What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

Camillus said:
I just noticed the blade etch with the 'lick creek' on it. I read the story about lick creek but I dont know what connects this pattern to that name. Given the knives come with the name written on them, I am even more curious as to why it was chosen.
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Charlie posted a proof of the label that goes on each Barlow's tube. The story is on there, IIRC.
 
The heartwood with the satin bolster is just plain yummy.

heart1.jpg
 
Camillus said:
I just noticed the blade etch with the 'lick creek' on it. I read the story about lick creek but I dont know what connects this pattern to that name. Given the knives come with the name written on them, I am even more curious as to why it was chosen.
Click to expand...

There is a long and rambling story, woven into the last year or two of Special Factory Orders by my friend Lyle and I. He was born on Lick Creek, and it's a great name for a backwoods holler, where, in history, pocket knives were important in every day life. Lyle put the name Lick Creek on his Farmer's Jacks, which turned out to be outstandingly beautiful and useful pocket tools!
I named these Barlow knives after my good friend's birthplace.
No-one has asked me why I named the #15 Barlow after the mythical Tom Sawyer, because everyone has at least an inkling of the tales written about him and Barlow knives. But the reasons are similar. There will be more tales from Lick Creek. If you follow the ongoing story of Great Eastern knives, you will see them!
;)
 
Glad to see all the 14's. I especially like the yellow heart wood...I don't get to see my ragg till next week.


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The heart wood really is something to see in person. It's really hard to capture and represent how great the grain is and the magic it casts on the eye. The grain runs both horizontal and vertical creating a series of connected squares and has a really strong visual resemblance to polished canvas micarta, which is really cool being just the characteristics of the wood. I'm not sure where it came from but it's amazing stuff. I really hope to see this on more patterns in the future:thumbup:

I took a handful of pictures but only one even comes close to doing this wood justice. The mark side looks just as good but I couldn't capture it. Really interested to watch this age and darken slightly.

 
waynorth said:
There is a long and rambling story, woven into the last year or two of Special Factory Orders by my friend Lyle and I. He was born on Lick Creek, and it's a great name for a backwoods holler, where, in history, pocket knives were important in every day life. Lyle put the name Lick Creek on his Farmer's Jacks, which turned out to be outstandingly beautiful and useful pocket tools!
I named these Barlow knives after my good friend's birthplace.
No-one has asked me why I named the #15 Barlow after the mythical Tom Sawyer, because everyone has at least an inkling of the tales written about him and Barlow knives. But the reasons are similar. There will be more tales from Lick Creek. If you follow the ongoing story of Great Eastern knives, you will see them!
;)
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This sounds very interesting and promising at the same time to me
 
Augie said:
StoneBeard, that is one of the best examples I've seen yet, congrats, very nice Barlow. I love how Charlie and GEC try to recreate the knives of our past.

Vintage Case with wonderful Ragg bone,



IMG_5202_zpsowc8rgfb.jpg
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Thank you for the compliment Augie. Your TC's also look great but what is even more impressive is your many truly beautiful vintage Barlows. This Case is a prime example:thumbup:
 
StoneBeard said:
The heart wood really is something to see in person. It's really hard to capture and represent how great the grain is and the magic it casts on the eye. The grain runs both horizontal and vertical creating a series of connected squares and has a really strong visual resemblance to polished canvas micarta, which is really cool being just the characteristics of the wood. I'm not sure where it came from but it's amazing stuff. I really hope to see this on more patterns in the future:thumbup:

I took a handful of pictures but only one even comes close to doing this wood justice. The mark side looks just as good but I couldn't capture it. Really interested to watch this age and darken slightly.
Click to expand...

I think you captured it perfectly. That is what I see when I look at mine, but I can't seem to get it in a photo. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Nice capture, Stonebeard!

Here is a comparison of Barlow sizes. There are some Barlows from the late 1800s here along with two Lick Creeks!
14%20comparo%201_zpsrwrnnfa4.jpg

14%20comparo%202_zps0z4n8mc2.jpg
 
Here's the whole 1-blade family.
Bill ran short of Yellow Heart wood, so put some Ebony on a few - with apologies, not enough to go around! 5 1-blades and 6 2-blades.
No dealers got them.
14%20comparo%203_zpsxuajbf24.jpg

14%20comparo%204_zps6c3pzdnj.jpg
 
Ughh! That ebony looks amazing! Wish I could get one.

Charlie since we have your attention, is there any chance we might see some more sawcut bone TC 15s in the near future? I just love sawcut.
 
Man, that ebony single blade is right up there with the black cherry Sawcut. Beautiful knife, Charlie!
 
waynorth said:
There is a long and rambling story, woven into the last year or two of Special Factory Orders by my friend Lyle and I. He was born on Lick Creek, and it's a great name for a backwoods holler, where, in history, pocket knives were important in every day life. Lyle put the name Lick Creek on his Farmer's Jacks, which turned out to be outstandingly beautiful and useful pocket tools!
I named these Barlow knives after my good friend's birthplace.
No-one has asked me why I named the #15 Barlow after the mythical Tom Sawyer, because everyone has at least an inkling of the tales written about him and Barlow knives. But the reasons are similar. There will be more tales from Lick Creek. If you follow the ongoing story of Great Eastern knives, you will see them!
;)
Click to expand...

5K Qs said:
Thanks for the helpful IDs, sir! :thumbup:

- GT
Click to expand...

Your welcome.
 
Ebony PPP single spear (#15)
Bone PPP single spear (#14)

Quite the handsome couple...

bea82af6a4907d750cc3a9876117351f.jpg


7e7df3b051e86f348ef0778acd1a1b1e.jpg
 
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