What Makes a Good, Traditional Barlow?

[Ripcord 82]

I love all the new case Barlows but the single blade version stands out most for me.View attachment 1177286

I bought one just exactly like that but sorry to say that it got stolen on the same day that it arrived in the mail. I have been broken hearted ever since. Dam, I wish they would throw my wife in jail.

 

[Augie]

Picked up this nice Colonial made Old Cutler Barlow, pretty high quality for a Colonial. I knew they had done some in red bone but it has taken quite awhile to find one.

 

[Laurelbb]

quick pic, just received this beauty from @dispatch184 ; thx!

 

[Augie]

150 year old Enos Furness Barlow with nice scratting, amazes me that after 150 years of hard use still has great snap and no play, simple yet strong.

 

[B.F.U]

Many already said it, but wow waynorth that Schrade is an absolute treasure!

quick pic, just received this beauty from @dispatch184 ; thx!
View attachment 1181809

Really love the look of these. They just look classic, and that Q crown stamp is great.

 

[waynorth]

The Barlow in its creator's island

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Ma che bella Sicilia!!
Hope you had a nice visit!!

 

[Âchillepattada]

A Barlow is the ultimate weapon

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[dcpritch]

A Barlow is the ultimate weapon

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That is quite the amazing ram. Wow!!! And a very nice Barlow, too.

****************

I was thinking about the title of this thread, pondering “what makes a good Barlow,” and decided a comparison of three very old knives and a relatively old one next to a new “ancient” Barlow would help me. So here are five Barlows for comparison, top to bottom:

Remington UMC RB 45 (1933-1935)
Remington UMC RB 44 (1933-1935)
Remington UMC RB 43 (1924-1933)
Kabar 1013 (1966-1982)
GEC TC 15 118



Some are a little worse for wear but all have nice snap, sharp blades, good handles and no wobble. They all are surprisingly consistent in size with the GEC being about 1/8” longer than the Remingtons, which measure on digital calipers within 1/100th of an inch between them.

I am easily outdistanced by the many amazing collections held by BF members, but much can be learned even with just a few knives to compare. Plus it’s just fun to pull out old and new knives and look at them closely.

 

[waynorth]

Nice comparative study, David!!

Amazing head of Horn, Â!!!

 

[dcpritch]

Nice comparative study, David!!

Thank you Charlie, I can’t imagine how many Barlows you held and studied in the process of designing your knives, but I know it was many multiples of the ones I just showed. Also, I’m taking your advice literally and making good use of my Barlow!

 

[mrknife]

trying Charlie, trying

 

[waynorth]

Good choice to use, David! Please give us a report some day in the future!!

 

[GE Jr]

Every day - about 4 months now - getting the RFP tumble polish. Coins, flashlight, keys...

 

[Augie]

That is quite the amazing ram. Wow!!! And a very nice Barlow, too.

****************

I was thinking about the title of this thread, pondering “what makes a good Barlow,” and decided a comparison of three very old knives and a relatively old one next to a new “ancient” Barlow would help me. So here are five Barlows for comparison, top to bottom:

Remington UMC RB 45 (1933-1935)
Remington UMC RB 44 (1933-1935)
Remington UMC RB 43 (1924-1933)
Kabar 1013 (1966-1982)
GEC TC 15 118

View attachment 1186724 View attachment 1186725 View attachment 1186723

Some are a little worse for wear but all have nice snap, sharp blades, good handles and no wobble. They all are surprisingly consistent in size with the GEC being about 1/8” longer than the Remingtons, which measure on digital calipers within 1/100th of an inch between them.

I am easily outdistanced by the many amazing collections held by BF members, but much can be learned even with just a few knives to compare. Plus it’s just fun to pull out old and new knives and look at them closely.

Nice comparison shots David, I like comparing old to new, I posted this shot awhile back, one of my favorites.

 

[Âchillepattada]

The Barlow is in Sardinia :

Â

 

[Cutfinger]

Fantastic looking fig! oh how I love fresh figs.

And I really like how the blade in the picture looks so long that it won't fit in the handle.

 

[Âchillepattada]

Fantastic looking fig! oh how I love fresh figs.
And I really like how the blade in the picture looks so long that it won't fit in the handle.

My friend has 4 trees in his garden . They produce so much that he has not enough friends to give the figs.

Â

 

[waynorth]

It has been a good year for figs here in western Canada also!!
The ones you have look beautiful, Â!! Especially accompanied by a Barlow!!

 

[Travman]

1964-69

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

View attachment 1187937

Looking forward to one of Charlie's Barlows one day.