Whatever happened to moderately-priced Barlows?

C

Captain O

BANNED
Joined
Apr 14, 2015
Messages
1,333
I can buy inexpensive Chinese-steel Barlow knives all day long, and top-quality Queen Barlow-pattern knives are easily purchased. Whatever happened to a decent mid-priced Barlow specimen that won't take food from my mouth? There should be a decent 1095 steel alternative to 7C17Cr Chinese or Queen's D2 That causes me to spend half a month's grocery money. (I live on a shoestring).
 
You can often find moderately priced Case Barlows on the auction site that won't break the bank. Also a plethora of other old manufacturers for decent prices and often in new or like new condition.
 
No one is making them. For some reason Case quietly dropped the Barlow pattern from their product lineup a few years ago. Even then, most were made in Tru-Sharp. You are stuck searching the auction sites or the exchange forums for used knives in your price range.
 
Check out the Bear& Sons heritage walnut Barlow


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
As popular as the Barlow pattern seems to have gotten you'd think Case or Boker (or both) would release new ones.
 
Get Rough Rider, Colt or Marbles barlows - good, low priced knives at a reasonable price. I have several and they are very good knives. Even the Taylor Schrade Old Timer barlow is pretty good (not the ultra-cheapie Jackmaster one). Boker has just released several barlows, although IMHO fairly expensive for a barlow.

Rich
 
Last edited:
Boker just announced a Barlow at a decent price, made in Germany and 440C steel. Nice handles too.
 
The companies that made them went out of business in part because of competition from the companies who make the knives you can buy "all day long". :( The old knives are often still available in good condition on the secondary market. :)
 
A.G. Russell has a nice inexpensive barlow also. It is his War Eagle brand. I have one and they are nice knives. There are still several companies making reasonably priced, good quality barlows for us barlow lovers.

Rich
 
Last edited:
As you all know I have one of the Boker Plus Barlows. It is "okay" but I want a "step up" from "Taiwan's best". I have been looking at the Utica Catskill Barlow, but there have been some "mixed" reviews about the product.

Opinions?
 
I have NO complaints about this Queen Cutlery Workhorse Barlow. Carbon Sheepfoot, no play, no gaps,came sharp enough, rugged but well finished bolster with external pin (easy to tighten up if needed) the jigged delrin is tough stuff. A proletarian tool or Roots Barlow if you like, and it cost under 40 USD.:thumbup:

IMG_3381.jpg


Now this Barlow by the late Trevor Ablett was not expensive either, a bit rough&ready in some respects, the Stag is rather lacklustre.. and I'm no fan of brass bolsters on knives, but good snap, carries well. I suspect they cost more now that collectors believe there's a 'collectability' aspect ;) yet it is a tough no pretensions work-knife, that surely is/was..the essence of the Barlow.

IMG_3285.jpg


Thanks Will
 
Last edited:
I really like that smooth stag with the brass bolsters. It looks like bone that's been buried in the dirt for 100 years. Very cool. :D

I've always liked the look of the Boker Tree Brand barlows with the sawcut handles and the tree on the bolster. Those aren't around any more, either, are they?
 
Thanks! To tell you the truth, when I got the knife the Stag was too anaemic for my taste so I risked giving it a bath in strong tea. It had a desirable effect but the carbon blade and brass went really black and took some cleaning :D
 
Utica makes a couple mid $30's Barlow with a couple different handle choices. Don't remember for sure, but I think they have 1095 for the blades.
 
Thanks to all. Now I'll have to decide whether or not the Utica is worth the risk. (Decisions, decisions).
 
Suggest you read the reviews of them on some of the larger retailers that sell them before making a purchase.

I would suggest saving up your monthly knife budget until you can afford something you really like, rather than buying something just because it is cheap. That's what I did last year - I only bought a single traditional pocket knife all year, one of the 77 Northfield Barlow SFO knives.

If you MUST have carbon steel, and it MUST be a Barlow pattern, then your choices are significantly limited. There just aren't many companies in the business of producing those right now. A Barlow is just a jack knife with a single long bolster. Nothing magic about that bolster these days, other than the looks. You can find other options.
 
I saw a Queen Barlow (D2 steel blade) on a certain vendor that sounds as if it is the Transportation Safety Administration. They want a reasonable amount ($74.95). It just may be worth the investment. (The Barlow is a romantic attatchment to the days of George Washington). I want something that I can use for the rest of my life (20 years, if I'm lucky).

You get the idea.
 
I grabbed a Western 822 Barlow today for 20 Bucks. It took a hour to clean it up and sharpen it. It seemed to have never been sharpened at all just bought and throw in some shop draw for the past 30 years . It had lightly rusted blades and had lint in the frame.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top