What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Double Ott]

These GEC Tom's Choice Barlows were made for me. I'm Tom and my last name starts with C.

They are all from the secondary market, purchased on this Forum.



Sorry for the crappy pictures. I'll get some better ones soon.



My thanks to: JustinR, Mink, AM515, Burnside, Gunstock and ScottK.



Tom

 

[JustinR]

Good looking collection Tom.

 

[waynorth]

That's my kinda pic, Sarah!!!!



Nice setting for a nice collection, Tom!

:thumbup:

 

[gunstockjack]

Great photos of your collection Tom! Lookin' good my friend! :thumbup:

 

[Pokerface]

Hey Tom, I recognize that single spear...I'm glad it's serving you well!

 

[pertinux]

These GEC Tom's Choice Barlows were made for me. I'm Tom and my last name starts with C.

You mean your name isn't really Ott Ott?

Rats.

They are all from the secondary market, purchased on this Forum.

Wow, well-done! I think I remember the longing in your posts when you first became aware of having just 'missed' them.

I love seeing yours in array. :thumbup:

~ P.

 

[Pokerface]

These pics are recycled (posted in another thread), but they're still Barlows...

 

[pertinux]

Briggs & Stratton:

What's that? Knife content, you say? But of course.

Briggs:

Stratton (as Durer's Hare, reversed):

Stratton again:

One of These Things Is Not Like The Other-- Tilde:

I've been carrying this one more often recently, in Anticipation:

~ P.

 

[SHEBOP]

Love this!!!

 

[waynorth]

What's that?
A KNIFE EATING KITTEN!! AHHHH!!

One of These Things Is Not Like The Other-- Tilde:

I've been carrying this one more often recently, in Anticipation:

Nice Razor! Haven't seen that one before!!

~ P.

Those kittens look mighty healthy. Well nurtured I'll bet!! But carbon steel is kinda rough on the digestion, no?

 

[pertinux]

Rest assured, no kittens are ever harmed in photographic knife endeavors, nor the tasting of knives therein.

Nice Razor! Haven't seen that one before!!

Ah, really?

Picture when new(er):

It's a neo-Russell, I suspect either Boker-made or made-by-the-same-people-making-Boker:

The covers are a near-miss for me. Having now seen "antique amber," I'm guessing that that was the effect that was sought, with decent coloration but unfortunately garish transitions instead of a smoother blending. I may take some Fiebing's to the areas near the bolster yet.

The blade, however, is mighty fine, and yet another of my favorites. This knife is my only razor, but its appeal is such that I'm excited for the GEC/TC run, even more than for the sheepsfoot versions.

~ P.

 

[pertinux]

Razor knife blades, continued.

Based on discussions here and elsewhere, my understanding (to which I welcome elucidation or correction) is that the impetus for the production of razor-shaped knife blades was the observed phenomenon of veteran amputees (and/or cowboys?) breaking the tips of existing blades to make it possible to catch the jagged ends on something, to be opened one-handed.

Whether or not the above is entirely accurate, were the first razor-shaped production blades based on existing blade shapes with a semi-circle removed, or on existing straight-edged razors? Or, were they uniquely designed to resemble straight-edged razors from the get-go, to look like... something recognizable, but with a new blade shape wholly unto themselves?

Looking again at my sole, modern example, if the blade shape were to be extended (ie, lack the cut-out) it would closely follow the lines of a spey blade-- I think? I suppose a drop point would also be possible as an initial template/blank. The spine extends too far to echo the bottom edge of a (former) spear.

I'm curious to see others' earlier razor barlow blades, and of course to learn more about what a future blade might be based on or inspired by. Like this one, for example:

~ P.

 

[burnside]

These GEC Tom's Choice Barlows were made for me. I'm Tom and my last name starts with C.

They are all from the secondary market, purchased on this Forum.



Tom

Great looking collection of Charlows you have there, Tom! I thought I recognized the 1 blade and the 2 blade Spearpoint Gabon ebonies in there. :thumbup:

Great job on a great collection!

 

[waynorth]

Sarah, your additional pics rang my bell - I remember seeing that knife now! Duh . . .
Here are some more Razors.
It is interesting that these Queens wear the pattern number 25, and have an unusual shape!
Rings another bell!

The bottom Case is an extra long '05 pattern - not as long as a Daddy Barlow. It has a nice step bolster.

Some regular length Redbones in this pic:

And my fave - the KeenKutter!

I think these were designed from the get-go to be one hand openers. The resemblance to a razor is only incidental, confusingly so. The "hook" is not very effective in most of these. It needs to be deeper in general so the blade doesn't slip off the object you are trying to use to assist the opening!

 

[Shaggy]

Beautiful barlows, Charlie. The red bone on those Cases is sweet! The '05 long pattern (and the knife above it) resemble the English Jack more in style than a traditional barlow; I like how the handle maintains that "square" profile along the entire length rather than the usual round to square/flat transition. The stepped bolster and jigged bone really give those knives some class.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Beautiful knives Charlie, could you please tell me the age of those Queen Steel #25's?
I love the photo showing those fantastic Old Red Bone Case knives with the long Bolsters - wow, just beautiful.

That Keen Kutter is something!

Great Photos of a great growing Collection Tom - very nice to see!

 

[Ryan Sumner]

I've always thought it seemed silly to have a razor barlow made for amputees, but to keep the 2 handed pen blade!

I think a red bone, single bladed razor charlow would be a superb!

 

[totallynotalex]

Has the idea ever been thrown around for using O-1 for a run of boys/barlow knives?

 

[pertinux]

I think these were designed from the get-go to be one hand openers. The resemblance to a razor is only incidental, confusingly so. The "hook" is not very effective in most of these. It needs to be deeper in general so the blade doesn't slip off the object you are trying to use to assist the opening!

Thanks, Charlie. Grand (and helpful) sights, once again. I agree with you about the "hook"-- the more the better. With mine, I need a relatively soft surface (say, a shoe sole or heel with some give) in order to get it first try.

I've always thought it seemed silly to have a razor barlow made for amputees, but to keep the 2 handed pen blade!

That's funny, I was just pondering the same! Either most of the ones we've seen were for "style" only (ie, "This is what a one-handed knife would have looked like"), or were created with a crossover market (the two-handed) as well...?

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

I've always thought it seemed silly to have a razor barlow made for amputees, but to keep the 2 handed pen blade!

I think a red bone, single bladed razor charlow would be a superb!

I think the idea was to get a blade open one handed, while holding something in the other hand. IMO, it is not strictly a design for an amputee.

Here is a true one-armed man knife. Not used much, my father-in-law left it to me. He had a very effective hook for a left hand, which he preferred to use along with his good right hand.
He gave up his hand, and a good bit of his health jumping into France during WWII.