Which Steel?

rjdankert

rjdankert

Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
2,695
Hi,
I want to buy a tradional Barlow style knife (tear drop shape, large single bolster). I've been all over the internet several times and finally came up with four that I like the looks of in my price range ($40-50).

My question is which steel? I am not knowledgable in steel types. I am hoping that some of the experts here can shed some light on this subject. I'm looking for a sturdy knife that will hold an edge.

All four have two blades (clip and pen). They are:

Bear & Sons Cutlery 3 1/2
High Carbon Stanless Steel

Boker 3 5/16
Solingen carbon steel

Utica KutMaster 3 1/4
420 stainless steel

Case XX Second Cut 3 3/8
Tru-Sharp Stainless Steel

Any other comments aon these knives would also be welcomed.

Thanks, Bob
 
rjdankert said:
Hi,
I want to buy a tradional Barlow style knife (tear drop shape, large single bolster). I've been all over the internet several times and finally came up with four that I like the looks of in my price range ($40-50).

My question is which steel? I am not knowledgable in steel types. I am hoping that some of the experts here can shed some light on this subject. I'm looking for a sturdy knife that will hold an edge.

All four have two blades (clip and pen). They are:
Click to expand...

Bear & Sons Cutlery 3 1/2
High Carbon Stanless Steel
Click to expand...

This description is very broad. It can apply (& probably has been) to virtually any stainless, much of which is truly horrible stuff. On the other hand, it may be decent. But, there's no way to know, until you try it. I generally avoid knives that are labelled this way.

Boker 3 5/16
Solingen carbon steel
Click to expand...
Steel description is quite broad (the 'Solingen' moniker doesn't specify anything about actual composition of the steel). BUT, Boker's carbon blades have a good reputation. These are a pretty safe bet.

Utica KutMaster 3 1/4
420 stainless steel
Click to expand...
Way too vague. Some varieties in the '420' series, like 420HC, are pretty good (excellent with the right heat treat, ala Buck Knives' recipe). But I generally avoid anything that's not specifically labelled as such. When I see the '420 stainless' description applied by a manufacturer, to me it means they either don't really know what it is, specifically, or they don't want me to know. That's not a good selling point for me.

Case XX Second Cut 3 3/8
Tru-Sharp Stainless Steel
Click to expand...
Case has confirmed that this is actually 420HC. Case's heat treat doesn't harden it quite as high as Buck's recipe for heat treat, but it still performs quite well. Takes a very fine edge, which is also easy to maintain & resharpen. Case has been producing knives using it for decades, and it has a solid reputation. Case's 'CV' blades (carbon steel, with chrome & vanadium added for wear resistance) are also very good, and something to consider if you find a pattern you like with the CV blades.
 
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Based on personal and anecdotal experience, I'd say the best performing of all of them would be the Boker carbon steel, followed by Case Tru-Sharp. I guess it depends on if you prefer a stainless blade or not. I've never heard anything positive about anything from Bear and Sons, apart from maybe something like "I was able to hand pick the best one, and it's OK". I'd personally stay away from a stainless Utica. And old carbon steel one, sure, but nothing new in "420" stainless, which is most likely 420J.
 
I should add that often you can find Queen manufactured Barlows for a good price here and there. Robeson, Cripple Creek, Russell, and others have had Barlows manufactured by Queen. And of course Queen and Schatt & Morgan Barlows as well. Most are in well heat-treated 420HC, occasionally you'll find them in D2 tool steel (if it says "Tool Steel" but doesn't specify, it's D2). These will cost more than a Boker or Case, but they're very nice knives.
 
David,
thanks very much for the reply. Tried to find a Buck Barlow at buckkives, but didn't find one. Found some Case CV's, but again no Barlows.

thanks again, Bob
 
Doesn't Utica make a line of newer ones with 1095? I'd take that over their no name stainless any day. But, like said before, I'd only go for the Boker carbon steel, or Case Tru Sharp. Though I'd prefer CV from a Case.
 
rjdankert said:
David,
thanks very much for the reply. Tried to find a Buck Barlow at buckkives, but didn't find one. Found some Case CV's, but again no Barlows.

thanks again, Bob
Click to expand...

Planterz' suggestion, about the Queen offerings in D2 is a good one. Queen's 'Dan Burke Barlow', with 2 blades in D2 and saw-cut bone handles, has been very popular.
 
I like my Boker---it's the top one. Have had it about 30 yrs or so.
IMG_1174resize.jpg
 
Planterz,

thanks for the posts. I did google searches for: Robeson, Cripple Creek, Russell, Queen and Schatt & Morgan. Saw some nice knives along the way. Don't know if I want to expand my budget for this purchase.

thanks again, Bob
 
Goodeye
Thanks for replying. I just looked for Utica and found: Utica Catskill Barlow - UTK24779BB in 1095. Another possible choice?

thanks again, Bob
 
David
looked at the Dan Burke - like the smaller two blade (spear & wharncliffe). Found models described with stainless and with D2. The D2 seems to come with a satin blade finish. Does that mean some sort of powder coating or bead blasting?

thanks, Bob
 
rjdankert said:
David
looked at the Dan Burke - like the smaller two blade (spear & wharncliffe). Found models described with stainless and with D2. The D2 seems to come with a satin blade finish. Does that mean some sort of powder coating or bead blasting?

thanks, Bob
Click to expand...

No. Definitely not coated, nor bead blasted. I'm sure it's just a 'brushed' satin finished i.e., to a lower grit than the polished blades. In my opinion, a brushed satin finish is the all-around best. Easy to maintain, and doesn't show the fingerprints too bad, either. And regarding the 'stainless and D2', I don't know if Queen offered this in anything other than D2. D2 is one steel that's sort of on the 'threshold' between 'carbon' and 'stainless' (due to the chromium content). So, it's possible some might view it as stainless, others might not. Either way, it's very good steel. Holds an edge a very long time.
 
My preference would be for the Boker. I've been pleased with the one I have. The steel is easy to sharpen and takes a good edge.
dscf0202-1.jpg


If you want stainless then go for the Case. The Utica in 1095 would be my 3rd choice only because I don't have any experience with them. I've read enough about the consistency of quality regarding B&S here that I wouldn't buy one without being able to handle it in person first.
 
Dan,

your knife and Dekes look like what I originally had in mind, but can't find.

thanks, Bob
 
You might keep your eyes peeled on certain 'auction sites' and other secondary markets. There are a lot of very attractive, old-school, carbon-bladed barlows out there. And not necessarily expensive, either. A barlow is among the most attractive (to me), when it has some 'experience' under it's belt. It just looks 'right'. ;)
 
David,

A barlow is among the most attractive (to me), when it has some 'experience' under it's belt. It just looks 'right'.
Click to expand...

I agree, and I think that is an attraction to me. I have looked at vintage Barlows on auction sites, but I don't know enough about knives to have an idea of what they are worth. Collecting vintage knives has an appeal to me, we'll see if that happens.

Last night I ordered a new Boker with stag and spear main. This will be my personal knife and at some point will be grampa's knife for one of my grandsons.

Thanks, Bob
 
I personally hate 420-steel. I´ve got a folder with 420 and i was more busy with sharpening the knife than with cutting. I would chose the carbon steel though it will need some maintanance.
 
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