What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

waynorth said:
BarlowsEarly_zpsb273e37a.jpg
Click to expand...

We are of course noticing the stamped blades.

[video=youtube;Wy5maENuo3Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy5maENuo3Q[/video]


:D

~ P.
 
waynorth said:
Thanks for the Barlow story, Rob!
I don't know anything for sure - there are a couple of summaries of the Barlow "saga". But you seem to have characterized it well!
I think this picture is posted early in this thread, but it seems like a good time to interject a peek at history!

Note some "scratted bone" handles, 1500International!
Click to expand...

Indeed a good time to interject and much appreciated - maybe not a bad time for a really nice Russell Barlow picture, as well. ;):rolleyes::)

I felt a little bad, looking back, about the short answer and I suppose some of us forget, at times, that there are younger members that did not grow up alongside the Barlow. :)

Old Hunter - I like that copper clad Kabar Barlow with dogs head shield - It is classy looking to me - not any help on the construction. :thumbup::)
 
Wonderful Sarah - just wonderful. :eek::thumbup::)

That Russell is in fine condition.

and in good company for sure! :)
 
Primble said:
I think the large bolster is the most key thing about the Barlow, which the boys knife lacks. ;):)

The longer answer and I am sure Charlie could enlighten you even further: :D

What is a "Barlow" style pocket knife?
A barlow style knife has one or two blades, a huge metal bolster, and a comfortable tear-drop shaped handle. The blade or blades are attached at the small end of the handle. Even though the first barlow knife was made in Sheffield England in the 1600's, it was made by several American shops soon after, and has become just as American as "apple pie". George Washington was known to have a barlow knife. Mark Twain referred to a "real Barlow" in his Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in 1876. Barlows have long been gifts, treasured by young American boys. At least one song was written about the barlow knife.
Mark Twain wrote about the barlow knife in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer...
Click to expand...
Primble said:
Thanks for this reply Mr. Primble, and of course thanks to Waynorth for all his input--As I have stated before, I had two grandpas on my fathers side, both men worked in manufacturing in companies they each owned, both carried a Barlow knife, despite secretly hoping to inherit one or both of those knives, alas, both men and their knives passed on without my knowledge of the whereabouts of either knife. So I have been trying to school myself up on Barlow knives, and have recently endeavored to purchase a few. So I genuinely appreciate all your input and knowledge, along with all the other members around here who have posted and written about all so many lovely knives.

Thanks for the sharing all, sincerely--Don
Click to expand...
 
Primble said:
I think the large bolster is the most key thing about the Barlow, which the boys knife lacks. ;):)

According to Laurence A. Johnson (1) the Barlow knife was probably first manufactured by Obadiah Barlow at Sheffield, England, around 1670. (2) Obadiah's grandson, John Barlow, joined the business around 1745 and it was he who was chiefly responsible for developing the exportation of the Barlow knives to America. Another source says the barlow knife was also made by Luke Furnace of Stannington, which in the eighteenth century was a small village on the outskirts of Sheffield. Luke Furnace's name occurs in the Sheffield directories from 1774 and 1787, but not in the 1797 directory, so he was presumably dead by then. He put the mark "1760" on his knives. The original Barlow, after whom the knives are named, was working in Sheffield at the same time as Luke Furnace.
An 1823 directory of Sheffield, England cutlers (knife makers) shows Samuel Barlow on Neepsend (Street). In the Sheffield suburb of Stannington, Barlow Bros. is listed as a cutler.

The barlow knife was designed to be tough, and to be affordable. To keep the price low, the blade was high carbon steel, and the handle was bone, and not much time was spent in polishing it. To make it tough, the bolster was big and thick. The original barlows had only one blade. Now they have two, and more care is taken in finishing and polishing them.
John Russell may have been the first American to manufacture Barlow knives. The John Russell Company, now the Russell Harrington Cutlery Company of Southbridge, Massachusetts, first mass produced Barlow knives at their Greenfield Massachusetts, factory in 1875. They were called the Russell Barlow knife and instead of the word BARLOW on the bolster, they were stamped with Russell's mark, an R with an arrow through it. Today these Russell Barlows are valuable antiques.
Click to expand...

One thing that might be added is that originally the bolsters were an integral part of the frame, rather than pieces which were later joined to it. Thus, in the original version, the larger bolsters made for a stronger knife.
 
I need to come here more often,it's where my friends are,and it keeps me up too late trying to catch up.
 
1500international said:
There's some beautiful and very early barlow's in that group Charlie. I had noted the scratted bone; do you have an idea of how early it is ??

Gordon.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how old Charlie's are, but if you google pictures of the pocket knives found on the steamship Arabia, there are several scratted bone barlows in the lot. That would date them to 1856. The blade shape on the barlows is also interesting. I'm not sure what you would call it, but it's a blend between a sheepsfoot and razor, even though folklore tells us the razor didn't exist until 1865.
 
Primble said:
The barlow knife was designed to be tough, and to be affordable. To keep the price low, the blade was high carbon steel
Click to expand...

I imagine this had something to do with the fact that stainless steel had not yet been invented! :D

(I realise these aren't your words Primble :thumbup:)
 
Jack Black said:
Which shops were those?
Click to expand...

Probably a little later than sooner, when I go back and read the words. Feel free to add to if you like. :)

The article seemed mostly correct to me, however, I eluded to Waynorth (or you for that matter), so feel free to add or subtract based upon your historical knowledge. ;):)

I don't spend as much time as I should reading up on knife history - too busy looking for my next knife or Primblizing and such. :D or fishing. :p or Blade Foruming :p

References:
(1)Laurence A. Johnson article, "The Barlow Knife",* The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., June 1959
(2)The History of the John Russell Cutlery Company, 1833-1936, published 1976, Bete Press
(3)The Heritage of English Knives, David Hayden-Wright, 2008)

Jack Black said:
I imagine this had something to do with the fact that stainless steel had not yet been invented! :D

(I realise these aren't your words Primble :thumbup:)
Click to expand...

Maybe better wording might have been ??: The blade was high carbon steel, and the handle was bone, and to keep the price low, not much time was spent in polishing it.
(Since labor costs were most likely the culprit of higher prices) :confused::confused::)
 
Many internet articles are peppered with errors. I think there's far better information contained in this thread than can be found elsewhere :thumbup:
 
Mark Twain was quite scathing about the Barlow:

Mary gave him a bran-new "Barlow" knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was inconceivable grandeur in that - though where the Western boys ever got the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its injury, is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Quote cadged from internet)


I don't remember Tom or Huck ever trying to cut anything with their Barlows; they were always using them to dig. Could be wrong, it's been a while.
 
Last edited:
scrteened porch said:
Mark Twain was quite scathing about the Barlow:

Mary gave him a bran-new "Barlow" knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was inconceivable grandeur in that - though where the Western boys ever got the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its injury, is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer


I don't remember Tom or Huck ever trying to cut anything with their Barlows; they were always using them to dig. Could be wrong, it's been a while.
Click to expand...

From the book and Chapter IV, page 72 - Mary gave him a brand-new "Barlow" knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was inconceivable grandeur in that - though where the Western boys ever got the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its injury, is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps. Tom contrived to scarify the cupboard with it, and was arranging to begin on the bureau, when he was called off to dress for Sunday-school."

5mjpco.jpg


Maybe you were remembering Chapter VIII, page 131 - "He went to a rotten log near at hand and began to dig under one end of it with his Barlow knife." :)

or possibly you remembered Chapter XXXIII, page 394 - "Toms "real Barlow" was out at once, and he had not dug four inches before he struck wood. :)

You guys are beginning to be a tough crowd - please don't shoot the messenger - Dave already kill'd me, for nuthin, a few pages back. :grumpy::eek::eek::D

I was only trying to help the young man understand a "bit" of Barlow history and what a Barlow is, all in one post. I doubt he wanted to scour the whole thread for the info. :o

and besides EVERYBODY KNOWS that anything you read on the internet has to be true and I already posted my video with PROOF, which was also aired on television and EVERYBODY KNOWS that same applies to TV. :grumpy::grumpy::D

:D:D:D


What I really meant to say was "Nice Charlow"
105xyld.jpg


:p
 
Last edited:
Primble said:
I was only trying to help the young man understand a "bit" of Barlow history and what a Barlow is, all in one post. I doubt he wanted to scour the whole thread for the info. :o
Click to expand...

Poor lad is no doubt more confused than ever! :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top