What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Campbellclanman]

Maybe it is the angle of your photo as you say but the tip does look a bit flat which can be caused by sliding the tip of the blade off the sharpenenr when sharpening instead of stopping the sharpening stroke before the tip slides off the sharpener and lifting the tip of the blade off the sharpener. Nothing to worry about - it can easily be corrected.

Nice looking knife Sarah. Unless you really want that dark spot on the blade to be so prominent, you can give it a swipe or two with a Flitz cloth to tone it down just a bit.

Dang, I am just happy to have got this far to get my knives to cut! No seriously, although I have MUCH to learn, you taught me something today Ed, Thank you.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Well, yesterday was a VERY good day for me indeed, heres some shots of my new spectacular Barlows ( or should that be Charlows? )
I find the knives to be bang on, I haven't bothered about holding the knives up looking for gaps etc, as I didn't pay the amount of money to justify such an inspection, if the gap was big enough- I would have most certainly seen it whilst handling the knife!
What great value for money these knives are, the pull is perfect! I would rate mine an easy 4 - how do you say people with yours?

The Ebony, The Amber Bone, or The Red Bone?....I would usually jump head first into choosing the Ebony, and as deep and wonderful the New Ebony is ( I DO love it ) I cant make up my mind which one I love the most, I think I am spinning towards the red Bone.
Please forgive the colour that has been bought out from the setting Sun yesterday, I personally feel that the Bone of my Red Barlow is getting shockingly close the the 70's Case RED Bones, which I rate to be ( one of ) the best you can get...
Can I say there is a LOT of Charlie in these photos, and its a great feeling here in New Zealand, to think of a friend, while admiring one of his knives............

 

[paulhilborn]

WOW Duncan---terrific pictures my friend---so glad your feeling better :thumbup:

Your posts are so enjoyable to read---full of enthusiasm and kindness in every way

Great "Charlows" and additional GEC's as well as the other great Barlows---CASE and the Daddy Barlows also!!!

Thank you for the great pictures and so glad your feeling well!!!

Paul

 

[mr_badexample]

Excellent pics Duncan!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you both guys, but to be honest, since I have shifted, I don't have an area that I can take decent shots anymore - as we all know you cant take a knife shot in the sun - its needs filtering and at my home before I had an ideal place - so to be honest I am horrified to see the results of the amount of time that I took to take these shots-right now I am just going to have to live with it lol.

Charlie and Paul, I found the comparison of the Barlows that were put up to compare Pauls stunner great - what beautiful knives!!!

 

[Modoc ED]

The title of this thread is; "What makes a good, traditional Barlow?". The funny thing is that Charlie and GEC in their infinite wisdom decided to put their Tom's Choice Barlow and Boys Knife on the same pattern (#15) so I think it's appropriate to group them together in pictures. Besides, they're my pictures.

Both knives came in this week - the Barlow on Monday; the Boys Knife on Friday. Another Barlow just like the one pictured will be here on Monday.

Both are great little knives, came sharp out of the tube, and should be good workers. Just on looks/appearance, I'd have to pick the Boys Knife right now as my favorite. That long slab of ebony uninterrupted by a shield is handsome.

 

[black mamba]

I'm surprised, given their tradition of only putting long pulls on Northfield knives, that they used the long pulls on their Boy's Knives.
Seems a standard crescent pull would be more appropriate for the "lower end" offering.

 

[avoidspam]

Great pic's of a top collection. Duncan

Ed, thanks for showing the two together, I'm going to buy a knife for a friend and I'm veering towards the Boy's knife. I already have a clip TC Barlow, most impressed. My friend's after a smallish knife he can pinch open, the Boy's knife should fit the bill nicely

 

[Modoc ED]

Well Jeff, these knives are SFOs by Charlie and by using the long pull on both knives, GEC only had to stamp out and detail one style of blade instead of two (long pull nick blade and crescent pull nick blade). They (GEC) were able to use the same pen blade on both knives too.

 

[waynorth]

Great Pics Duncan! That MSA Daddy has a wonderful blade in it!!

Ed I absolutely agree with you! Thanks for the comparo!

Jeff, we batted the pulls around quite a bit, and decided the long pull was the way to go, especially on the Spear version. If gives that little extra access behind the pen! Besides, they look better to my eye! If you really want to save money, don't coin the bolster with TC - now there's the expensive part of the equation!! But oh so necessary!

Sam you might want to wait for the EO version for a pure pinchable! I'll try to find out more, but I know there is a #15 EO on the horizon!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Sam you might want to wait for the EO version for a pure pinchable! I'll try to find out more, but I know there is a #15 EO on the horizon!!

WHAT! Now how did I miss hearing about this one?...I am going to have to get my act together, this E/O sounds like a incredible knife, please let us know as soon as you hear something Charlie/Sarah..... this one has really pricked my ears up with interest!!

 

[avoidspam]

Hello?!

 

[SHEBOP]

Gots my attention!

 

[paulhilborn]

I'm all EARS

Paul

 

[Gevonovich]

I think I could fall in love with that piece too. I might even call her Daisy

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=fXOKQBCYqAo&desktop_uri=/watch?v=fXOKQBCYqAo

 

[xtonesterx]

so i couldnt help myself and got both lol. they are both just so beautiful. the fit and finish on these is perfect. right now im leaning toward the double bladed.

 

[pertinux]

I find the knives to be bang on, I haven't bothered about holding the knives up looking for gaps etc, as I didn't pay the amount of money to justify such an inspection, if the gap was big enough- I would have most certainly seen it whilst handling the knife!
What great value for money these knives are....

I like the way you think!

(I know and respect that we all often have different expectations and purposes for knives at a given price point/means of production, but in my little world if I start to fret over not-instantly-obvious details or distractions, it's usually a sign that I need to go outside.)

Thanks for all the great pictures, Duncan. What a beautiful array:

Those look fantastic together.

That long slab of ebony uninterrupted by a shield is handsome.

I agree. Wow.

I'm all EARS

It may seem that way to you, but going by your avatar I'd venture there's also some other interesting business going on in your head area.

so i couldnt help myself and got both lol. they are both just so beautiful. the fit and finish on these is perfect. right now im leaning toward the double bladed.

I'll say! This is one of my favorite pictures so far; so much to love. Excellent picture of some of my favorite covers e-vah. :thumbup:

~ P.

 

[Jack Black]

^ It's a long way up now, but great pics Duncan!

 

[pertinux]

The point is sharp, at least.

Pile-side beauty as the sun begins to set:

Out with a fancy friend:

Such totally different knives!

~ P.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I like the way you think!

(I know and respect that we all often have different expectations and purposes for knives at a given price point/means of production, but in my little world if I start to fret over not-instantly-obvious details or distractions, it's usually a sign that I need to go outside.)

Thanks for all the great pictures, Duncan. What a beautiful array:

~ P.

Sarah, totally my pleasure, we all love looking at your great photo's - that's for sure!:thumbup:

hey...im diggin' the blue GEC - way cool!