What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[btmccutcheon]

@ bt, very nice Primble, I'll weigh in with my thoughts but like you the definitive answers would be from Rob himself:thumbup:

I THINK, the Star indicates Boker made? In regards to year? Rob, you out there buddy

Paul is correct. The star stamped Primbles were made by Boker, between 1940-1968. If you look at a Boker Barlow from the same era, the blades were identical, however, the Primble bolsters were quite different from the Boker models.



Nice to see the Boker made Primble Barlows showing up ! :thumbup:

Another beauty, and the pin configuration seems much closer to the older Russell (as well as the Remington I posted here). When I get home I'm going to try and dig up some more info about this little German family of Barlows.

According to Levine's, the O.N.B. is likely made by Kastor Bro. about 1910.

 

[pertinux]

~ P.

 

[BearBug]

Great looking TC, Pertinux. Those single clips look perfect. I think your owl addiction, I mean collection might be a strong as your knife one.

 

[Luger1952]

An owlusive TC P! Great photo of a highly desirable model. Lloyd

 

[pertinux]

Great looking TC, Pertinux. Those single clips look perfect. I think your owl addiction, I mean collection might be a strong as your knife one.

My affinity for owls revealed itself almost before I could talk, so really, there's no competition. My knives and owlphemera [as I like to call it] now seem to blossom apace with one another.

~ P.

 

[LastRodeo]

Remember that owl from the Tootsie Pop commercials? That dude rocked!

 

[pertinux]

Remember that owl from the Tootsie Pop commercials? That dude rocked!

Absolutely!

An owlusive TC P! Great photo of a highly desirable model. Lloyd

Thanks!

I can hardly believe this now, but I was fortunate to order in one of each cover of the first-run TC clip barlows. I expected to love the ebony most, and thus ordered it in my usually-preferred two-blade configuration; the others were all single-bladed.

As soon as I opened the amber number pictured above, I was ruined for any of the others. They were, are, all so fine, but there was something about the amber's unassuming, pre-distressed accessibility that knocked me right over. Seldom have I responded to a knife so viscerally.

Mine.


...The two-bladed ebony? It is now known as George, seen here in r8shell's pictures.

~ P.

 

[Txjohn]

The amber clip was my first and second barlow . A friend of mine mentioned he liked them so I gave him the first and bought a replacement . If I'm not mistaking the second one was the only option available at that dealer . Soon after barlow fever started

 

[r8shell]

George!

 

[Ryouchijtx]

So recently I've received an ebony 2 blade (I have a feeling my amber sawcut on the way will overshadow everything else I have as well Sarah

But this one needed some TLC. The photo I took of it first off didn't look all that bad but there were quite a few pockmarks and patina. I don't think I'll be doing anything to the blade itself but the snap/action on this one is wonderful.

I actually enjoy used knives more than brand new 'mint' one's due to being able to fix them up. Sometimes the projects don't always go my way but it's always fun to give a knife a 'spa' and see it "come back to life"

before

 

[Luger1952]

Four of my favorites

 

[pertinux]

George!

There he is!


To be clear, I consider George to be one of the bestest, most top-shelf knives possible; but, especially after bonding with the single-bladed amber, I wanted this fine two-blade ebony to go to someone who would use it it in a way I could not bring myself to (in a funny way, I was intimidated by its very fine-ness) and -- hopefully-- cherish.

How happy, to find him the right home.

Wouldn't you know, some time after I'd surprised r8shell with George, someone else surprised me with one of the most hard-used barlows I've beheld on these pages:

I had no compunction about throwing this 'distressed' knife into my pocket, and for reasons of sentiment and excellence in proven use (mine and its first owner's), deem in one of my most Favorite favorites.

~ P.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

There he is!


To be clear, I consider George to be one of the bestest, most top-shelf knives possible; but, especially after bonding with the single-bladed amber, I wanted this fine two-blade ebony to go to someone who would use it it in a way I could not bring myself to (in a funny way, I was intimidated by its very fine-ness) and -- hopefully-- cherish.

How happy, to find him the right home.

Wouldn't you know, some time after I'd surprised r8shell with George, someone else surprised me with one of the most hard-used barlows I've beheld on these pages:

~ P.

Great story P, I was wondering what the significance of those two dots under the TC on the pile side were? Was it just a stroke of luck by Patina or was this some super secret special bolster

 

[r8shell]

It took some fortitude to make myself use George the way he was meant to be used

Day one:

now:


At this rate, he won't last more than another 100 years.

 

[pertinux]

Great story P, I was wondering what the significance of those two dots under the TC on the pile side were? Was it just a stroke of luck by Patina or was this some super secret special bolster

The previous owner marked the knife with the dots in a way of... marking it (I'm not sure what he was designating at the time). I like it a lot-- it looks like an umlaut.

It took some fortitude to make myself use George the way he was meant to be used

Day one:

now:

That's the spirit!

At this rate, he won't last more than another 100 years.

~ P.

 

[philllll]

Well loved barlow at the beach

 

[RDaneel]

Some wonderfully used and beautifully cared for Barlows on this page, Luger, r8shell, pertinux, Tim and Phil!

These are my users (although there are many that call to be used - one spearpoint in particular).

 

[Campbellclanman]

Wow...you know...it's really hard to explain the feeling one gets when looking at these magnificent knives, heres a couple I hope you like......

 

[Half/Stop]

Gee thanks Duncan! I just had to clean the drool off my IPAD screen!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Lol Ron...Hey....I do exactly that too here my friend!