What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Primble]

I believe I feel the ground shaking - I think the herd has crossed the mighty Mississippi! Oops - false alarm I guess.

I guess all that ground shaking was really thunder, the rain is back, the mail came and went with only a few bills delivered, and the wait continues. sniff sniff

Looks like the mail has bottle-necked in Lexington this week, about 40 miles away. Probably all of those shipped Charlows and Eric Jacks clogged the mail system all up.

sniff . . . . sniff

 

[esnyx]

Here is an old beaut I got in the mail last week:

Great snap on both blades, and smooth action. I plan to clean her up to a mirror shine, once I get around to it...

 

[Old & In The Way]

Does this mean that you found a two blade 3rd cut stag? Hope so.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Theres a lot of talk about Barlows having to be used, and with good intentions behind that - but I believe that we are real lucky to have people who own MINT old Barlows-and show them to us, without the odd mint knife popping up - we would be all the very the poorer in our passion.

We all sit up and go Wow!!..when someone like Charlie, SK, Brad, Wellington - Primble and others put up a old Mintie... and theres only one reason as to why that knife is in that state - its been preserved.

Theres a saying about the knife collector not being the owner - but the custodian.

I do both - keep some mint, and pick out a few to use in EDC's, if I can - I will buy two if its an exceptional knife - one to keep pristine, and one to use!

 

[Ocarr]

[/QUOTE]

I'm hoping to get my one of these in my pocket with walnut covers, but a Charlow in 3rd cut would do just fine as well. And so the search continues...

 

[Ryan Sumner]

I do both - keep some mint, and pick out a few to use in EDC's, if I can - I will buy two if its an exceptional knife - one to keep pristine, and one to use!

I've been trying to keep some knives mint, and for this run I bought a red, and a chestnut sawcut with the purpose of using one of them.

 

[akula83]

I was able to buy just one, a red boned single clip, and it will be carried. I have to tell you that I am not rough on my edc knives to begin with, so it should be in nice condition 30 years from now when my Daughter might look at them sometimes to recall good memories.

 

[csisland]

I don't have a vast collection of knives by choice, but I like to use them all. They'll get their break when I'm six feet under.

 

[joepa150]

Theres a lot of talk about Barlows having to be used, and with good intentions behind that - but I believe that we are real lucky to have people who own MINT old Barlows-and show them to us, without the odd mint knife popping up - we would be all the very the poorer in our passion.

We all sit up and go Wow!!..when someone like Charlie, SK, Brad, Wellington - Primble and others put up a old Mintie... and theres only one reason as to why that knife is in that state - its been preserved.

Theres a saying about the knife collector not being the owner - but the custodian.

I do both - keep some mint, and pick out a few to use in EDC's, if I can - I will buy two if its an exceptional knife - one to keep pristine, and one to use!

Great point. I have some knives I "baby" and some I use as well.

 

[Primble]

Here is an old beaut I got in the mail last week:

Great snap on both blades, and smooth action. I plan to clean her up to a mirror shine, once I get around to it...

I will be looking forward to it Esnyx - I like the bolsters on that one. :thumbup:

Does this mean that you found a two blade 3rd cut stag? Hope so.

Yes - That is the the one I ordered and I am happy that I found a single and a double in the 3rd cut stag. A lot of surfing and begging and pleading for my new additions.

Theres a lot of talk about Barlows having to be used, and with good intentions behind that - but I believe that we are real lucky to have people who own MINT old Barlows-and show them to us, without the odd mint knife popping up - we would be all the very the poorer in our passion.

We all sit up and go Wow!!..when someone like Charlie, SK, Brad, Wellington - Primble and others put up a old Mintie... and theres only one reason as to why that knife is in that state - its been preserved.

Theres a saying about the knife collector not being the owner - but the custodian.

I do both - keep some mint, and pick out a few to use in EDC's, if I can - I will buy two if its an exceptional knife - one to keep pristine, and one to use!

Duncan,

As usual, you come along and have something meaningful to say - thank you for saying what you said. :thumbup: I think we could all do just fine without the suggestions from other members on how to use your knife. While it may very well be with good intentions, I wonder if it would be received as such if I repeatedly suggested to other members that he/she was beating up/or disrespecting a really nice old or rare knife and I asked "Why are you using up that rare and valuable old knife or why are you cutting shingles with a $300 or $1,000 knife"? I have at least 150 knives and quite an investment in them, accumulated over a lot of years. I would hate to try to use them all up! My grandfather used to tell me to respect a knife and keep it in a pocket by itself.

If one wants to beat up or carry or patina every knife they own, that is fine by me, or if they want to make it a safe queen, that is fine by me, because they paid for it. Trying to suggest to a Republican to vote Democratic or vice versa is most often useless and only ends up offending that person. I am glad that, for the most part, all the posts here in Traditionals is friendly and positive. I think there is room for both the users and preservers here in this fine forum - I consider myself as a mix of both.

Now, with all that said, I have to go back to work on trying to restore a very fine old knife that someone got hold of and beat half to death!

. . . . and keep my ears tuned for the sound of the mail drop today.

csisland - now go use those knives and any way you want. I will try to rescue them after you are six feet under, if I out survive you! We can all have different opinions and still be friends.

Great point. I have some knives I "baby" and some I use as well.

Me too Joe! :thumbup:

 

[Alnamvet68]

Sumpin's comin' up in the gaaaar-den.....



I won't get these listed before next week as I'm waiting on the rest of the order.

I may have missed the question/answer, but who or what is "Stew's Blade"?

 

[Markesharp]

I may have missed the question/answer, but who or what is "Stew's Blade"?

Stew is Charlies father-in-law who passed away a while back. These knives are a fine tribute to a man who lost his arm and nearly his life in the war. Go back in this thread a bit and you will can get the whole story behind this great guy.

 

[Itsasportsbar]

Alnamvet68,

You can read all about it on Page 230, Post 4588.

Ken K.

 

[waynorth]

I believe I feel the ground shaking - I think the herd has crossed the mighty Mississippi!

The third cuts each have their own character. That's a nice effect you have created there Primble! Of course it makes me wonder about the "before" pic!
I'm glad your herd has galloped in!

For those interested, GEC is waiting for the walnut to come back from the stabilizer, to complete the walnut two blade clips.

 

[Primble]

The third cuts each have their own character. That's a nice effect you have created there Primble! Of course it makes me wonder about the "before" pic!
I'm glad your herd has galloped in!

For those interested, GEC is waiting for the walnut to come back from the stabilizer, to complete the walnut two blade clips.

Thank you for the comments and the info Charlie! I now understand why I could not find the two bladed Walnut Clip I wanted so badly. I might get one yet! If I do, somebody will most likely get my single bladed Walnut, or maybe I could use it as fodder to trade to an older one that I don't have.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Stew is Charlies father-in-law who passed away a while back. These knives are a fine tribute to a man who lost his arm and nearly his life in the war. Go back in this thread a bit and you will can get the whole story behind this great guy.

Alnamvet68,

You can read all about it on Page 230, Post 4588.

Ken K.

Thank you gentlemen, I now remember reading about that a while ago. Looks like my long term memory is failing me.:thumbup:

 

[KBA]

I think the TC Barlow fever took over last week. Received my first 25 off the exchange. I really like this little guy. Thanks Kirk for letting go.

 

[SonnyJim]

Wow, great pic of a great knife! Congrats on that catch :thumbup:

~Jim

 

[joepa150]

Got mine today! It looks beautiful. It is a rust red single razor.

Mine has a medium pull required to open. Not as much of a nailbreaker as my dual bladed Clip TC Barlow.

The half stops feel good. The only thing I noticed is that when close, it doesn't snap closed but is a bit weak.

Is this because it is a single blade or because it is a razor and designed to have a weaker backspring?

 

[Parke1]

Is this because it is a single blade or because it is a razor and designed to have a weaker backspring?

I'd say that maybe your joint needs cleaned out and oiled up a bit. I just received my first razor in today's mail, and it needed a little cleaning up in the pivot, but it snaps shut nicely now.

Photos of today's mail call:

Sorry for the poor, indoor cell phone pictures. Once again, my hat is off to Charlie and the gang at GEC. This is my first with the African Blackwood, and it's stunning. This razor lives up to its name, too, and is the sharpest knife I've received to date from GEC. What a wonderful knife with a wonderful backstory!

-Dan