What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Haha...rookie move Charlie. Next time try applying the patina with some vinegar soaked cotton balls.

I've done worse. Once I had a stag handled stockman with pretty ugly covers. In order to improve the color, I soaked the whole thing thing into a glass of hot lemon tea. The tea gave the blades a dark patina and made the stag a nice honey color. Unfortunately it also caused the stag to peel away from the liners a little near the bolsters giving the knife a few new gaps. :eek: That was a valuable lesson and I treat my natural materials more carefully now.

- Christian
 
waynorth said:
Well your words certainly don't come out rusty, Duncan!;)

So maybe we should re-label this thread Barlow Abuse!!??
But I guess making a Barlow better sort of falls within the initial purview!!:cool:

First check out the results:
Left, new out of the Tube. Middle, the Acid Trip. Right, the Real Thing!

The "new" bolster looks dark because that's how the scanner reads "real shiny".
I strongly recommend NOT doing what I did! I soaked the entire knife in vinegar (acid!).
I flushed it well in hot water, and saturated it with mineral oil when I was done, but I raised some grain on the bone, and Lord knows what I've done to the hidden surfaces of the steel, joints etc.
I have proven that the bolsters will patina, however!
The blade is irregularly coated. I just remembered I had to fine sand the blades first to get a real even patina. How easily old Geezers forget.:grumpy:
Click to expand...

Very cool charlie. I usually let or force a patina on my users, but something about the contrast of clean steel and Ebony on my two blade and single boys knife, is really beautiful. That patina looks great on the copperhead though :thumbup:
 
waynorth said:
I'm not even allowed to joke about selling knives on here, Bemo!
But anyway, I am going to continue to use this knife (in a much kinder fashion!) to see how these new #15s perform.
Click to expand...

My bad, just wanting to take responsibility for encouraging your treatment of the knife.

I have a SBJ bought used with a patina like that. It won't come off for nothing!
 
I think the knife looks good after the work you have done to it Charlie, what I would do to the knife is polish those scales a wee bit and presto!...
Today I am going to Cider my Bladeforums E/O :eek:. its going to be a scary day, as its a test day- with my knife and Im also going to test fill my new fish tank I have built... I am so nervous about that-I have gone overboard and built it with 10mm glass lol..... I do NOT want to see any leaks :(

Christian..... I bet that was a lesson!...although it sounds as though it worked on the Bone, and the metal with the colouring!
 
kamagong said:
Haha...rookie move Charlie. Next time try applying the patina with some vinegar soaked cotton balls.

- Christian
Click to expand...

Oh well, we are all rookies on this planet! That's why it is a challenge to do things right.
Sorry about your stag!

I hope the fish are happy in their new home, Duncan! Reminds me of Ringo's "Octopus's Garden".
 
Campbellclanman said:
Christian..... I bet that was a lesson!...although it sounds as though it worked on the Bone, and the metal with the colouring!
Click to expand...

You're right Duncan. I'm now more patient with my knives and just let them age gracefully.

waynorth said:
Oh well, we are all rookies on this planet! That's why it is a challenge to do things right.
Sorry about your stag!
Click to expand...

That's not the worst part. I sent the knife in to fix some blade play a few years ago and I still haven't received it back. I can't even get my emails answered anymore. Oh well, live and learn. I no longer buy that brand and won't recommend it to anyone.

- Christian

P.S. Sorry to take your thread off track.
 
- Christian

P.S. Sorry to take your thread off track. [end quote]

Perfectly alright. We are already out in left field!!:p
Click to expand...
 
So where are you guys finding the barlows for sale? I seem to only see the boys knife for sale. Are they all sold out? Btw I like the forced patina. It will even look better in time. I use lemon juice and haven't really had a problem with the bone grain on a #25 and it really works fast.
 
Last edited:
db, I too missed out my friend, I think it was a special factory order- If I was you I would put up in the KNIVES WANTED section, and Im sure it will be noticed, all knife sales cannot be discussed on threads - its a real no no.
 
Doesnt GEC usually bring these out as regular production after seeing how popular they are? Such as the 2012 BF knife?
 
Thanks for the tip. I know you can't try and sell in a thread, but asking if they are available or where to find them I thought was ok. I wonder if it is the heat along with the acid that is hurting the bone and stag in these other forced patina. I don't heat the lemon juice I've used and haven't had a problem.
 
waynorth said:
I'm a firm believer in cider vinegar. I scrub the knife real good and dry it completely. I heat the vinegar in this skinny little glass I have, in a microwave, 'til it starts to bubble slightly. (don't boil it!). Insert knife. Leave until it is black, moving it slightly to move fresh acid to the metal.
Rinse and rub it with a cloth or paper towel.
My Bullwinkle has kept its homemade patina/bluing for a year, and I never worry about it rusting!
We will find out soon if it makes a good traditional Barlow Better!!
Click to expand...

Does this process harm the bone?

I spend some time the other day with hot vinegar and a q tip. I did not submerge, but applied it over and over with the Q tip. My wife was not amused when she got home and smelled the stink!







I have been loving this thread. I am sorrowful there were not more long bosltered two bladed ebony covered knives made!
 
The vinegar raised the grain on mine, making it ugly and uncomfortable. I will post a pic of it polished out!
 
So I have to ask. Of those of you that got Barlows, did you get one to use and one to keep pristine or are you just going to use the heck out of all of them?
 
As for me, all will see some degree of of pocket time and use, none will stay pristine but none will get the heck used out of them.
I have been looking forward to this knife ever since Prince Charles:D first told us it was in the works. (Thanks, Charlie)
 
Perhaps an oversight, but my barlow didn't come with any Heck in it, and I don't have a spare.

I'm using it for whatever appropriate task comes to hand when I'm carrying it, and taking it from there.


(
th_Content.png
, still.)

~ P.
 
Thomason said:
As for me, all will see some degree of of pocket time and use, none will stay pristine but none will get the heck used out of them.
I have been looking forward to this knife ever since Prince Charles:D first told us it was in the works. (Thanks, Charlie)
Click to expand...

I have been using one (i can't seem to get it the heck out of my pocket), and I hope everyone got one to use. They are sweet machines. But I keep having these dreams about whitewashing my fence! Hmmm. . . . .

Thanks for the kind words Rob! But the name is Prints Charles (as in prints on my knife scans)!:)
 
I hear tell that some have been dunking 'em in hot vinegar, making 'em "ugly and uncomfortable," with further talk of "sanding 'em off."

:eek:

Normally, I'd say "No, no, you shouldn't have one, send yours back," but....

;)

~ P.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top