What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Jack thank you for this great history. I just love the info you bring to this place.
Neal
 
Jack - Sir, I thank you for the interesting story and history.
I have to think that Obidiah would approve and also be impressed
with the quality of todays offerings that so proudly carry his name.
 
Mr. Thomas Scantlebury died at " The Hills," on the Grimesthorpe
road, August 14, 1821 ; his son, John Barlow Scantlebury, died April 28,
1837. Old Mrs. Scantlebury was the daughter of John Barlow, the last of
the family that had carried on the old business of manufacturers of pen
and pocket cutlery on the premises in Campo lane, just beyond Mr.
Scantlebury's, the east front of which looks down the Hartshead. They
had been there as owners and occupiers of the property ever since the
year 1679, "and I cannot tell how long previous," says Mr. Samuel
Scantlebury in the letter Mr. Leonard has just quoted. It was Obadiah
Barlow, the great-great-grandfather of Samuel Scantlebury, who had the
premises in 1679. Whether the Barlow of Neepsend, who died in 1740, was
of the same family or not is doubtful. John Barlow died in 1798, and one
of the best businesses in Sheffield died with him. The trade mark was
the simple name
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The Barlow of Neepsend (which is actually less than a mile away), referred to in the quote above, is this one of course :)

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Neal and Ron, thanks a lot guys :) Yes, I think the old Barlows would be amazed at the interest in Barlow knives all these years later, and impressed by their quality :thumbup:
 
My wife is flying to Paris in about two hours. How I wish I was traveling with her so that I could take the train to Sheffield.
 
Invoice said:
My wife is flying to Paris in about two hours. How I wish I was traveling with her so that I could take the train to Sheffield.
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Bon Voyage to her, and if you ever make it to Sheffield, I hope we can rendezvous! :) :thumbup:
 
Jack, thank you for this lesson in Barlow history. The education available in this forum is one of the big attractions here.

Jack Black said:
I currently have my nose in a book detailing the history of Sheffield in the 18th century, which as one might imagine, has lots of fascinating information about the cutlery trade. Just came across this, which I thought might be of interest.





This photo was taken between 1900 and 1919. Broadbent House is on the right, and is still there, being the oldest-surviving brick-built house in the centre of Sheffield (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bank_House). The other buildings are no longer there unfortunately, but could this be the spot where the very first Barlow knife was made?! :eek:

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You have surely discovered a shrine that shall now be a revered stop on any pilgrimage to Sheffield. But I am unclear... Do we know who can really lay claim to the original Barlow? Obadiah? Samuel? Someone else?
 
If I may ask an unrelated question real quick can someone fill me in on the "Day's Work" TCS? How they are different or history there? Many thanks.
 
The Days Work TC Barlow refers to Charlie's (Waynorth's) Special Factory Order of TC Barlows with spey blades or spey-clip two blade combinations. I believe that was in the Fall of 2013, maybe December. A search through this thread will take you to the appropriate pages.

The etch on the spey blade read, "Days Work."

If your question is about spey bladed Barlows in general, that is a much bigger subject!
 
Thanks for the history lesson, Jack! Really interesting stuff there!

I think Obediah's Barlow would be a great name for an old style TC! What say you, Charlie??

Speaking of traditional barlows, here is one that I finished up today:

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1D7708CA-8899-450B-AD3E-68B00827FA08_zpsivhe2tux.jpg

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This was a collaborative effort from several of out forumites! Barry designed the etch, Mike from JBF Champlin supplied the Old Cattaraugus Rosewood scales that he and Derrick salvaged from the old factory in Little Valley, NY, and I put it all together. This one has brass pins and liners with nickel silver stepped bolsters. I hope I did this historic rosewood justice!
 
Jack, again you bless us with fantastic history:thumbup:

Evan, you have done history proud, a stunning piece of cutlery:thumbup:
 
That's a mighty fine Barlow, Evan!!
It is a worthy resting place for a bit of that nice Rosewood. Mike must be hopping up and down!!!
 
Very nice work Evan! It's very cool since I live 25 minutes from Little Valley and Cattaraugus. It surprises me though with all of the knife history in this area (towns mentioned above plus Olean with Kabar, Franklinville with Ontario, and Bradford with Case, there are no knife shows!! When you go to the gun shows, the knives there are cheap "$10 gets you a handful" sort of knives. It's a shame!!

GEC is only 1.5 hrs away from me...it's going to make a nice ride on the bike this summer!
 
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