What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Man, the covers on that New York are just gorgeous.

That pic of the copperhead just haunts me in my dreams.

Gorgeous knives guys. That stamp on the Ulster bolsters is pretty cool too.
 
Markesharp said:
Yes I did Gevo. Once I split the knife into two pieces, I removed the broken pen blade, backspring and liner. The two small handle pins near the bolster are attached to the liner and therefore, no need to remove them.
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Thanks for the explanation, Mark!
 
Mark and Rob, you guys crack me up, almost daily!:D Mark, I'd say that your little caper is a +1 for the northern boys!:thumbup:

This block 'o wood is becoming a 3 link chain, the TC did the hard work at the start of the project.

 
coolio said:
Mark and Rob, you guys crack me up, almost daily!:D Mark, I'd say that your little caper is a +1 for the northern boys!:thumbup:

This block 'o wood is becoming a 3 link chain, the TC did the hard work at the start of the project.

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Thanks Brad! :D Primble won't answer my phone calls now :eek: I wonder if his britches are burning up?! :eek::confused::D

Can't wait to see how your 3 link chain turns out. :thumbup::)
 
coolio said:
...This block 'o wood is becoming a 3 link chain, the TC did the hard work at the start of the project.
...
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Brad, I'd love to see a WIP thread for one of your whittling projects! :thumbup::thumbup:

- GT
 
waynorth said:
If you guys don't quit pulling my leg, I might wind up tall, after all!!:eek:
:p
:D
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coolio said:
Mark and Rob, you guys crack me up, almost daily!:D Mark, I'd say that your little caper is a +1 for the northern boys!:thumbup:
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The box that I am sending Mark (contains copperhead) is not a copperhead TC nor knife, if ya know what I mean. ;):eek::eek::D

More like curved lines, if you will. ;):D

Had some classics in my pockets today:

2iuf6ty.jpg
 
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waynorth said:
Jack Black, I live for your tidbits of history! And to count those historic figures in your ancestry makes me want to touch the hem of your robe!!
You are a talented and lucky man!!
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LOL! Thanks Charlie, you're too kind my friend :) :thumbup:

I don't think the Furness family ever had any robes to touch (though they did own gannister mines at Stannington at one time in addition to their cuttlin'), Robert Furness found himself in Sheffield's Debtor's Prison (where incidentally, cutler's still carried on working) in 1723, and later, in the 19th century, both Edward and Matthew were fined, for being drunk, and for illegally shooting pigeons! :eek:



The mention of Robert Furness in 1723 indicates that the Furness family were cutlers before the previously stated 1787 (Tweedale), and indeed the family traces its roots back to Eyam in Derbyshire ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyam), where in 1665, the residents famously isolated themselves to prevent the spread of bubonic plague. While a few of the Furness clan ended up at nearby Stoney Middleton, four Furness households survived the plague, so they must have been hardy folk.

I should find out what my old Aunt Nellie's surname was, because I don't actually know, for all I know, she was married to one of the Furness men! After contracting TB, her husband spent the final years of his life sleeping in the garden shed, so that the risk of their six children contracting it would be reduced.

r8shell said:
I assumed a sheepfoot, but I suppose it could have been a spear. Though after DruMoaG the Ravager finishes his infernal work, no man can say with certainty. ;)
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Very true! :eek: Strange that it ended up so close to a Lambsfoot though :)

Campbellclanman said:
Great information Jack Sir- I totally agree with everyones comments on your input my friend.
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Thank you Duncan, being so familiar with Sheffield makes it easier than it would be otherwise :)

Primble said:
Great information Jack !!! :thumbup::)

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Thank you, lovely knife :thumbup:
 
Thank you Jack for all the information over the last couple days. The one link you posted was very interesting as to the cutler's family history and how they lived and worked. I also found it interesting that in that link there is a picture of a Barlow with the exact blade shape Charlie used on his Ancient Barlow.
I was lucky enough to see Charlie's old Barlow collection at the Rendezvous including an original one with that blade shape.
 
Augie said:
Thank you Jack for all the information over the last couple days. The one link you posted was very interesting as to the cutler's family history and how they lived and worked. I also found it interesting that in that link there is a picture of a Barlow with the exact blade shape Charlie used on his Ancient Barlow.
I was lucky enough to see Charlie's old Barlow collection at the Rendezvous including an original one with that blade shape.
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You're very welcome Augie, hope it adds to your enjoyment of those old knives :) Charlie's research is impeccable, there's always a great deal more that goes into his knives than at first meet the eye - and of course they're pretty easy on the eye too! :) :thumbup:
 
Lemmy, great Ulster, love the bolster stamp.

Mark, wonderful work on the NYK, so there is hope for old Barlow's with broken pen's.

Rob, beautiful pics as usual of stunning TC's.

Some pics from this morning,

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IMG_4046_zpshovkmkqk.jpg
 
Augie said:
Thank you Jack for all the information over the last couple days. The one link you posted was very interesting as to the cutler's family history and how they lived and worked. I also found it interesting that in that link there is a picture of a Barlow with the exact blade shape Charlie used on his Ancient Barlow.
I was lucky enough to see Charlie's old Barlow collection at the Rendezvous including an original one with that blade shape.
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Agreed, on all counts.

Here's the image from the article in question,
Some Historical Notes on the Cutlers of Shotnell Farm, p. 30:

actual%20ancient%20barlow.png~original


~ P.
who now wants a "scimitar" barlow, too. :p
 
I want a scimitar barlow as long as it comes in tortoise shell acrylic....I feel the lambs foot may be a tad more practical though.

I do love that handle shape though and the bolster treatment looks pretty cool too.
 
Thanks P :thumbup:

'Spotted Knives' (horn) were massively popular once, and in fact Luke Furness was first recorded as a maker of this style. Both those blade shapes mimic eating patterns of the time. Here's to the scimitar Barlow! :D :thumbup:

 
JustinR said:
I feel the lambs foot may be a tad more practical though.
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I think you may be right! :D You'll note that the scimitar Barlows in the photo above don't have nail-nicks (they hadn't come along yet!), and the shape of the blade allowed it to be grasped without one.

I really like the pistol-shaped handles on the knives shown in the illustration, which kept the point of the knife covered as wear of the spring, and of the blade, caused the point of the blade to rise within the frame. Lovely big 'top hat' kicks added further to the knife's longevity :)
 
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