What's so great about Barlows?

[robertj298]

Maybe it's just me but the Barlow is the most unattractive
pattern made.

 

[BDubbs]

Your opinion is probably saving you a lot of money and frustration.

 

[kamagong]

Maybe it's just me but the Barlow is the most unattractive
pattern made.

Different strokes.

 

[5K Qs]

Maybe it's just me but the Barlow is the most unattractive
pattern made.

Maybe you'd find this thread interesting: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ugliest-traditionals.1445723/
I think there are 200 posts, and you can explore who does NOT like what, and possibly identify "kindred spirits".
IIRC, there was not much love for "lady leg knives".

- GT

 

[black mamba]

It's a working man's knife, made stronger by the long bolster. Most of the attraction is the nostalgia of an old, storied pattern.

 

[solphilos]

Ok

 

[BDubbs]

It's a working man's knife, made stronger by the long bolster. Most of the attraction is the nostalgia of an old, storied pattern.

I thought the BF 17 was a great example, sheepsfoot, nail nick and micarta handle. It was meant to be a working knife that got filed down over years and years to a thin strip of a blade. I didn’t care for them initially but I’ve grown to appreciate them.

 

[Mr. Chips]

Depends I guess, if you have a knife to look at, or to actually cut stuff. Barlows work!

 

[OzzPrime]

Simplicity, to me. Blade, bolster, scales, edge. Keeps the ostentation down, but is also amenable to getting dressed up. I really dig it.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

UNATTRACTIVE!!??

 

[Dr-Mabuse]

Yeah I'm right there with you. I keep trying them and I keep letting them go. I really don't like the way the long straight bolster feels in hand either.
I think they became fashionable because they're of particular interest to a couple of upstanding porch members.

 

[Old Engineer]

Maybe it's just me but the Barlow is the most unattractive
pattern made.

Well , I will not try to change your mind . That leaves more for me . What do you find unattractive about them ?? They are just a Jack Knife with long pants .

Harry

 

[mrknife]

sometimes i think about a knife with all bolster. well then itd just be a metal scale tho

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Dr-Mabuse
I liked them pretty well before I ever knew of the porch or of GEC. I've had a daddy barlow since I was 10 when I inherited it from my uncle. As a kid I loved reading Huckleberry Finn and always wanted a regular "sure nuff barlow" however I never could find one back then. Then in my 20's I got into Kershaw and Gerber tacticals and didn't look at traditionals for quite awhile. Now that I'm into traditionals I've aquired several barlows, still no GEC ones though. But honestly that's what is so great about traditional knives, there's a pattern to suit just about everyone.

 

[cudgee]

I liked them pretty well before I ever knew of the porch

Same here, like 50 YEARS.

 

[JohnDF]

Most of the attraction is the nostalgia of an old, storied pattern.

B-I-N-G-O

 

[JohnDF]

 

[robertj298]

Depends I guess, if you have a knife to look at, or to actually cut stuff. Barlows work!

True but most of the ones you see posted don’t look like they’ve ever cut anything lol

 

[abcdef]

They're all the rage. As are lambsfeet.

 

[afishhunter]

.
I think they became fashionable because they're of particular interest to a couple of upstanding porch members.

Long lived porch members.
The Barlow pattern dates to 1670 https://coolmaterial.com/feature/barlow-knife-history/ and has always been popular.

Even General President George Washington carried a Barlow.
(No doubt more than a few of the other "founding fathers" carried one, as well.)

What's so great about them? Well ... how about low cost, they're rugged/durable, and they work for pretty much any cutting task that may rear it's not so pretty head?