What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[puukkoman]

Oh, man...
In the wild? Heck, I'd like to keep one in captivity!

 

[confucius37]

Ya! I've got just the place for it...my pocket!

That's some tasty lookin red bone!

 

[waynorth]

Some say a better Barlow has Redbone on it. My little spy managed to sneak out a pic of an unfinished scale! Looks promising!!

Thought I'd better bump this up to page 43 so no one misses it!

Blades - - - Right, OldBoy! I'll see what I can do!!

 

[kamagong]

Why was red bone considered better? Was it more expensive? More uncommon and hence, more exclusive? I favor the tan bone myself.

- Christian

 

[pertinux]

Looks promising!!

I'll say! I like the "saw' striations in the bone.

I have yet to see one of the bone-covered knives from the first run in person, but from pictures it looks like the tan and yellow(er) versions have more pronounced, diagonal saw-cuts, while the other one (the first pictured below) has less pronounced surface striation-- and more horizontal at that. Does this bear out in real-life?
(For clarity: all the following pictures are from the original Spear Point run of barlows.)

I can't wait to see the all the bone choices this time around.

Looks very promising! Can't wait, to see one in the wild

But 1 or 2 additional blades would be good

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

Yes, the sawcut striations are more pronounced this time. They "grew" at my request, after the first color on the spears came out, and they really "hit the nail" this time, IMO!!
I can't wait!!!!!!!

 

[waynorth]

Interesting pinning on the ones with four pins in the covers. Charlie, do the two pins nearest the back go through the spring? And is the one above them a cover pin?

Eric

You nearly nailed it, Eric. The pins nearest the back act as stops for the springs. You can see all of them. The pin either rests against the spring, or on a couple of the knives, sits in the corner formed when the spring curves up to the "top" or opening of the knife. The one above it is a cover pin, and the backspring pin is obvious. The broken "scratted handle never got its cover pin near the bolster. These were crudely made knives!!

 

[JustinR]

I really wish I had seen a pic of that red bone last night. I just ordered a 2 blade boys knife in red jigged bone to join my single blade.

Now Ill have to buy one of these red bone barlows...assuming any are not spoken for. My wallet thanks you.

 

[waynorth]

My mole managed to snag this pic before they slammed the doors and set the alarms today!!
Crappy pic, but it shows the Dark Brown handles coming up! Kinda chocolatey - I think they are going to be nice when they pic up some highlights from polishing/finishing!

 

[pertinux]

Fantastic, Charlie. I too am looking forward to seeing the brown's highlights upon finishing.

Meanwhile, the "Rusty Red" is looking mighty fine(r) yet:

You been boilin' 'em?

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

Dose is hard-berled knives, youse unnerstan!!

 

[ea42]

Charlie, thanks for checking on that, very interesting stuff! Ive noticed that a lot of the barlows had that exposed pin setup, even into the modern era so to speak. Although the notched butt area of the spring seems to be the way things evolved. Definitely would save some time in the assembly process. You've got some mighty early pieces there, interesting to see how things were initialy done.

Eric

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Whew, GEC knows how to hook you in.

 

[akadave2]

The GEC Barlows are their best knife afaic, this new one will be awesome!

 

[Sword and Shield]

Wish I could see one in the flesh. Love a good Barlow, got a little cash to spend, but no shops around here carry GEC!

*musing* Wonder what I could trade for one...

 

[CoffeeCat2112]

Those bones look good, for sure, but still haven't convinced me away from ebony...

 

[pistonsandgears]

Just curious to know if they are only using the Gabon ebony on this batch as opposed to the Macassar used on some of the last batch. I ask because I spied this picture on their "What's Happening" thread with the caption "#15 TC Barlow Gabon Ebony ready for milling"

 

[waynorth]

I believe it will be all Gabon. I found the wood in San Francisco a couple of years ago, and just sent it to GEC two weeks ago. Bill assures me there is plenty.
The streaks are more grey than brown, and overall it is darker/blacker than the Macassar.

 

[pistonsandgears]

I believe it will be all Gabon. I found the wood in San Francisco a couple of years ago, and just sent it to GEC two weeks ago. Bill assures me there is plenty.
The streaks are more grey than brown, and overall it is darker/blacker than the Macassar.

:thumbup: That ought to make some mighty fine looking knives.

 

[mr_badexample]

Charlie those are really looking nice. Can't wait to see the finished product, hopefully in my hands.