from the same run with no TIW

I have no information to illuminate how it happens that some of the Charlows are stamped TIW, and some are not. I can see though, that the distinction exists on both runs of Spears, the December 2012 first run and the April 2013 second run.

Anyone care to venture a guess what event causes the TIW to be absent? My only conjecture is that when GEC gets to the end of a run, and they have some unused parts, scales and or blades, they then stamp a few blade blanks to complete a run.

For example, the first run Ebony two blades, of which there were only 9, has in at least 2 examples, no TIW stamp. On the second spear run, about 50 two blade redbones were made. As it happens, mine has mismatched scales. One side uses the February sawcut and the other side uses the April sawcut. So my guess is my redbone was one of the last batches. I have no information as to how many separate batches GEC builds in a given run.

This area of research is of interest to me not only because of my fascination with Ebony Spears, and the distinction between the use of Macassar in the first run and Gabon in the second run, but also because I recently located a Macassar single spear with a 13 on the tang stamp. Normally a 13 would indicate a second run, but not in this particular case. I will share more info when the knife is in my hot little hand and I can try to determine if there is a PPP stamp on it or not, and whether it has the TIW or not. Point being, there appears to be at least one 2013 blade stamp on the first run of Macassar Spears... curiouser and curioser

disclaimer, the 13 on the tang is not yet confirmed, just what I was told.. pending in hand verification
update 4/27/14... I received the ebony spear and it is not a single spear Macassar PPP, I was confused, it is a pen behind spear Gabon stamped 152213.. and all is well

 

[philllll]

Jon, I can see a very faint hint of the PPP etch on that sawcut bone '12.

 

[jon_slider]

Jon, I can see a very faint hint of the PPP etch on that sawcut bone '12.

excellent! Thanks. That answers my first question
1. Were ALL batches of 1st run spears 152X12 tang stamp, marked PPP on the pile side of the blade? So far, Yes.

the next question,
2. Does anyone have a 1st run spear with 152X13 (X can be 1 or 2, it is the number of blades) on the tang stamp, and was it also marked PPP? Im referring to Macassar spears purchased prior to March 2013. Before Charlie's Gabon Ebony second run Spears went into production, which are also stamped 152X13.

fwiw, the tang stamp codes are 15 is the pattern number, 2 is spear point, X is the number of blades, 13 is the year the blade was stamped (produced?)

 

[waynorth]

excellent! Thanks. That answers my first question
1. Were ALL batches of 1st run spears 152X12 tang stamp, marked PPP on the pile side of the blade? So far, Yes.

the next question,
2. Does anyone have a 1st run spear with 152X13 (X can be 1 or 2, it is the number of blades) on the tang stamp, and was it also marked PPP? Im referring to Macassar spears purchased prior to March 2013. Before Charlie's Gabon Ebony second run Spears went into production, which are also stamped 152X13.
There should be no 1st run Spears with 2013 on them, and PPP.

fwiw, the tang stamp codes are 15 is the pattern number, 2 is spear point, X is the number of blades, 13 is the year the blade was stamped (produced?)

Here's another marking for you, Jon! I completely forgot about this one. I just found it while looking for TIWs and PPPs for you! The first one finished, Bill sent it to confirm details. On subsequent batches of Bone, the sawcut is slightly deeper. I think the first "copperheads" were the only ones (like this one) with the more shallow sawcut.

A real, no BS prototype!!

 

[sitflyer]

.....

 

[jon_slider]

There should be no 1st run Spears with 2013 on them, and PPP.

Thanks! Im awaiting arrival, will confirm if its marked 13 etc.. working from incomplete data

Note in the above photo that the 2 blade lacks the GEC TIW stamp

I just got my first run macassar ebony spear out to post for Jon. 152212 , PPP etch

pics always welcome.. is GEC TIW omitted from your 2 blade Macassar Spear also?

Related but distinct from the first run, my Second Run Redbone pen behind Spear lacks the GEC TIW stamp. Anyone else with second run Redbone Spears and Ebony Spears care to contribute whether GEC TIW is present on the tang?

 

[sitflyer]

.....

 

[csisland]

Love that single spear long pull and swedge. Need another run of those.

 

[jon_slider]

GEC TIW is not present on mine.

Thanks for playing the daily trivia game.. that scores 3 for 3, yours, Sarah's and Charlie's two blade '12 Ebony Spears are non TIW, only 6 more to account for

 

[knowtracks]

I have 2, #152212 Ebony, and 1, #152212 Antique yellow saw cut bone. None of them have the TIW stamp, they all have the 3 P's!
All of the single blades from the 1st run that I have, have the TIW stamp & the 3 P's.

Dave

 

[jon_slider]

Love that single spear long pull and swedge.

Me too! What scales are most appealing to you?

I have 2, #152212 Ebony, and 1, #152212 Antique yellow saw cut bone. None of them have the TIW stamp, they all have the 3 P's!
All of the single blades from the 1st run that I have, have the TIW stamp & the 3 P's.

Thanks!, so even non Ebony 2 blades lack the TIW... hmmm I wonder if that is also true for the second run? Let me go check the photo archives... yup! Heres a 2 blade Redbone Clip, no TIW either...

and several single blades from Charlie's bucket that follow the pattern of putting TIW on Single blades in the first And second runs... hmmm... consistently the, single blades have TIW, two blades do not, all scales, not just ebony small batches... thanks again!

one last, for me, fascinating insight, on the two Bladed Charlows, the TIW stamp is on the Pen blade instead.. . This is also true on the Sheepfoot Long Pull two blade that I have.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program... a good traditional Barlow has a Tang Stamp that identifies at minimum the Brand, sometimes the brand is also the name of the maker, sometimes the frame model, year of production, blade type, number of blades, scale material, and whether the steel is stainless, is stamped on the tang, and also the country where the knife was made.

Here are a couple random barlow tang stamps for our viewing pleasure

 

[Campbellclanman]

Wow Jon, you are busy my friend.
I must have a dig into my lot and see what I can come up with, I cant remember for the life of me when I bought them - so I will have to study up on YOUR hard work and find out just what my knives tell through their stamps!

I had another 3 Barlows come in Yesterday from Charlies latest lot of knives - I need to get out and take some photos!!

 

[pertinux]

apparently not all the first run with 12 on the tang, got a PPP etch

I'd be careful with that conclusion. The images Waynorth posted above are direct from GEC (clue: they are not scanned, with a chamois background), and were likely photographed and presented to his eager eyes before the final etching was applied.

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

That's right! Those two pics on brown were from GEC!

 

[jon_slider]

careful with that conclusion.

Thanks I agree. And thanks to philllll also

post 4183

Jon, I can see a very faint hint of the PPP etch on that sawcut bone '12.

I tried to enhance the photo, I agree the PPP IS on the knife that GEC photographed. Barely visible due to lighting angle maybe...

 

[Mescladis]

So many nice pictures of wonderful knives... Congrats everyone!
I'd really love to get a TC Barlow one day...

 

[Over/under]

Jon -
As a data point for your research, I have a single spear Macassar ebony barlow complete with PPP etch and TIW 12 tang stamp.

 

[sitflyer]

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[paulhilborn]

Good honest use makes for a traditional Barlow...

so in that vein, this one has been freed from its tube...

and is riding in my pocket, soon to hit the sharpening stone...

...then get some honest carry and use

What a GEM you have there Duane, WOW!!!

Happy Easter my friend!!!

Paul