What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Arathol]

another Utica Kutmaster, this one with a sheepsfoot main blade

 

[bakerg2g]

I like that a lot... Congrats.

Jason

 

[pertinux]

Whoa, very nice-- a much sleeker closed profile than I would have imagined given the blade's shape and size when open.

Is the pile-side bone in as good condition?

~ P.

 

[Arathol]

Whoa, very nice-- a much sleeker closed profile than I would have imagined given the blade's shape and size when open.

Is the pile-side bone in as good condition?

~ P.

Yes, the knife is pretty much unused and looks as it did when it came from the factory back in the 60s.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Yes, the knife is pretty much unused and looks as it did when it came from the factory back in the 60s.

Wow - then you are one lucky knife nut! Good on you, its always great to see someone score like this, both yours and Pauls are Beauts IMO.
Just imagine the two together! what a wonderful achievement to have the Sheepsfoot and the Spear main Barlows side by side

 

[Campbellclanman]

I had another try at some photo's today to try and bring out the real colours of these magnificent knives.....Please tell me if I am clogging things up here and I will amend....

I think that this is really growing on me big time, the Red is beautiful and deep..

Another shot of the awesome Spear...

Closed shots...

I just thought I would put this up again - only because its a Barlow, and I think the scales are extremely kind on the eye....

Nearly finished..

Sarah, I took this photo for you, the above Red is my favourite (I think ), and you said the Amber bone was yours..so here you go..

Group shot....

 

[pertinux]

Wow - then you are one lucky knife nut! Good on you, its always great to see someone score like this, both yours and Pauls are Beauts IMO.
Just imagine the two together! what a wonderful achievement to have the Sheepsfoot and the Spear main Barlows side by side

Funny-- I was thinking the same thing, in part because of how beautiful (and intact) the bone is on each.

I had another try at some photo's today to try and bring out the real colours of these magnificent knives.....Please tell me if I am clogging things up here and I will amend....

Oh, please don't stop-- these are your finest yet. You really captured the colors well.

I remain glad that your driftwood made the cut when you "shifted house."

Sarah, I took this photo for you, the above Red is my favourite (I think ), and you said the Amber bone was yours..so here you go..

Aw, thanks!

And to think, I was already happy that you'd included this one:

You're right, the antique amber bone is my favorite. It's not the prettiest by a long shot (and in fact I think it's kinda ugly!), but is somehow perfect to my eyes for all that. Mine has become my go-to, in a way other fancier, prettier, more-pedigreed (debatable), sillier-so-I-thought-I'd-grab-them-more-often-with-less-care, _______ knives haven't.

Instant "home" with this one. Go figure!

There's just no accounting for taste, not even my own.


Thanks as always for your pictures, Duncan, and your enthusiasm.

~ P.

 

[burnside]

Campbellclanman, Those are some great photos! The red bone in that first shot looks outstanding. I wish I was not so tempted by the bone colors because I am mostly focused in on the ebonies. Great knives :thumbup:

 

[paulhilborn]

another Utica Kutmaster, this one with a sheepsfoot main blade

Arathol, that is a terrific KUTMASTER!!! I have never seen one with the Sheepfoot---thanks for showing it here.

Paul

 

[paulhilborn]

I had another try at some photo's today to try and bring out the real colours of these magnificent knives.....Please tell me if I am clogging things up here and I will amend....

Duncan, I really enjoy your pictures, so please don't stop!!!

Paul

 

[scruffuk]

Some beautiful pics in here again...especially your offerings Dunc, this one especially....

...phwoar!

However I'm not here just to perv. I am in fact here to share something, something I actually though tI'd never be able to say.....there are still some quality knives being produced here in Blighty!!

Inspired by all this Barlow blather these past few months D), I figured I'd look to Sheffield's Little Messer, Mr Ablett, to see if we could claw back a bit of national cutlery pride.
I have not been disappointed!

The light is not very favourable right now (and its testing my photography skills), so I'll just leave one more photo, one I'm sure Jack will 'appreciate'

 

[puukkoman]

Very nice, Scruff! I've wondered how those stack up... Looks good.

 

[waynorth]

Ahhh, I love this thread - such wonderful Barlows, such great photography!
My thanks to all the contributors - I won't name you for fear of forgetting someone - but please keep up the good work!!

Taking pictures outdoors provides a particular pleasure, after a rainy, grey winter, but all shots are enjoyable and welcome!

 

[Thomason]

I believe it was mentioned in this thread that Canal Street is working on their version of a Barlow with 14-4 CrMo steel clip and pen blades and stainless steel bolsters. A little birdie told me that one dealer is having Canal Street make them some in stag. I'm not sure if it is OK to say which dealer here, so I won't. I believe they will surface fairly soon now and should be worth keeping an eye out for. Speaking of stag, I wonder if GEC is considering a stag version of their Charlow?

These are indeed good days to be a Barlowist.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you Sarah, Burnside & Paul , Sarah - that pic of yours with the watch is just awesome!!!!

Sruff, for some reason I am not picking up the first flick........ and I really want to have more looksee at that neat Sheffield Barlow of yours!!

 

[scruffuk]

^^ Fixed those gremlins.

More pictures to come tomorrow.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Looks great Scruff, that's a nice looking knife, lets see a bit more of it sometime Sir!

 

[Art_Vandeley]

I just picked up my 2 charlows. The brown one is going accompany me as my only knife for the next 18 days in Germany. Im literally on the way to the airport. I just picked the one I like best and threw it in my luggage. But what I've seen from them they seem very very nice.

 

[pertinux]

I am in fact here to share something, something I actually though tI'd never be able to say.....there are still some quality knives being produced here in Blighty!!

Ah, nice! I look forward to further pictures.

I believe it was mentioned in this thread that Canal Street is working on their version of a Barlow with 14-4 CrMo steel clip and pen blades and stainless steel bolsters. A little birdie told me that one dealer is having Canal Street make them some in stag.

The sunset bone is the the one I'm still waiting to see, a la the prototype(?) picture posted early on. CSC's sunset bone has looked good in every picture I've seen of it so far. Is that what they used on the Dan Burke barlows?

These are indeed good days to be a Barlowist.

Ooops, wrong one.

Here we go:

(Huzzah, agreement, etc. etc.)

Sarah - that pic of yours with the watch is just awesome!!!!

Thanks, Duncan. The watch is like one I had as a child; the one pictured is new to me courtesy of the inestimable Paul Hilborn. It's ticking away next to me companionably as I write this.

I just picked up my 2 charlows. The brown one is going accompany me as my only knife for the next 18 days in Germany.

Whew. I'm so glad they finally arrived. "18 days as the only knife" is a great way to get to get acquainted; I look forward to hearing what you think.

~ P.

 

[t.sous11]

There are some amazing pictures in this thread. unfortunately I'm not a professional photographer by any means and am only working with my phone so hopefully you all can bare with my unexceptional photo.

I did just finish a ball in cage using only my Tom's Choice Barlow. The knife is a dream in use and is starting to develop a nice patina. The ebony on my knife is the best I've ever seen in person, it's black as coal.