What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Primble said:
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Primble,

That is one GREAT looking knife.......the scales look so warm and inviting like it yearns to be used. You my friend are the master of the lense with that camera:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
waynorth said:
I should be headed down to the post office, but I will get to it tomorrow!

Meantime, it turns out some ancient* Barlows had stag on them! Sort of a contradiction, given the utility/economy mission of the design, but I am sure you will all figure it out in a few seconds!!:)


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I though some were bone, but a close look reveals Staggy characteristic!:D







*"ancient" in my grandkids references to there dear old Grandad!:p
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Polished Stag........It only took TWO days to figure it out! :eek::o:(
 
BladeBrain said:
Primble,

That is one GREAT looking knife.......the scales look so warm and inviting like it yearns to be used. You my friend are the master of the lense with that camera:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
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Thank you - it felt rather warm and inviting in my watch pocket yesterday ................ and today ! :D:D
 
waynorth said:
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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Thanks Charlie. If I can grab a bit of spare time next week, I'll try and write up what I know. It gets rather confusing as many of the fathers/sons/grandsons have the same name.
 
From Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2010 pp57-58

James Barlow & Sons

The senior partner was James Barlow (born c. 1791), who specialised in scissors and razors (though he also dealt in pen and pocket knives). In the early nineteenth century, the business was located in Allen Street, where Barlow built up a substantial operation. In 1851, he told Census enumerators that he employed 61 workers. Barlow, who lived in Brookhill, was a traveller for the firm.

James Barlow & Sons was located in Rockingham Street (1856) and then Garden Street (1859). The corporate mark was the word 'ECHO', which had been used by Peter Spurr ( qv). James Barlow died in Broomhall Street on 15 June 1869, aged 78, and was buried in Burngreave cemetery. He was succeeded by his sons, James and John. By the 1870s, the works address was Norfolk Street. In 1881, the firm employed 54 workers (39 men, 4 boys, 4 women, and 7 girls). By the end of the 1880s, James (a bachelor) shared a house with John in Western Bank. In old age, James suffered from depression and physical ailments. He became averse to travelling without a companion and used laudanum to dull his pain. He died on 20 June 1900, having been found by his housekeeper on the floor of his bedroom the previous morning. The inquest found that he had overdosed on laudanum, but the jury was unable to decide whether this was suicide. The 77 year-old manufacturer was buried in Bumgreave Cemetery. His brother seems to have continued the business briefly. Between about 1904 and 1918, the company address was Era Works, Wheeldon Street, but it had ceased business by 1919.
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Obadiah Barlow (and descendants)

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Barlow is an old English surname, possibly originating in the Derbyshire village of Barlow. By the seventeenth century, the Barlow family were active in the Sheffield cutlery trade (Smith, 2001). Some lived in Campo Lane, near the present Cathedral. One of them was Obadiah Barlow, a Sheffield cutler, Who was apprenticed in 1654 and became a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in 1667. Obadiah had died by 1713, but his son John also served his apprenticeship and became a Freeman in 1710.

The Barlow's long-bolstered, rugged, and competitively-priced knife became a classic. The Campo Lane Barlows used their name as a trademark: BAR/LOW (one word above the other, granted to John Barlow in 1745). According to Leader (1905): 'He [Obadiah) and his descendants manufactured such excellent pen and pocket cutlery as to make their name famous, and their trademark is still a valuable possession in living use'. During the 1760s, the Barlows traded through the merchant Oborne & Gunning (qv). John Barlow, Campo Lane, was listed as a maker of pen knives in the 1774 and 1787 Sheffield directories. He died on 27 April 1799 and 'one of the best businesses in Sheffield died with him' (Leader, 1905). The Barlow family remained active in cutlery manufacture into the nineteenth century, when the name appeared in Neepsend (qqv, Samuel Barlow, Henry Mills).
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Samuel Barlow

By the eighteenth century, the 'Barlows' of Barlow knife fame (qv, Obadiah Barlow) had apparently extended the family network to Neepsend - then described as 'near Sheffield'. (However, some have doubted whether the Barlows in Neepsend were directly related to the Campo Lane Barlows. See Sheffield Independent, 23 January 1875). The Company of Cutlers registered two Freedorm (one in 1723, the other in 1753) to cutlers named Samuel Barlow. The first was to Samuel Barlow, the son of John Barlow (deceased), who was apprenticed to cutler John Levick, who lived in the adjacent district of Bridgehouses. Presumably this was the Samuel, who began this line of cutlers. The directories of 1774, 1787, and 1797 list Samuel Barlow, pen and pocket knife maker, in Neepsend. By the end of the century, Samuel had apparently acquired property, gardens, and houses (Smith, 2001).

The business was continued by John· Barlow (listed between 1816 and 1822), before the latter's son, Samuel, was listed after 1825 as a stag and buck [handled] pen and pocket knife manufacturer in Neepsend. Samuel (the son of John), was granted his Freedom in 1830, after apprenticeship to his father. Samuel Barlow was enumerated in the 1841 Census as a 40 year-old cutler, living in Neepsend. He had a 17 year-old apprentice, Walter Ellis, and also living at the address was 33 year-old cutler Henry Mills (qv). The latter took over Samuel's business and mark (Z and a falchion, granted in 1725) at about this time. Samuel's subsequent history is unknown, and no obituary or burial has been traced.
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Samuel Barlow

Samuel Barlow was a scissor manufacturer, based in Arundel Street, and listed in 1822. Nothing is known of his background, though in 1787 members of the Barlow family were listed as scissor smiths in Meadow Street and Scotland Street. Samuel was still working in Arundel Street in the early 1830s, but died on 5 March 1838, aged 71. He was buried in St Paul's churchyard.
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I really like the handles on that Antique Yellow two blade Marko - WOW !!! :eek::eek::thumbup::thumbup::)

Very nice example of the Palo Santo Todd !!! :thumbup::thumbup::)
 
Markesharp said:
I agree Roberto, IMHO, they are the best handles of the bunch! :D
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I would not go out that far on that limb ! :eek::D

WOW - I have just completed the 427 pages of this thread! :eek::eek::eek::D

It has taken me a while and I made some startling discoveries along the way ! ;);):D

Maybe the completion of my education explains my recent run of bad luck turning into great luck ! :D

Lots of great Barlows, great pics, great people, and many are still around and many are not.

I arrived here at around the 200 page mark and have kept up ever since. ;):)

Just a great thread this is ! :thumbup::thumbup::)

One of my recent finds in my pocket today to celebrate graduation :

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and one of the TC's that started it all - the Ebony Spearpoint PPP :

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Is that the sound of a branch breaking??? I'm with Mark on the branch as well in regards to the Antique Yellow Primble---my decision may be biased as it's the only cover I have now:o:cool::thumbup:

Can you imagine how thick that branch would have to be to hold us Mark:eek::D

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paulhilborn said:
Is that the sound of a branch breaking??? I'm with Mark on the branch as well in regards to the Antique Yellow Primble---my decision may be biased as it's the only cover I have now:o:cool::thumbup:

Can you imagine how thick that branch would have to be to hold us Mark:eek::D
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I should have stated from the latest run Paul. I don't want to step on Primbles Copper Head! :eek::confused::D

Paul, if you and I were on the same branch..........there would be a loud crack and then a loud Earth Shaking Crash followed by "Holy Shi_!!" :eek:
 
Primble said:
WOW - I have just completed the 427 pages of this thread! :eek::eek::eek::D


Just a great thread this is ! :thumbup::thumbup::)

One of my recent finds in my pocket today to celebrate graduation :

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Congratulations! Very appropriate!

In a way, the NYK is the one that started it all.

Nice going, Rob! I hope you enjoyed the journey. It seems like it just got going to me, but it is in its third year!!
 
The "latest run" is what I referring to as well...I bow down in honor of the Copper Head.

That brings up a great but personal question:thumbup: Whats your favorite of all TC Barlow covers---not the rarest but ones own personal favorite.

Mine, hummmm, I'd go with Gabon Ebony:thumbup: followed by Sawcut Rust Red Bone....I'll stop there because I could go on and on...but for me GABON EBONY:cool:
 
My personal favorite is the Antique Yellow saw cut bone and second, the new Antique Yellow jigged bone.

I do need a Copper Head.

Going down to Kentucky and get me a Copper Head.....
 
Markesharp said:
I don't want to step on Primbles Copper Head! ........there would be a loud crack and then a loud Earth Shaking Crash followed by "Holy Shi_!!" :eek:
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:eek::eek::eek::eek:Noooooooooooo !!!! :D

waynorth said:
Congratulations! Very appropriate!

In a way, the NYK is the one that started it all.

Nice going, Rob! I hope you enjoyed the journey. It seems like it just got going to me, but it is in its third year!!
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Thank you Charlie. It is a worthwhile adventure to read and to see the pictures. A lot of fine Barlows in this thread. :)

Paul - that A.Y. TC has beautiful colors !!! It is fascinating how they vary. :thumbup:;)

Markesharp said:
My personal favorite is the Antique Yellow saw cut bone and second, the new Antique Yellow jigged bone.

I do need a Copper Head.

Going down to Kentucky and get me a Copper Head.....
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My personal favorite is the Copperhead - at least until the new wears off of them. ;):D

On the other hand, I really like my Che Chen Rosewood, and the Antique Yellow, and maybe the Antique Amber, and the Ebony, and ................. :D

Marko - that twin blade is in my deepest rabbit hole and guarded closely by a den of real Copperheads - good luck my friend !! :grumpy::grumpy:

No rattle warnings given !! :eek::D:D:D

P.S. - put that soupy Sheepfoot in yer pocket so I can lift it from your limp body. ;):D:D:D
 
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Paul, that branch is about to bend a little further when I get on it with my 215Lbs! Though I don't have it yet, in a couple weeks I hope to have the antique yellow jigbone too! Love the jigging and all the color that shows through after GEC polished these!
Perry
 
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