What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

The TL-29 is a barehead jack, where a barlow is a barehead plus it has an extended bolster.
 
CJZ et.al, a Barlow knife has a long re-enforcing bolster, typically around one third of the knife's length!! And the length (closed length, which is the standard way to measure a pocket knife) varies from about:
3 1/4" to 3 5/8". The majority by far are 3 3/8" to 3 1/2" long.

BARLOWS!
SchradeBarlows1_zpsfcad825b.jpg


REGULAR JACKS!
JacksRegular_zps602e5f33.jpg


There are some variations seen in the Jack picture:
The (from the left) 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th are Bareheads as they have no cap/bottom bolster.
The 5th is also a "Shadow" pattern as it has no Bolsters!!
 
Long Bolster Swell-Ends....:D

Some notables&worthies you show there Charlie, fine stuff:thumbup:
 
Sarah, the Big "S" Barlow (as are all Barlows in that picture) is a Schrade Cut Co.
And they are all pre-WWII.

The far right Sheepfoot Jack in the second pic is a Schrade also, but might be a Shrade Walden, so post-WWII.
 
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puukkoman said:
Ack! Just make sure you get out there and look again, before anybody mows the grass...! :eek:

I'm very excited for this sheepsfoot barlow. Couldn't swing the forum knife this year, due to monetary restrictions, so when this one comes in at 2/3 the price I'll be a happy camper! :D
Click to expand...

I went out and looked with a metal detector for about an hour, and nothing. Yesterday all the grass was mowed, so I went walking without the detector close to the road to look for it and I found it! Looks like the grass and leaves that were covering it were pushed off it. Only a little bit of rust here and there, pretty lucky considering how wet the ground was, and that it was there for 48 hours.
 
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Phew! I am happy for you Ryan!
Nothin' better than returning a lost sheep to the fold!!
 
I'm one who get genuine pleasure from using vintage knives. Recently picked up this very well used barlow off the bay. It's marked Schrade Cut. Co. Walden, NY. I believe it's the 1157 model as shown in the 1926 catalog. Rubbed a little oil into the saw cut bone, and blade, put a new edge on it, and it now resides in my coin pocket. I am one very happy camper with a new old knife in the EDC rotation.







 
Ryan Sumner said:
I went out and looked with a metal detector for about an hour, and nothing. Yesterday all the grass was mowed, so I went walking without the detector close to the road to look for it and I found it! Looks like the grass and leaves that were covering it were pushed off it. Only a little bit of rust here and there, pretty lucky considering how wet the ground was, and that it was there for 48 hours.
Click to expand...
Great! Lucky dog!

Beaver, that sure is a nice one. I'd be proud to carry such a knife as well! :thumbup:
 
Have a friend named Tom, last name starts with a C so after seeing some pics show up I was on the hunt. Found this nice sawcut bone one first.

tomschoice.jpg


tomschoice1.jpg


Never was a barlow man but these are nice, had to get a couple more. Double Ott (also named Tom C) was making them hard to find! lol

tomschoicetrio.jpg


Think I'll send my bud the ebony one. Should I strop it before sending? If I was going to carry one, it would probably be the single blade due to its lighter weight / slim profile.

tomschoicesingleblade.jpg
 
That Saddle Brown looks real nice, John. I can't decide which is my favorite.
Old Boiley is a Copperhead color, so I have a soft spot for it; but that Brown is nice!!
Nice collection - thanks for the pics!! Tom would like any one of them I am sure!
 
waynorth said:
Sarah, the Big "S" Barlow (as are all Barlows in that picture) is a Schrade Cut Co.
And they are all pre-WWII.

The far right Sheepfoot Jack in the second pic is a Schrade also, but might be a Shrade Walden, so post-WWII.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Charlie.

By the way, I'm newly noticing the jigged bone on these early beauties, not just sawcut. There's always more to see....

Beaver said:
Recently picked up this very well used barlow off the bay.
Click to expand...

Great pick-up! Thanks for the pictures. I'm glad you're using it. :)

Chief said:
Have a friend named Tom, last name starts with a C so after seeing some pics show up I was on the hunt.
Click to expand...

How wonderful, to have your photography brought to bear on these beauties. Thanks!

Meantime, while waiting for sheepsfoot revelations on the #15s, WLSTs® remain a happy preoccupation.

IMG_0670a.jpg~original


IMG_0960a.jpg~original


(Perhaps not so "traditional," the latter color. ;))

~ P.
 
Chief said:
Have a friend named Tom, last name starts with a C so after seeing some pics show up I was on the hunt. Found this nice sawcut bone one first.

Never was a barlow man but these are nice, had to get a couple more. Double Ott (also named Tom C) was making them hard to find! lol

tomschoicetrio.jpg


Think I'll send my bud the ebony one. Should I strop it before sending? If I was going to carry one, it would probably be the single blade due to its lighter weight / slim profile.
Click to expand...

John, I'm sure your friend, Tom C will be thrilled with any one of them. Nice pictures.They really are sweet barlows.

Tom C
 
Great knives there John, I have the single bladed versions, love them to bits, These knives come fairly sharp from Factory and I am guessing when you strop a knife-you really would Strop a knife - so yeah - strop it, your friend will be blown away
I have the Red Bone single blade version in my pocket now! just a fantastic knife!
Great photos by the way!
 
I suspect that Jigged Bone will appear on a Northfield version of the Barlow, Sarah.

I'd like to see that amazing Blue Bone (that is bone, isn't it?) on a Barlow! That is a beautiful color - very captivating!
 
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