What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Campbellclanman]

What a fantastic idea Charlie, I love the stamped blade with the Trinacria in the middle, the scratted bone, hammered pins and authentic period barlow blade. I have loved these Ancient Barlow's since you posted them the first time and had to look up the ones on the Arabia Steamboat (I think that is the name) not to mention all the history posted here by our very knowledgeable members. I know I will never find a very good specimen (or afford it) but these Ancient Barlow's are just awesome, like having one back in the beginning days of Barlow design. I picked up a not so great specimen of an S.E. Oates & Sons that may be re-pinned and or re-covered but I love it just the same. Sorry for re posting it here.

Dave
Matey - why would you consider replacing those absolutely lovely scales? that knife is just perfect as it is - how very early Barlows should be - thats a neat knife there my friend!

 

[Jack Black]

Beautiful early Barlow Dave :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

To mark the coming to fruition of Charlie's long-planned Ancient Barlows, I thought I'd post up these photos of the site of Obadiah Barlow's old home and hearth in Hartshead, Sheffield (the subject of prior posts in this thread, with photos of how the area looked in earlier times), and the streets roundabouts. The Barlows lived in the house which was next to The Old Banker's House (behind the white van in the second photo), separated by the small entryway.

 

[Jolipapa]

Thank you for the visit Jake! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Here's a couple of extra pics showing the wooden beams of the old house as they pass over the alleyway, it's like going back in time when you pass through that arch!

The bricks on the right of the entry (in the photos) appear to be from the earlier building, which pre-dated the current one (ie the home and workshop of Obadiah and John Barlow).

 

[Humppa]

Thanks for the pics, Jack. Much appreciated to see that old great looking buildings.
The beams are really impressive; the seem to be almost bent due to their weight of the stones above it.

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you for the visit Jake! :thumbup:

Thanks for the pics, Jack. Much appreciated to see that old great looking buildings.
The beams are really impressive; the seem to be almost bent due to their weight of the stones above it.

Thanks guys. Yes Andi, I suspect that if it wasn't for the concrete reinforcement installed in recent times, those beams would be sagging even more. The Old Banker's House is the oldest brick-built house in the centre of Sheffield, but it's incredible how many timber-framed houses have survived here, in old cities like York they're not even given any form of reverence!

 

[Augie]

Jack, thanks for the tour, that must be some good English Oak to hold up over the centuries.
Charlie, the more I look at your new/old Barlow's the more I love them. I really love the old Barlow's and your latest creation really blends the old with the new.
Couple old Barlow pics, blades well worn but all 3 are still tight usable knives.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Augie, three beautiful old Barlows there, I guess they made things to last in the old days :thumbup:

 

[waynorth]

Thanks for the wonderful pics of Hallowed buildings and ground, Jack!!
I have to place my shoes on those cobbles, some time in my life!!

It is very nice of you folks to put up pics of your Furness and Oates Barlows!
I love every one of them.
I sent a bunch of mine ahead to Titusville, to be viewed at the Rendezvous!
Everyone who can make it will get a first hand look at some of my oldies!

 

[dave308ek]

Dave
Matey - why would you consider replacing those absolutely lovely scales? that knife is just perfect as it is - how very early Barlows should be - thats a neat knife there my friend!

Thanks so much Duncan Sorry if I was not clear but I won't be replacing the covers, I love the hammered pins and sawed bone too much. I am just unsure if they had been replaced previously (still learning).

Beautiful early Barlow Dave :thumbup:

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate that. You and Charlie are the inspiration for my searching.

To mark the coming to fruition of Charlie's long-planned Ancient Barlows, I thought I'd post up these photos of the site of Obadiah Barlow's old home and hearth in Hartshead, Sheffield

Thanks for sharing the photos and history Jack. I can imagine the carriages, wagons and fashion of the times running through the streets, alleyways and archways. Great stuff and you caught a beautiful day. :thumbup:

Augie - Those are some really fantastic examples of the art of Barlow. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the wonderful pics of Hallowed buildings and ground, Jack!!
I have to place my shoes on those cobbles, some time in my life!!

I hope we can walk them together my friend

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate that. You and Charlie are the inspiration for my searching.


Thanks for sharing the photos and history Jack. I can imagine the carriages, wagons and fashion of the times running through the streets, alleyways and archways. Great stuff and you caught a beautiful day. :thumbup:

Thanks Dave, you're very kind. That area of Sheffield still has a lot of the old world about it. I actually had to circle round several times to try and get a pic of The Old Banker's House without the white van in front, the idiot sitting in it was a security guard and seemed to think it was him I wanted to photograph! Hardest was getting this pic



Here's how the street looked at the beginning of the 20th century, shortly before it was widened and the Barlow house replaced.

 

[swaybacksteve]

The scratted bone may be called diamonding , but to this boy from Hawaii it's a pineapple. Pineapples were brought over to England from China and India...then made it's way to the America's in late 1700's from the carib islands and good ole Capt. Cook introduced the fruit to Hawaii. It is of course very popular in Hawaii...but it became (especially in the South)and still is a popular motif in decorating as a sign of welcome and generosity, which I think fits the traditional forum very well. Well done waynorth. Congrats to all the folks who got in on the preorder...

 

[Half/Stop]

Jack, thank you for the pictorial tour It really helps to put the history in perspective.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Dave - its me who probably got you wrong, I do that on a average of say 85 to 90% of the time here lol - glade you like those covers and pins, I would say with my immense ( lack of ) experience - they would be original scales and pins.

Jack Sir - I have stood bt your side in those Streets - I recognise them! - especially that very cool Cobble Stoned street before the Three Tuns Pub - the Three Tuns pub itself as walked past that and also the big Courtyard in the photo after the Three Tuns!!! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

The scratted bone may be called diamonding , but to this boy from Hawaii it's a pineapple. Pineapples were brought over to England from China and India...then made it's way to the America's in late 1700's from the carib islands and good ole Capt. Cook introduced the fruit to Hawaii. It is of course very popular in Hawaii...but it became (especially in the South)and still is a popular motif in decorating as a sign of welcome and generosity, which I think fits the traditional forum very well. Well done waynorth. Congrats to all the folks who got in on the preorder...

Interesting idea Steve There was certainly an obsession with pineapples here among the rich at one time. At one of the South Yorkshire stately homes, they even tried growing them, raising the temperature by building double walls designed to burn coal between the layers, and employing poor folk to stay up all night feeding the fires!

Jack, thank you for the pictorial tour It really helps to put the history in perspective.

Thanks Ron :thumbup:

Jack Sir - I have stood bt your side in those Streets - I recognise them! - especially that very cool Cobble Stoned street before the Three Tuns Pub - the Three Tuns pub itself as walked past that and also the big Courtyard in the photo after the Three Tuns!!! :thumbup:

I thought you would recognise the Three Tuns and Paradise Square Duncan, I think of our wonderful day everytime I visit Sheffield

 

[dispatch184]

Love the new run Charlie! That blackwood is fantastic. And thank you for the tour Jack, exactly what makes this such a great thread. :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Drew :thumbup:

 

[Markesharp]

 

[waynorth]

Nice contrasting handles, Mark - two different personalities.
And they look good on the stump!