What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

jkulysses said:
Yes you should wipe them down & put some gun oil or something on them as the oils from your hands will make them patina or even rust. Some people are much more acidic than others. I've had good results with using one of those silicone gun & reel cloths as well.
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Thank you sir!
 
wonder what the most exotic common material is that has ever been used on a Barlow........beside bone of course? And of course how was it used (i.e. saw cut, jigged, ect). I'm just trying to picture the perfect working mans Barlow.
 
BladeBrain said:
wonder what the most exotic common material is that has ever been used on a Barlow........beside bone of course? And of course how was it used (i.e. saw cut, jigged, ect). I'm just trying to picture the perfect working mans Barlow.
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Good question - my guess would be ebony wood.

Other wood like walnut or anything like that was available. You are speaking of exotic common material. So I´d guess ebony wood. Barlows being dedicated working knives, so nothing fancy or unique or way too expensive like stag or abalone or MOP would have found its way on the handle materials.

Another guess could be synthetics like celluloid or acrylics, but I´m not sure if this qualifies your definition of "exotic" - common they would have been in the past.
 
Spear point TC's, the second coming. Spear point 77s with long pulls!

I am chomping at the bit for a spearpoint Northwoods Madison reissue! Derrick said it was soon.
 
2j5djjl.jpg
 
waynorth said:
Ancient%20Barlows%20w%20stag_zpsyy7wfn1s.jpg
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I wanted to bring these beautiful old barlows to the next page!:thumbup:

The more I look at them the more I like those deeply stamped blades. And the big stovepipe kicks look like a useful feature, leaving lots of room to drop the blade down as it gets used up and sharpened many times, to keep the tip below the scales. Those old cutlers really knew how to make a good user knife!
 
philllll said:
I wanted to bring these beautiful old barlows to the next page!:thumbup:

The more I look at them the more I like those deeply stamped blades. And the big stovepipe kicks look like a useful feature, leaving lots of room to drop the blade down as it gets used up and sharpened many times, to keep the tip below the scales. Those old cutlers really knew how to make a good user knife!
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Philllll, good observation. Notice that they all have 4 pins in the handles and not one is centered on the bare end......strange.
 
Markesharp said:
That is OUTSTANDING! Primble! The bone on that baby is the nicest I've ever seen on a Barlow. :thumbup::D
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+1

Look at the milling near the center of the handle, which is distinct from layers in the bone itself at the bare end. :thumbup:
 
RobbW said:
+1

Look at the milling near the center of the handle, which is distinct from layers in the bone itself at the bare end. :thumbup:
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Robb - thank you for the + 1 :thumbup::) - the light fell off at the bare end, which caused the very light surface saw-cut marks to disappear in the that area of the picture. When photographing the Copperhead, my goal was to capture the patterns in the bone, which you previously described. I had to catch the light precisely to get the patterns to show up in the photo. A scanner (with direct light) does a better job of doing both, IMO.

LastRodeo said:
Can we see some open pictures also please, Mr. Primble?
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Pictures with blade opened on preceding page. ;):)

Marko - much appreciated !! :o:)

Hoping that Charlie might do another run of the two blade Copperhead on a future run of the spears, so more of the collectors can add them to their collection. I believe he previously said that there was a "mix up" on that order that caused only five to be made, if I remember correctly. As a collector, I would not mind to see that happen, at all. ;)
 
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Markesharp said:
Philllll, good observation. Notice that they all have 4 pins in the handles and not one is centered on the bare end......strange.
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I think the pin placement was done that way to cram as much blade length as possible into the small handles.
 
philllll said:
I wanted to bring these beautiful old barlows to the next page!:thumbup:

The more I look at them the more I like those deeply stamped blades. And the big stovepipe kicks look like a useful feature, leaving lots of room to drop the blade down as it gets used up and sharpened many times, to keep the tip below the scales. Those old cutlers really knew how to make a good user knife!
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What a collection! :thumbup: Mainly the work of Samuel Barlow/Henry Mills of Neepsend, Sheffield.

henrymillsadvert_zpsesijrw4e.jpg


(advert from 1859)

I keep meaning to write up the little I know about Samuel Barlow/Henry Mills.

(Continues below - Really sorry about this, seem to be some real nasty Gremlins afoot).
 
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Markesharp said:
Philllll, good observation. Notice that they all have 4 pins in the handles and not one is centered on the bare end......strange.
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I think this was way before standards had been established, hence the four pins that aren't centered.
Perry
 
Continued from my post above:

This is the last will and testament of me Samuel Barlow of Sheffield in the County of York, Spring knife cutler. I give devise and bequeath to Henry Mills of Sheffield aforesaid Spring Knife Cutler, and his heirs executors, administrators or (assigns?) all and each of my freehold and other my property estate and effects situate in the parish of Sheffield aforesaid or elsewhere. In witness whereof I have set my hand on this. Twenty second day of June 1849 – Samuel Barlow.

Signed by the said Samuel Barlow in our presence present at the same time who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names in witness.

Chas Edio Broadbent, Josiah Davy - Solr.

Passed 9th November 1850
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Philllll
I too am a great fan of the Stovepipe Kick. When I first started have the disease of Traditional slip joint collecting/using I had a lot to learn- still do actually- but the things I VERY much like are exactly what you pointed out- and that is the beautiful deep stamping- that really intrigues me - also the Stovepipe kicks- like you say they are effective- and make maintenance of a wearing blade a breeze.
Thank you my friend for always great observation on these oldies.
 
Thanks, Duncan. A slipjoint seems like such a simple thing, but the mechanics are complex and fascinating.
 
What an amazing Will, Jack!

If only history were written out in full!!

I wonder what relationship Sam and Henry had??

Thanks for these wonderful bits of history!!
 
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