What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

swaybacksteve said:
Terrific Robeson ironbut, it's like that etch has never been touched!
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Thanks. I got if off the Exchange a couple months ago. The bolsters have some fine swirl marks, so it's been carried, but the blade itself appears pristine. Not a single scratch or rub mark on it.
 
Dadpool said:
I got into traditionals in 2015, and back then I spent hours poring over this thread and admiring all of the Barlows in it. I've kept up with it since, most often as a lurker. A Barlow -- a Ka-Bar Coppersmith -- was what got me interested in traditionals in the first place, and it remains my favorite pattern; this thread has only deepened my appreciation of the pattern.

But I'd always steered clear of carbon steel, wary of my ability to care for it properly, and that meant that the Barlows I admired most -- the ones I saw as best exemplifying the answer to this thread's titular question -- were "off limits." Until today! I decided to give carbon steel a shot, and was fortunate enough to be able to acquire the exact Barlow that's haunted my dreams: a GEC Northfield #77 with a single clip point blade, sawcut bone covers, and a long match-striker pull.

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I decided that my best bet for making a real go of carbon steel was to buy a knife that cried out to be used, with a single blade for ease of maintenance, and a blade profile that suits itself well to a variety of tasks, including food prep. I've already used it to make a sandwich. ;)

Holding this knife feels like making a direct connection with the past. I love everything about it. Without this thread, and its ceaseless parade of beautiful Barlows, I'm not sure I would have bought this one -- so thank you to everyone who has posted here! :thumbup:
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Hey that looks familiar i hope you use the crap out of it i never could just too pretty. It should be a great companion for years to come
 
Hey man when i sent you the pic and you replied man i see why your on the fence with that one i knew you would be the right one to have it. It makes me smile seeing you already took some pics and used it. So thank you.
 
GuestWho101 said:
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GW, that cover groove is really distinctive!

philllll said:
It's a one-arm dog grooming barlow! :D
IMG_4785_zpsq2gstwgf.jpg~original
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Some really nice I*XL knives here. I have to research their history some. May I ask what the notches in the tip are for?

Sonny14 said:
I haven't obtained a TC yet, but I did find something just as special, (at least to me). Buck #331 Grandaddy Barlow in Jigged Bone, a 1999 SMKW SFO made by Camillus, never cataloged by Buck. I now have all the Buck Barlows, now I guess I can work on finding a TC.
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Sonny, that shield is really cool. Keep looking at the Exchange-I just found not one but two TC 15s in less than a week, one for special occasions, the other a user.

Ironbut said:
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Lovely smooth bone, and a cool brand to boot!

Dadpool, I am relatively new to carbon steel too. With minimal care the knife will develop a character all its own. I find the way the patina of a user changes over time to be really fascinating.

Cheers!
 
Thanks, bugdoc. As to your question about philllll's IXL; the notches at the end of the blade are for one-handed opening. When closed, the cut out at the tip is above the handles. You can remove it from your pocket, then hook the notch on the opening your pocket & flip the blade out.
 
The top part is for one handed opening as Ironbut said, and this bottom nub has a sharpened edge.

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Bugdoc said:
Sonny, that shield is really cool. Keep looking at the Exchange-I just found not one but two TC 15s in less than a week, one for special occasions, the other a user.


Cheers!
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Thanks. I've had tunnel vision lately concentrating on the BBB, (Buck Bone Barlow), in order to complete a set, took me about two years of looking to find the one above. As soon as the 'ol knife budget recovers from the shock I'll be earnestly hunting down a TC.
 
Dadpool, that 77 is a beauty. I've got the same one but yours is really purty. Maybe it's your photos, which are very good.

Congratulations on acquiring that example and on taking the plunge into carbon steel. I avoided it for awhile myself for reasons not unlike yours, but I now know I was just being overly cautious.
 
Bugdoc said:
Dadpool, I am relatively new to carbon steel too. With minimal care the knife will develop a character all its own. I find the way the patina of a user changes over time to be really fascinating.
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"Minimal care" is what I'm hoping for. I'm already pleasantly surprised to find that, contrary to my fears, it doesn't just rust when I look at it funny. :D

major_works said:
Congratulations on acquiring that example and on taking the plunge into carbon steel. I avoided it for awhile myself for reasons not unlike yours, but I now know I was just being overly cautious.
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Thank you! It's early days, but I'm realizing that I've been overly cautious myself.

The Barlow is such a lovely "work knife" pattern, and using it in the kitchen is showing me a whole other side of why that's the case.

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It's fascinating to me what changes the blade and what doesn't. Peanut butter? Nope. Jam? Nope. Ham? I don't think so. But onions? Bam! Instant patina.
 
dispatch184 said:
That is gorgeous!
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Bugdoc said:
GW, that cover groove is really distinctive!
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Drew & Tom
Thanks for the compliment!

dispatch184 said:
Been carrying and using the Inside Out TC a lot, it has a fantastic snap I just love listening to.. I think it might be annoying my co-workers though.. ha..ha. The yellow Clip I carry more as a memento, sentimental, and haven't allowed myself to actually use it yet.

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Both, absolutely beautiful!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Dadpool said:
I got into traditionals in 2015, and back then I spent hours poring over this thread and admiring all of the Barlows in it. I've kept up with it since, most often as a lurker. A Barlow -- a Ka-Bar Coppersmith -- was what got me interested in traditionals in the first place, and it remains my favorite pattern; this thread has only deepened my appreciation of the pattern.

But I'd always steered clear of carbon steel, wary of my ability to care for it properly, and that meant that the Barlows I admired most -- the ones I saw as best exemplifying the answer to this thread's titular question -- were "off limits." Until today! I decided to give carbon steel a shot, and was fortunate enough to be able to acquire the exact Barlow that's haunted my dreams: a GEC Northfield #77 with a single clip point blade, sawcut bone covers, and a long match-striker pull.

hAxpESx.jpg

9eEBzWg.jpg

8HavMt9.jpg

Pn8lAit.jpg


I decided that my best bet for making a real go of carbon steel was to buy a knife that cried out to be used, with a single blade for ease of maintenance, and a blade profile that suits itself well to a variety of tasks, including food prep. I've already used it to make a sandwich. ;)

Holding this knife feels like making a direct connection with the past. I love everything about it. Without this thread, and its ceaseless parade of beautiful Barlows, I'm not sure I would have bought this one -- so thank you to everyone who has posted here! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

They (Barlows) have a way of reeling us in, don't they? :)
Great read, thanks for sharing! :thumbup:
 
Wow Dadpool that is a great looking 77 barlow you got there! People seem to like the spring green bone best, which is nice, but I love the warmth of the copperhead bone! Thank you for sharing
 
"When you can choose to drop one of these Sheepfoot Barlows in your pocket in the morning, life is good!"

I was able to pick this terrific Walnut TC Real Sheepfoot Barlow up on the exchange from our friend Primble. This is one I am really proud to be able to own! :cool: These photos are Primbles and I hope he won't mind, until it stops raining and I can take some of my own! Thanks Rob! :D

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Picked up this Case CV 62009 1/2 8-Dot (1972) Barlow with saw cut delrin covers from a dealer. It is very close to mint but I'm going to stick it in my pocket and carry it anyway. As noted, it is CV and I'm going to let it turn to whatever with use - no forced patina etc.. The delrin covers will wear nicely. Very stiff springs on this knife. The pull on the main clip blade is on the plus side of 6 (almost a 7) and the pull on the pen blade is an 8.

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