What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

First of all I want apologize for the pictures. Trying to get a good shot of a really shiny mirror polish is beyond my meager skills.
This is the new Canal Street English Barlow. Not sure why they say English. The wood paneling is reclaimed, stabilized American chestnut. Wood came from a barn built in 1920 outside Hopkinsville, KY so the paperwork tells me. Steel is 14-4 CROM, a stainless of some sort. The mark side of the blades are highly polish and the pile side not so much. Don't know why but it was done that way on purpose. The bolsters are steel, not nickel silver. About 3 3/8 inches.

I have owned a few Canal Street knives and all have been pretty nice but I have to say this one on another level. Blades are sharp and perfectly centered. A nice firm snap when they open and close. No half stops. I had read people say that half stops are a kind safety feature but didn't think too much about it. I guess I have gotten use to having them from carrying my Charlow and sure enough while playing with this one it almost bit me.:D Everything is fitteded and finisheded perfectly, no gaps (oops, there is a small backspring to frame gap) or anything like that. I wasn't sure about the little eye/wood knot on the paneling at first but I have come to like it. I could not be more please with this knife.

I got my name on a list for one of these several months ago as soon as I heard they were in the works. I was told they were all sold out before they were made. I haven't heard about what Canal Street has planned on down the road.

Like it was said earlier in this thread, "It is a good time to me a Barlowist".





 
Last edited:
Rob, that's a fantastic Barlow. I never even knew they were making them and that's the first one I've even seen. Thanks for posting it. As far as the knot is concerned, that makes it unique; no one else will have one that catches the eye as quickly.

Ed J
 
TLARbb said:
Rob, that's a fantastic Barlow. I never even knew they were making them and that's the first one I've even seen. Thanks for posting it. As far as the knot is concerned, that makes it unique; no one else will have one that catches the eye as quickly.

Ed J
Click to expand...

+1 I like that one a lot!
 
That looks like a nice little barlow! At first I thought that knot was some strange kind of pin or something.

I've got a couple questions...can you tell us what the length on the clip blade is? And also, is the pen blade thinner stock than the clip blade?
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Duncan, having witnessed my uncle (body shop owner/painter) and a friend of the family (painter) discuss painting cars ad nauseum, your post was not bad, it was informative.
Click to expand...

Thank you!, I was just thinking allowed, which is not to say I am correct, I wish I had some Bone, and the dyes that are used, I would experiment all day!
I owned a Car-Painting business for 20 years, I loved custom work!

waynorth said:
I don't consider it raving, Duncan! I consider your wonderful posts as floods of experience and information you are willing to share! Keep up the good work!
Click to expand...
Thank you Charlie

waynorth said:
I think the EOs will eventually appear on the Boy's knives!!
I can't wait myself!
Click to expand...

OH.... I thought that you were going to have these done on your side of things Charlie? ( write memo note - do not e-mail Charlie and hassle him to order Easy openers)



akadave2 said:
So far, for F&F, walk and talk, feel and overall appeal, the Charlows are the best of GEC. I even a J.B.F Champlin Eureka and its not as nice.
Click to expand...

Agreed whole heartedly - I cant speak for the Champlin Eureka Jack - they look great, but GEC have nailed these Barlows, this obviously comes from close discussions between Charlie and GEC, the value for dollar is immense, the knife that you are buying is a lot higher bracket for the money - that's obvious.
 
confucius37, from bolster to the tip it is smidgen under 2 1/2. Pen maybe just slightly thinner stock but not by much.
 
Rob that's a nice Barlow - thanks for the mini-review and pics!
I like the Beauty marks; gives the knife some life!!
 
Nice barlow Rob, the knots are definitely a rarity, wormholes are more common. I like those little quirks, definitely gives the knife character. 14-4CrMo is a high end stainless, a few steps above 440C, more in-line with BG-42. Also like the "paneling" reference, not looking to commit yourself? :D ;)

Eric
 
White linen looks pretty sweet too. Nice knives aren't they, T. Dave?

ea42 - TSA rules about knives on planes was in the news and I saw some newscaster talking about it. He said when he was kid his Dad gave him a knife with wood paneling. What a goof ball. It struck me as pretty funny in a way so I stole the term from him.
 
Last edited:
I have never had a barlow and have not seen the Charlows in person but the pics of the Charlow's look awesome.


Have a great day,
Jeff
 
14-4 CrMo is Latrobe Steel's version of 154CM (Crucible) or ATS-34 (Hitachi).

Rob, that's a nice Barlow. Congrats on that one for sure!
 


Beautiful 152213 TC Barlow in Rust Red Sawcut Bone. Wow Charlie!:thumbup::thumbup:

 
Glad you like it Barry!!
Nice setting! Looks like your back yard is in spring mode!!
 
Thomason said:
Like it was said earlier in this thread, "It is a good time to me a Barlowist".
Click to expand...

Well... close. ;)

We can't all be you a Barlowist, but these are good times for those who love these patterns. :thumbup:

:D

Thanks for all the pictures-- I'd followed these for a short time, and then lost track. So clever, to order them ahead of time. ... Still learning.

Thomason said:

Click to expand...

Very fine! I'm glad to see the knothole on both sides. Were it just on one cover, it would bother me, but I like how the knothole demonstrates that the knife's covers clearly came from the same piece of paneling (similar to book-matched guitar tops and backs), so: nice. :)

I like this one a lot too:
Tennessee Dave said:
Click to expand...

... So classy.

I'm hoping pictures of sunset bone show up soon.

Meanwhile, it looks like Gunstockjack has found yet another "favorite knife":

gunstockjack said:
Click to expand...

;)

Well-done, Charlie & GEC.

~ P.
 
Thomason said:
Like it was said earlier in this thread, "It is a good time to me a Barlowist".
Click to expand...

Uh Uh Uh! Me Barlowist Too!

Neanderthal_Man_2457005b_zpse6458b8d.jpg


But me not you!! Better looking!!! Uh Uh Uh!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top