What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Thank you all for the feedback and comments :thumbup:
At work now and the lighting on the dispatch floor is horrible, will post mark side pics soon. Unfortunately the tang stamp appears to be worn off :thumbdn:
 
Some recent pickups needing varying degrees of TLC. Guess these serve as "before" photos.







The Boker's blades aren't rusting, there is some orange-ish gunk on it which should clean off fairly easily. The blades are full and sharp and the Delrin is clean, so I could have done worse for my first 49x. I will try to polish up the whole thing and add it to the Boker Barlow fam. The Case's spear has been reprofiled by time and sharpening into a wicked-sharp Wharnie and the pen's kick was ground at some point necessitating a very rough quasi-EO notch to be gouged out of the handles, so I think I'll use it to try and Dremel out a proper EO notch and a rounded nail notch on one side. If all goes well, it will likely join the Sabre (who has a "grandaddy" on the way) in the pocket rotation. The Sabre has some nice bone scales and I can always use another sheepsfoot Barlow for the day-to-day. The Primble is my first Barlow of its make, the scales are more than tight enough to carry despite a couple hairlines but I think I'll display it for a little while before working up the nerve to deposit it in the watch pocket. I don't see much besides a light cleaning and oiling to bring some snap back to the pen.

Just writing this post I've picked up the Primble three times to caress the scales on it. :o :D
 
Very nice and just a beautiful variety/group of vintage Barlows. The handle colors are quite an attractive range of different colors. How can anyone look at that grouping and not want to search out more Barlow beauties. Well done and thanks for posting. Lloyd
 
Very nice group there Tsar!

Here are a couple more pictures of the Russell. Mark side scales have more obvious wear to them and the tang stamp is no longer visible.

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Sorry rushed pictures in poor lighting again :(
 
Haven't had a TC Barlow come in in a long time. The PPP edition I had meant alot to me since Charlie made the first TC very close to my birthday.
Finally had to track down an anniversary edition made near my birthday as well with some red soup and that fantastic clip.

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Almost all of the knives (old and new) I saw in this thread seem to be beautifully built, impressive examples of long-living good craftsmanship. The bolster stamps represent the people and companies, who designed and built the knives, and their history, their stories and knife philosophy (very nice: the TC boxes!).

Most of the vintage Barlows looking like they have brass liners, the Case XX and the Robeson Shuredge I own/ed were like this. I like the shiny "gold-silver" contrast, but maybe steel liners, as used by the TC's, will bring more stability?
Another thing I am wondering about is, that on my old knive the blade steel is / or has become a little weak. After cutting an apple and hitting the core, my Robeson Shuredge got a small chip. For example, the 1095 Carbon steel from nowadays GEC made Barlows seems to be more solid. Is this just happening on my knife, or should older models be used more carefully?

Finally, my little Barlow collection

 
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nifebrite said:
Almost all of the knives (old and new) I saw in this thread seem to be beautifully built, impressive examples of long-living good craftsmanship. The bolster stamps represent the people and companies, who designed and built the knives, and their history, their stories and knife philosophy (very nice: the TC boxes!).

Most of the vintage Barlows looking like they have brass liners, the Case XX and the Robeson Shuredge I own/ed were like this. I like the shiny "gold-silver" contrast, but maybe steel liners, as used by the TC's, will bring more stability?
Another thing I am wondering about is, that on my old knive the blade steel is / or has become a little weak. After cutting an apple and hitting the core, my Robeson Shuredge got a small chip. For example, the 1095 Carbon steel from nowadays GEC made Barlows seems to be more solid. Is this just happening on my knife, or should older models be used more carefully?

Finally, my little Barlow collection
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Really like how lightened your scratted became. Did you treat/mod it to become that colouration?
Not sure about steel weakening..unless your blade has massive pitting or wear that's not something I would expect from carbon steel. Especially against a pit

Half/Stop said:
Some great old Barlows today! :cool:

Tim - Nice Anniversary Soup! :thumbup:

Thank you AL. :)
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Thank you Ron~
 
Ryouchijtx said:
Really like how lightened your scratted became. Did you treat/mod it to become that colouration?
Not sure about steel weakening..unless your blade has massive pitting or wear that's not something I would expect from carbon steel. Especially against a pit



Thank you Ron~
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Thanks Tim, I just sanded the surface down a little bit (posted this knife under my former name "what...?" some pages ago).
The Robeson was bought in unused condition, the owner said it's from the 1950's. I guess I was the first user, who did some sharpening and cutting, but don't know what kind of steel this company used in former times...?
 
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I have had this H.S.B. & Co. Barlow a while and just got the old metal key fob in. Looks like it is plated copper.
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Closer view of the fob:
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Q: What makes a good traditional Barlow?

A: A good traditional key fob! ;) :D

Great pictures, Primble! :thumbup:
 
Ryouchijtx said:
Haven't had a TC Barlow come in in a long time. The PPP edition I had meant alot to me since Charlie made the first TC very close to my birthday.
Finally had to track down an anniversary edition made near my birthday as well with some red soup and that fantastic clip.

tumblr_o1zvb6CsFA1rzq6m9o2_1280.jpg
Click to expand...

This is exceptionally nice. The closest to old Case red which is the beautiful bone color ever, at list for me. Great find

Mike
 
Lovely seeing that ebony ppp Philllll - To this day I ( in a funny kinda way ) mourn the loss of my Ebony ppp - traveled with me through England and Scotland, was with me with Jack and I - and one day - Mr, Paul Hilborn saved the day and actually manged to buy one-AND THEN GAVE IT TO ME!!!

Incredible, just incredible generosity - and I always get amped when looking Through Charlie's Threads of TC's, Elusives and our other Waynorth Cutlery SFO's.

Beautiful oldies Sir Primb ( That OVB Key Tag is a wicked find, and the knife is out of this world ), Ron - Love seeing that fantastic Camillus - just a beautiful knife.
 
Philllll - Your Ebony 3P is a Grail for so many of us, thanks for sharing! :thumbup:

Campbellclanman said:
- Mr, Paul Hilborn saved the day and actually manged to buy one-AND THEN GAVE IT TO ME!!!

Beautiful oldies Sir Primb ( That OVB Key Tag is a wicked find, and the knife is out of this world ), Ron - Love seeing that fantastic Camillus - just a beautiful knife.
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Duncan - That is nothing but pure class from Mr. Hilborn, who is one of the most generous gentleman to grace our presence! :thumbup::D Thank you for the kind words about my Camillus!:)
 
TsarBomba said:
Q: What makes a good traditional Barlow?

A: A good traditional key fob! ;) :D

Great pictures, Primble! :thumbup:
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mike Berkovitch said:
Well, their very best with your very best make out stunning knife

Mike
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Campbellclanman said:
Beautiful oldies Sir Primb ( That OVB Key Tag is a wicked find, and the knife is out of this world ), Ron - Love seeing that fantastic Camillus - just a beautiful knife.
Click to expand...

Thank you guys and a nice one Philllll. :thumbup::)
 
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