What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Mark,

Wow! Thats a beauty and looks like an OLD one for sure. Interested to hear Charlie's comments on it - he's the Go-To expert here - but just guessing very early 1900's?

BTW: what color are those scales? They appear black in the photos. The blades are in excellent shape. Very nice!
 
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These two are arguably my most cherished pocket knives... A single spear long-pull in Gabon Ebony and a single spey in African Blackwood. They're the only Barlows I own and with them I have achieved personal Barlow fulfillment... :)
 
arizonaranchman said:
Mark,

Wow! Thats a beauty and looks like an OLD one for sure. Interested to hear Charlie's comments on it - he's the Go-To expert here - but just guessing very early 1900's?

BTW: what color are those scales? They appear black in the photos. The blades are in excellent shape. Very nice!
Click to expand...

Thanks arizonaranchman! The scales are dark chocolate brown sawed bone.

I was hoping Charlie or Old Codger had some input as to the age of this knife. I need to pick up a Goins knife book or post it on Bernard Levine's forum.:o
 
arizonaranchman said:
35A6689D-F47B-4EF8-9794-8065D9B6CAC8_zps9rmynwmq.jpg

These two are arguably my most cherished pocket knives... A single spear long-pull in Gabon Ebony and a single spey in African Blackwood. They're the only Barlows I own and with them I have achieved personal Barlow fulfillment... :)
Click to expand...

Those are sweet! I have two with bone scales and would like to get one in the soup bone version.

Hmmm....wonder if Charlie would trade me a soup bone TC for my Russell..:cool:
 
Looks like the TC Barlow Razor knives have started. I see I clip blade in the box and wonder if they'll be any single clip blade models.
 
Markesharp said:
Thanks arizonaranchman! The scales are dark chocolate brown sawed bone.

I was hoping Charlie or Old Codger had some input as to the age of this knife. I need to pick up a Goins knife book or post it on Bernard Levine's forum.:o
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I've lost touch with my Russell expert/friend. I'll see if I can find him. Meanwhile, one thing that can tell you the relative age, is how clear the Bolster stamp is! Yours is good, which indicates an early knife.
As the stamping dies wore out, the bolster stamp, especially the fletching on the arrow, lost definition! Or so I have been told.

That is a beauty you have there, Mark!! Also, I have never seen that dark a dye in the bone.
 
Here's a sweet knife. Paypal woes aside (looks like we are getting a satisfactory resolution!), an old contact came up with this Fish Daddy!
I think he felt sorry for me!
I usually steer clear of Daddies, as they are just another collecting stream that eats up my wallet, but who could resist this one, I ask you??
Mostly full, and crisply snappy, this guy has it all.

RussellDaddyFish1_zps7873b367.jpg

RussellDaddyFish4_zps6a2a54e4.jpg

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Meant for fishing, it has a long scaler-spine, which affects the blade shape, shortening the clip into an interesting shape. No nail pull needed here.
Very sculptural piece, IMO. Knifemakers art, this one!
 
Wow that one is absolutely fascinating! NEVER seen one like that before. You never cease to amaze me with the knives in your collection. You sir are my Hero! You've got some of the most amazing Barlows I've ever seen (in fact probably ALL the amazing ones I've seen have probably been yours, lol)... :)
 
waynorth said:
Here's a sweet knife. Paypal woes aside (looks like we are getting a satisfactory resolution!), an old contact came up with this Fish Daddy!
I think he felt sorry for me!
I usually steer clear of Daddies, as they are just another collecting stream that eats up my wallet, but who could resist this one, I ask you??
Mostly full, and crisply snappy, this guy has it all.

RussellDaddyFish1_zps7873b367.jpg

RussellDaddyFish4_zps6a2a54e4.jpg

RussellDaddyFish3_zpsa2115ce0.jpg

RussellDaddyFish2_zps46da8719.jpg


Meant for fishing, it has a long scaler-spine, which affects the blade shape, shortening the clip into an interesting shape. No nail pull needed here.
Very sculptural piece, IMO. Knifemakers art, this one!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments on my Russell Barlow Charlie. I had that exact fishing knife you have. I found it in my mother-in-laws junk drawer 20 yrs ago and she gave it to me. It had a broken back spring and the bolster had rust pits on the pile side. I gave it to a budding knife maker 11 years ago.

Yours is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
 
waynorth said:
I think he felt sorry for me!

Meant for fishing, it has a long scaler-spine, which affects the blade shape, shortening the clip into an interesting shape. No nail pull needed here.
Very sculptural piece, IMO. Knifemakers art, this one!
Click to expand...

I think everybody has been feeling sorry for you Waynorth - all those knife orders and then, the unthinkable! :(:eek::thumbdn:

I know I did.

Good to hear of a satisfactory resolution and I love the Russell Barlows - this one is fabulous! Thanks for taking the time to post it. :thumbup::)

Best regards,
"Primble"
 
Question:

Ref the bolster steel on the TC Barlows... Is this the same or similar bolster steel used in the classic Barlows "back in the day" (by Russell, etc)? Was there a variety of steels used for bolsters or sort of a "usual" steel commonly used for this purpose? Also: is the liner material the same steel as the bolster?

Now this is assuming it's not 1095 steel, which IIRC it's not the same 1095 that's used for blades?
 
Thanks Arizona, Mark and Primble!
Nice Robeson, AccuJohn!

About the bolsters: The TC bolsters are of a more malleable steel than 1095.
I have heard it called iron, but it has enough carbon to actually be called steel.
Anything harder would be an expensive nightmare to forge.
Most cutleries do not even have the technology to do the forging step in-house like GEC does.

Nickel alloy is easier to forge, but the material costs more. The TC bolsters are very rigid, and make a strong knife!! And, they gather a subtle patina over a long period of time!
I have noticed since I "vinegared" mine, it never rusts, even in a sweaty pocket.
 
Thanks for the info Charlie. I've noted the bolsters and blade don't patina the same which leads me to think it's not the same material.
 
My first TC barlow showed up today, could not be happier!
I think mine spent a little more time in the dye pot than most, I like the deep brown/red of it though

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81ekZo6.jpg
 
belljs3 said:
My first TC barlow showed up today, could not be happier!
I think mine spent a little more time in the dye pot than most, I like the deep brown/red of it though

y2smxpU.jpg


81ekZo6.jpg
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Congrats on your new barlow. I am loving the #15. Already put it to use and then polished the bolsters, blade and ebony to a high luster.
 
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