What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[AShearer]

Alan, I have heard of a couple of people who polished the bolsters, to correct the "flaws"!
I should have included more specific instructions!!

Well....maybe for us dummies

 

[waynorth]

Charlie's Ancient Barlows are really something special. Stamped on the blade are his initials and the Sicilian Trinacria or Triskelion, the symbol of the island.

Thanks for posting this great blowup, Gary!
My current setup cannot achieve blowups - yet!

 

[Peregrin]

Thanks for posting this great blowup, Gary!
My current setup cannot achieve blowups - yet!

My pleasure, Charlie.

 

[philllll]

In the pocket today

 

[blee]

I like the ancient Barlow very much. It has such a unique blade, somewhat of a lambsfoot, and with a nice stamp. The only variant I have is the ebony. The wood was uneven in color, with the lighter areas looking dull. I touched it up a bit with boiled linseed oil.



Edit: replaced Photobucket's blurred out photo

 

[waynorth]

Nice seeing a recent Barlow with some worthy patina, Philllll!
Nice "figgy" pic, Bob! Does boiled linseed oil give a dry finish?

Here's a "money shot" of my latest Barlow! A Utica-made Kutmaster;

 

[blee]

Nice "figgy" pic, Bob! Does boiled linseed oil give a dry finish?
...

Thanks, Charlie! The ebony absorbed several coats of boiled linseed oil and it remained dry. In fact, I don't think the appearance changed much. Usually, when I use the oil on other woods, the oil remains slightly "tacky" for weeks. But it dries eventually because the "boiled" linseed oil contains drying agents. Maybe I didn't put very much oil on the ebony. But I like the look and feel of the wood on this knife.

 

[waynorth]

Thanks for relating your experience, Bob.
I can't decide whether I like black ebony, or this mixed color better.
They both have their own significant character!

 

[supratentorial]

Nice $ barlow, Charlie ! ...would go well with a big chain and a large $ pendant !!

https://www.bbcicecream.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nigos-custom-dollar-sign-necklac.jpg

 

[waynorth]

ROTFLMAO!!

 

[Atiger]

Group shot of some old single-blade barlows...

 

[Fodderwing]

Group shot of some old single-blade barlows...

Those are amazing. There's nothing better than old barlows but the search is long.... and dark is the way.....

 

[waynorth]

Nice lineup, Atiger!

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Amazing group.

Mike

 

[Campbellclanman]

Atiger as the others have commented, very nice old Barlows there, That Bone I*XL looks absolutely gorgeous- the Bone looks like an Early Miller Bros, or Remington!!!! Just a great knife lying among great knives.

 

[Augie]

Nice ones Atiger, love the old ones.

Here are some jigged bone Barlows, some old and 1 new, jigged bone old Barlows don't seem to crop up all that often, most are saw cut or smooth bone.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Augie Sir, - Beautiful Old and New Bone there! Again the I*XL'S Bone is just amazing - what is the Barlow 2nd from Top, I can make out "STEEL" on the Tang?

 

[Augie]

Augie Sir, - Beautiful Old and New Bone there! Again the I*XL'S Bone is just amazing - what is the Barlow 2nd from Top, I can make out "STEEL" on the Tang?

Thank you Duncan, the tang is stamped High Carbon Steel, I've read a few different things about this stamp, one that it was used on knives made for Sears Roebuck Company. It's been attributed to Camillus manufacture but this one sure looks like Schrade to me.

 

[ecallahan]

I love that old jigged bone. It just looks 'right'.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you Duncan, the tang is stamped High Carbon Steel, I've read a few different things about this stamp, one that it was used on knives made for Sears Roebuck Company. It's been attributed to Camillus manufacture but this one sure looks like Schrade to me.

Hi Augie,
I too have searched into that as well, and with Sears - Camillus did contract for them - but also Schrade did contract knives for sears as well I remember reading- but was some time ago, and that knife sure looks like Schrade to me all day long!