What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[B.F.U]

The bolster is very magnet-ic, comparable to my other steel-bolstered knives (as opposed to those with nickel silver bolsters, which are attracted to a magnet but not as strongly).

~ P.

Huh... I'll have to test mine again. Very cool!

 

[Jack Black]

Not everyone has time to follow every thread in this subforum and read every post, especially in a thread that moves as quickly as this one. I think the member you quoted was trying to be helpful, and though we rightly aren't supposed to give suggestions in thread posts, I don't think insinuating that some members are illiterate is necessary or in agreement with the friendly attitude of the traditional subforum.

The only member I quoted was Gary, who I'm in full agreement with.

If you have info for this poster, please respond via email or PM. This thread is for the discussion of Barlow knives, not where to buy them. Taking it further, the Traditional forum is a non-commercial forum for the discussion of traditional knives. Matters relating to purchasing don't belong here.

Thanks Gary :thumbup: A shame this has to be stated so frequently here. And that some of our posters don't seem to be able to read :grumpy:

Members don't have to follow every thread in the subforum, they simply have to acquaint themselves with the sub-forum rules, and follow them.

The reading had nothing to do with it. But Thank you.

I wasn't referring to your post Mercyful, but rather to the post following Gary's, which ignored his instruction.

My apologies for a rather ill-tempered post (note I used the 'grumpy' icon rather than the 'mad' one), but the regularity with which the forum rules are ignored in terms of discussion DOES get rather tiresome, and must be even more tiresome for the mods having to deal with it.

Jack

 

[willydigger]

Happy No Vegetables Day!

 

[B.F.U]

The only member I quoted was Gary, who I'm in full agreement with.

Jack

You're right, I apologize. I meant the post to which you were referring.

Everybody makes a post when they're in a bad mood now and then, and people should follow the rules and practices as closely as they can, I just hate to see people discouraged and pushed away from the traditional subforum for a small transgression.


Anyway, I polished up my sheepfoot TC (well, all my GECs) earlier. However, I've been carrying and using it the last few days and it's already developing a new patina. This midnight snack apple should help.

Don't mind the Disney cup.

 

[Jack Black]

I just hate to see people discouraged and pushed away from traditionals for a small transgression.

Hopefully that won't happen :thumbup:

 

[B.F.U]

Hopefully that won't happen [emoji106]

Naw, I highly doubt it. They're too alluring! Haha

Speaking of the new Spey TCs, I am lucky to have gotten in on this round. I missed the first one with the Spey and Day's Work iterations. This will also be my first two blade TC, which I'm also excited about.

 

[knarfeng]

Gary and I seldom give infractions. We occasionally issue official warnings. Usually we just post in the thread. If someone is offended by that mildest method of correction, I have no solution for it other than to suggest folks read the forum rules before posting. (Note: people almost never read the forum rules before posting. It's always "fire, ready, aim.")
Any further discussion on this should occur elsewhere.

 

[RRaconteur]

I believe what you have there, Sarah, is an inscription in ancient Sumerian or Aramaic. It could be a lost text of great significance. Or possibly it says: "EARL."

It really is endearing. I would leave it there, for sure. Reminds us that no one's perfect.

Alas... I can say with confidence it is not Sumerian, Aramaic, or any Near Eastern language... Sanskrit maybe?? [emoji6]

It IS - very nice Barlow, however...[emoji1]


Michael

 

[Dr. Scott]

Happy No Vegetables Day!

I always enjoy your photos, willydigger. Would that be the rust red clip from Spring of 2013? I've got the single clip rust red, but it looks more like raspberry red. I'll try to find it. Nice pictures!

 

[Tenacious D]

Any further discussion on this should occur elsewhere.

.....

 

[Will Power]

This just arrived and it certainly does.

Queen Workhorse Sheepfoot with thick delrin slabs. Blade centre, pinch open but good snap, no gaps I can see or play, sharp enough to cut arm-hair. A tough, very well-made 'Roots Barlow' and at under 40 USD means it's very much the work-knife the Barlow always was:thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

That looks very interesting Will :thumbup:

 

[B.F.U]

This just arrived and it certainly does.

Queen Workhorse Sheepfoot with thick delrin slabs. Blade centre, pinch open but good snap, no gaps I can see or play, sharp enough to cut arm-hair. A tough, very well-made 'Roots Barlow' and at under 40 USD means it's very much the work-knife the Barlow always was[emoji106]

That's awesome!

Edit: never mind, I found it. Very cool looking knife for a good user price.

 

[Modoc ED]

There was a discussion (maybe just a mention) of an aluminum bolstered knife a few posts up in this thread.

This is a thread I posted some years ago about one of my Queen #22 Barlows made with aluminum bolsters and frame. Perhaps it will be interesting to some of you.

Modoc ED thread:

I first spotted this Queen Steel #22 Barlow on a dealers site this past June. I collect Barlows and already have a couple of these so I didn't buy it thinking someone else wanting a uniqely built knife would buy it. However, while checking out dealer's sites Christmas Night, I saw that the knife was still available so I bought it.

The only tang stamp is on the clip blade and that stamp is:

PAT. NO.
2728139

The only model identification is etched on the blade and that etching is:

Queen Steel #22

I believe that, with the blade etching as the only identifier as to model, the period of manufacture is 1961 - 1971. The knife has been well used but not abused. There are a couple of minor nicks in both blades but those can easily be removed with about 30-minutes work on a stone. The handle appears to be rough-cut delrin. The frame/casing is made of Aluminum.

What makes this knife unique is the way it is built. The body of the knife is an elongated casing with the bottom and front open while the spine and rear are closed. There are slots in the closed top edge of the casing. There is no spring pin to attach the spring to the casing. Rather, the spring is inserted through the rear slot in the closed, top edge, of the casing, fitted to the blade tang in the usual manner and fitted to a shoulder on a piece attached internally to the closed, rear, end of the casing. This causes the spring to be leveraged to the solid edge (back) of the casing. That's kind of a simplistic description but you should be able to understand it by looking at the picture of the back of the knife.

Google U. S. Patent 2728139 and you can see a detailed description and drawing of this style knife.

Here are the patent pages so you can see the above mentioned detailed description and drawing of this style knife.

 

[Jack Black]

Very interesting knife Ed, I remember marvelling at it before :thumbup:

 

[Will Power]

Jack It has surprised me, a tough but well finished Sheepfoot at a reasonable price. It may come cheap but it doesn't feel it.

ALHSS Certainly I can recommend one, a worthy user knife, solid and with charm!

Thanks, Will

 

[Jack Black]

Jack It has surprised me, a tough but well finished Sheepfoot at a reasonable price. It may come cheap but it doesn't feel it.

Sounds great Will, look forward to seeing more of it :thumbup:

 

[willydigger]

Fed the Froggehs today. They were awake during the day so I decided they must be in a photogenic mood. First out was Earl.

At first everything looks cool. Until I take my eyes off him to snap the pic.

That's when I notice he's trying to make a break for it.

This it what a froggeh looks like with a bunch of crickets in his belly.

So I put Earl away and get Pearl out. Again things look good.

Next thing I know she's trying to repel to freedom on the blinds cord.

Finally a good shot! And fortunately for me, neither tried to pee on me.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

That is beyond cool willydigger. At first I thought you were trying to pull a fast one on us since they looked almost toy like. Beautiful frogs. I love the 'escape to freedom photo'

 

[Campbellclanman]

Fred, I just LOVE seeing that wonderful TC, its funny - in your photos I have never seen another TC with that exact colouring yet - and also I just LOVE seeing Earl and Pearl - what a couple of sweeties you have there mate - thank you for sharing!!!