What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[paulhilborn]

I agree with Primble...many great TC's posted today. Robb, just great pictures:thumbup:

 

[Dr. Scott]

Confession time.

I never liked sheepfoots. But I loved TC Barlows. So when Charlie produced the first round of sheepfoot TC Barlows, I bought three. Now I often feel there is no need for any other blade. Charlie is the sheepfoot evangelist and I am a loyal convert.

I also never liked jigged bone. Smooth bone is OK. And I've developed a taste for sawcut bone, again thanks to Charlie's Barlows. But jigged bone is something I could live without. I tried a couple of non-Barlow GEC knives with peach seed jigged bone. Meh.

This round of TC Barlows came, and the only one I was able to reserve for sure was a jigged bone two bladed knife. (Later I was able to order a Palo Santo. More on that later.) The Antique Yellow jigged bone Barlow came this evening. It has been a revelation!

I had no idea that jigged bone could be this nice. It is like fine jewelry or gemstones. The color is brown on top and yellow on the edges, like brown buttered cinnamon toast. There is the subtle light-colored stripe, two rows of jigging in the middle of the slab, so obvious on some of the photos from GEC. The feel in the hand is different from any jigging I've ever seen.

Detail of jigging:

This photo is not retouched, but in most light the bone looks less yellow and more ivory or cream.

My recommendation: Buy this knife! Or any other GEC knife with this jigging! You will not regret it!

Was this new jigging the result of Charlie's input? Or Bill and GEC? Is it just more evidence to support my observation of improved quality at GEC over the past year?

Congratulations, Charlie. You've done for jigged bone what you did for the sheepfoot blade. Knife knuts will be talking about it for years to come!

 

[knowtracks]

Well said Dr. :thumbup:
And not a bad photo either!!


Dave

 

[B.F.U]

Someone in the know, I can't remember who, remarked that Mr. Howard was making an effort to improve the jigging. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall that.

 

[coolio]

I see some spec's of blue suede on the "world's largest barlow." Great photo, and the jigging is superb.

 

[singin50]

Yes, Charlie said it, just a few days ago, that Bill was working on us jigging and it sure is paying off! Well done, Dr. Scott!
Perry

 

[Todd Isa 53]

Super great stuff here today... I will contribute.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Oh Man...Like everyone else has said - there has been a LOT of photo's being produced of our Forum friends producing their new treasures!!! - these knives are juuuuuuuust beautiful!!!
Lovely shots guys, and I love reading the absolute joy of the new owners!!!
Hey Doc... I too was exactly like you-I never cared much for the Sheepsfoot at all - I owned a lovey one that I gifted to a absolutely great guy here in the forums - for several mixed reasons -
1, ( which sounds selfish - but it was only a small part - BUT ...is part of the process ) was that I wasnt 100% on the Single Sheepsfoot
2, I knew that our friend just LOVED the Sheepsfoot
3, The knife was/ is an excellent example of a 20th Century Sheepsfoot with nice Bone - blade was practically untouched-but beautifully Patina'd
4, The recipient is a treasure to the community...

Now I am exactly like you where I loved the TC's and soon fell completely head over heels with the Sheepsfoot TC's which has changed my direction in looking at Sheepsfoot - thats for sure - so Thank You Charlie Sir for that one, and Thank You Everyone for showing your gorgeous knives, and wonderful photography.

 

[esnyx]

Of all of my TCs, the soup bone has been my favorite since the start. When I saw that the soupbone was coming out on this run, I must admit, that as an avid collector, I was a little worried that it would diminish the value of the previous run of soup bone sheepsfoot TCs. Boy, was I WRONG! This knife is a different animal all together! The dye! The smooth bone! The cavernous pitting!! Did I mention the dye??? WOW!!! I could never give the knife justice with my words, so I will let the knife speak for itself.

Whats that old saying? A picture is worth a thousand words? You be the judge.

Here is an older pic of my sawcut soupbone sheepsfoot. I'll get some good ones of the two of them together tomorrow and post them in here for a side-by-side comparison.

This knife has only invigorated my hunger for soup by tenfold!

Another thing I really like about this run, is how much darker the etches are! They went from a dark brownish color to a sharp black. I applaud Bill and his crew at GEC for continually challenging themselves to improve their already excellent work. Keep it up!!!

 

[euthymic]

Someone in the know, I can't remember who, remarked that Mr. Howard was making an effort to improve the jigging. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall that.

Back on post 7822 http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...od-Traditional-Barlow?p=14504502#post14504502
Charlie mentioned that Bill had been working on his jigging techniques when the first pictures of this run were shown. I agree that they look great!

However, as with just about anything in life there is no free lunch

I've noticed at least a few pictures with some hairline cracks or snags in the bone (and it even looks like there might be one on Dr. Scott's great picture above). I'm not that familiar with jigged bone to say if it is the norm or not but I noticed it immediately when I opened my tube as there were some cloth fibers wedged in these cracks. One dealer told me that there were a larger number of seconds on this batch and if true, I can see why since there must be a considerable risk of cracking (at least at the surface) when the edges of the jig are so thin. I'll just think of it as a reminder that these knives are still produced of natural materials and list it under the "character" department.

 

[B.F.U]

I noticed that as well, also on the recent #77 barlows it seemed like there were more knives being shown or sold with a chip/crack/etc. I have one of them, however, that is perfect. Some of the nicest cut and dyed bone I've seen (but it's sawcut).

 

[Tenacious D]

At-a-boy Sugarleaf !!
Glad to see that karma comin around!


Dave

Instagram, Sminagram, Lets see those babies right here!

Thanks Dave! Hope all is good out in the oil fields! Yes, I feel so happy and blessed to have gotten these. Thank you so much Charlie for putting your soul into these creations. They truly are a labor of love and it shows. It's always such a joy to see the different little touches to each successive set of Barlows, the subtle changes to the art on the front decal, the historical notes on the back, and of course the knives...the knives... My obsession with the TC started later than many of the forumites here and it's been challenging, and oh so much fun finding and collecting these functional works of art. The TC Barlows are, by far, the most treasured knives in my growing accumulation of traditionals. I normally don't post too much or get a whole lot out of "showing off" the knives I've been fortunate enough to have been blessed with, but since the request was made, here is a photo. Thanks Charlie! (and GEC).

 

[Luger1952]

Sugarleaf what a gorgeous/beautiful bunch of TCs you have there! You hit the TC lottery with those. You must be pleased to have the full run capped off so nicely with the soupbone prize. I have two coming thanks to a very kind and generous forum member and feel very fortunate. What a great bunch of people you all are in this traditional knife community. Proud to be part of this outstanding group of enthusiasts. Thanks to Charlie and GEC--very well done indeed!

 

[RobbW]

Dr. Scott: you make that peachseed jigging simply architectural! Well photographed. :thumbup:

Todd: all your pics are scrumptious, if I may use that work without invoking Mary Poppins.

Evan: nice, nice marrow in those soup bones!

sugarleaf: I love family reunions and family photos, and especially how your family grouping shows the contrasting colors and subtleties of this latest Charlow run.

 

[RobbW]

I'll add to the growing photo library. Not a C.C. Charlow, but a GEC Barlow Charlie generously agreed to let Bill put the TC bolster on. This Oil-Sucker Rod Razor-Barlow was the 2014 Rendezvous knife. Mine is #30 out of GEC's official count of 30, although there was a #31 on display, and I believe 2-3 more were also produced. I love it because it reminds me of the friends I finally got to meet in person that Saturday.

 

[bleh]

Did you intentionally leave the spear at the top center right with the pile side up? {Twitch}{Twitch}

 

[Rusty1]

I think that was done to show that there were two variations of secondary blade on either side of the main......Guess.

Russell

 

[esnyx]

Did you intentionally leave the spear at the top center right with the pile side up? {Twitch}{Twitch}

Yes I did. it is sitting next to its mirror image. Also, no way of knowing it has a pen behind main without showing the pile side.

 

[payton206]

Dr. Scott: you make that peachseed jigging simply architectural! Well photographed. :thumbup:

Todd: all your pics are scrumptious, if I may use that work without invoking Mary Poppins.

Evan: nice, nice marrow in those soup bones!

sugarleaf: I love family reunions and family photos, and especially how your family grouping shows the contrasting colors and subtleties of this latest Charlow run.

Agreed. Great pictures all! I really appreciate you sharing. It's the next best thing to having them myself. Though I have to say the hunt is the funnest part for me.

 

[payton206]

Thought I would post this here too 👍