What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

philllll said:
Here's my attempt at sprucing up an ancient. Not as good as Evan's!

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I like what you did there. I think it turned out really nice. I have a spear point from this past summers release but haven't been able to snag my #15 ancient TC in scratted bone. It has been my experience that they rarely come up and when they do, they are gone in mere seconds. I literally dream about one day owning one.
 
Pgg365247 said:
I like what you did there. I think it turned out really nice. I have a spear point from this past summers release but haven't been able to snag my #15 ancient TC in scratted bone. It has been my experience that they rarely come up and when they do, they are gone in mere seconds. I literally dream about one day owning one.
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I am in the same boat
 
Bartleby said:
They are not traditional American pattern Barlows to be sure, but the pattern is English not American in origin. Some English makers began modifying the pattern quite a bit after their sale in the USA became impossible as a result of tariffs and the difficulty of competing with the higher cost efficiency of mechanical mass production techniques. The American Russell firm first was able to mass produce the pattern at at much lower cost than the British could compete with, and kept the price low by not making changes that would require updates in tooling. This caused the long bolsters to be recognized in the USA as a sign of extra strength at low cost, long after they really added any additional strength to the design (even the hollow metal shell handled Barlow patterned knives once made in the USA have extra long bolsters, although they are held together only by by domed rivets within the hollow bolsters). The Sheffield production of knives of this pattern continued to evolve as the focus for their export shifted to other colonial areas (indeed, the pattern Wright's uses is very similar to some versions of the "Bunny Knife" exported from Sheffield to Australia). The British pattern of Barlow with its somewhat shorter bolsters may be seen as a variant, just as the depression era American hollow shell handled Barlows may be seen as such. I do consider them as British Barlows, rather than American Barlows.
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Thanks for the response!! Your answer completely makes sense. So often manufacturers call a knife something when it isn’t actually that..... I have a Queen knife, for instance, with similar length bolsters and it is named a Barlow... o_O

Here’s another question then.....

I know that the Barlow was the first bolstered, production folding knife and that the long bolster added to its strength (correct me if I’m wrong here).... was it pinned more than in just the pivot? If not, how did it acquire it’s added strength? I know that modern bolsters are soldered to the liners and then pinned in the pivot but I’m making an assumption this didn’t happen in the beginning?

I’m sorry to be asking stupid questions.... just very curious as to the original construction and cascading improvement on these fine knives?

Maybe someone could PM me reference or link to which I seek?

Fantastic photos here BTW!!
 
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draggat said:
I know that the Barlow was the first bolstered, production folding knife and that the long bolster added to its strength (correct me if I’m wrong here).... was it pinned more than in just the pivot? If not, how did it acquire it’s added strength? I know that modern bolsters are soldered to the liners and then pinned in the pivot but I’m making an assumption this didn’t happen in the beginning?
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The earliest versions (pre-1870's) that were made in Stannington and Sheffield had bolsters that were forged all in one piece with the liners (which are rather thick) the thicker iron of the bolsters was very rigid indeed (think of the steel slab handles on all stainless knives). There are some nice examples posted in the "old knives" thread.
 
cigarrodog said:
I bought it on the secondary last year or so I can’t be certain. Is it not real? Sure looks good. What does STL mean?
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Pgg365247 Pgg365247
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STL = steel as in all steel bolsters , liners etc
Handles are really dark which has got people asking . Ive seen smooth ivory bone get darker ( not as dark as yours ) . Could also seem darker than actual in photo?
 
STL means all steel; bolsters and liners. I remember now some of those were quite "amber" colored. The ones I have are much lighter. Someone could have "darkened" it?! Or it could be "as-made". Either way it looks great!!:thumbsup:
 
Txjohn said:
STL = steel as in all steel bolsters , liners etc
Handles are really dark which has got people asking . Ive seen smooth ivory bone get darker ( not as dark as yours ) . Could also seem darker than actual in photo?
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Thank you for the answer. I usually take pictures in my garage. Most are shot in open shade, but playing with natural light and different angles could affect darker vs lighter. The end goal for me is what will reveal the most detail in as dramatic fashion as a still subject can be.
 
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