Why are GEC #14 TC Barlows so hard to find?

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DoctorAutomatic

Joined
Aug 12, 2017
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I see #15 barlows for sale all over the place but it seems rather rare to me that someone is selling a #14 barlow, particularly with bone.

Is this because the #14 was produced in far fewer numbers? Or are #14's more highly prized/sought after? I'm only talking about single blade barlows. I'm a noob to this area of knives. I do think the 14 is a better size, for my purposes. Which is as a secondary blade to a more modern OHO, that can be used for small tasks, in situations that call for a bit of sensitivity to the "feels" of those in the immediate vicinity, or when you just want to hear that walk/talk. The 15 just sits a bit too proud in my jeans watch pocket, by about the length difference between the #15 & #14. Also, it simply can't be argued that GEC didn't nail it on the size/styling/proportions of the #14 spear point, what a great looking knife.
 
There was only one run of TC #14 barlows, whereas there must have been 20, plus or minus, runs of #15s, at 500 knives per run.
There were #14 Lick Creek Boys knives run also, at the same size as the Barlows!!
 
waynorth said:
There was only one run of TC #14 barlows, whereas there must have been 20, plus or minus, runs of #15s, at 500 knives per run.
There were #14 Lick Creek Boys knives run also, at the same size as the Barlows!!
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As these are Charlie's knives about which you ask, you can trust his expertise on the matter.

At times there have been a ton of 14 Barlows on the exchange. But what happens with the secondary market is: you get the initial dealer purchases, some guys keep them, other guys flip them. Then of the ones that get flipped, some of those are keepers for the guys who missed them at the dealers, and some of those go for another round or two of flipping/swapping/collection shifting. But after about a year or so of a particular run's release, the bulk of the knives have settled where they're going to stay, at least for a long time, until another run comes out. You gotta figure - someone paying two or three times retail for a knife probably really wanted it for a collection, so they just don't float around.

But, like Charlie said, there were standard bolster boys knives run on the 14 pattern concurrently with the Barlows, and some of the dealers still have plenty two blade-ers in stock. I only ever briefly had a single blade 14 but sold it as it was too small for my taste. But MCar MCar will probably contest that the two blade 14s were the gems of that pattern anyway due to the size. Or was that the 18...?
 
Was there ever a Beer Scout on the #14 frame? That would be just about the most perfect knife for me that's not a single blade. Other than the addition of a cap lifter I just don't like 2+ bladed knives. Also, I love the aesthetics of the beer scout shield, the boy's knife crown lifter just doesn't do it for me.
 
Nope, only one run of 14s. There are still beer scouts at dealers, but I don't know that they would do a run of 14 beer scouts.
DoctorAutomatic said:
Was there ever a Beer Scout on the #14 frame? That would be just about the most perfect knife for me that's not a single blade. Other than the addition of a cap lifter I just don't like 2+ bladed knives. Also, I love the aesthetics of the beer scout shield, the boy's knife crown lifter just doesn't do it for me.
Click to expand...
 
One other thing to consider is that most of the #15s you are seeing were released about two months ago. The ones made more than a year ago are increasingly difficult to come by (to traumkommode traumkommode 's point). Without looking, I'd say it's been almost fifteen months since the 14s were made. Nice little knife, but I prefer the 15. Still hoping to see a sheepfoot 14 someday...or a clip even.
 
Sabercat said:
One other thing to consider is that most of the #15s you are seeing were released about two months ago. The ones made more than a year ago are increasingly difficult to come by (to traumkommode traumkommode 's point). Without looking, I'd say it's been almost fifteen months since the 14s were made. Nice little knife, but I prefer the 15. Still hoping to see a sheepfoot 14 someday...or a clip even.
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a 14 clip would certainly be interesting
 
I have a 15 TC barlow With single spearpoint blade and deep reed bone. It found its ways here to me in Sweden witch is rare. I would love a 14 as its even more in the size l like to EDC.

Bosse
 
I picked up a single-blade #14 Boys Knife and a double-blade TC #14 on the secondary market. They're out there, but like the 15 TCs, you're probably going to pay more than retail. I love my #14s, though, and I highly recommend them to all small-knife lovers.
 
traumkommode said:
As these are Charlie's knives about which you ask, you can trust his expertise on the matter.

At times there have been a ton of 14 Barlows on the exchange. But what happens with the secondary market is: you get the initial dealer purchases, some guys keep them, other guys flip them. Then of the ones that get flipped, some of those are keepers for the guys who missed them at the dealers, and some of those go for another round or two of flipping/swapping/collection shifting. But after about a year or so of a particular run's release, the bulk of the knives have settled where they're going to stay, at least for a long time, until another run comes out. You gotta figure - someone paying two or three times retail for a knife probably really wanted it for a collection, so they just don't float around.

But, like Charlie said, there were standard bolster boys knives run on the 14 pattern concurrently with the Barlows, and some of the dealers still have plenty two blade-ers in stock. I only ever briefly had a single blade 14 but sold it as it was too small for my taste. But MCar MCar will probably contest that the two blade 14s were the gems of that pattern anyway due to the size. Or was that the 18...?
Click to expand...
As Charlie mentioned, only one run so far and Traumkommode succinctly summed up how knives "settle" into collections for long periods of time. When I first started collecting, I was all about the single blades. But now, it's the 2-blade models I love most hands-down. Funny how our tastes shift.

A #14 Beer Scout would be amazing. I have a Leatherman Squirt with TINY bottle opener on it, but it works just as well as a big one for all practical purposes. If GEC makes one on the 14 frame, I hope they call it something a little different...such as a "soda scout," a "pop scout" or maybe even a "Squirt Scout," hehe.

We all love the TCs, but in reality, the boys knife functions exactly the same way you should be able to pick up a 14 boys knife without too much stress (and without paying much over retail). They are bare heads, all of them, so they can really endear themselves to ya. ;)
 
traumkommode said:
As these are Charlie's knives about which you ask, you can trust his expertise on the matter.

At times there have been a ton of 14 Barlows on the exchange. But what happens with the secondary market is: you get the initial dealer purchases, some guys keep them, other guys flip them. Then of the ones that get flipped, some of those are keepers for the guys who missed them at the dealers, and some of those go for another round or two of flipping/swapping/collection shifting. But after about a year or so of a particular run's release, the bulk of the knives have settled where they're going to stay, at least for a long time, until another run comes out. You gotta figure - someone paying two or three times retail for a knife probably really wanted it for a collection, so they just don't float around.

But, like Charlie said, there were standard bolster boys knives run on the 14 pattern concurrently with the Barlows, and some of the dealers still have plenty two blade-ers in stock. I only ever briefly had a single blade 14 but sold it as it was too small for my taste. But MCar MCar will probably contest that the two blade 14s were the gems of that pattern anyway due to the size. Or was that the 18...?
Click to expand...
...and, yes, the 2-blade #18 is also SO MUCH BETTER than the single! :D
 
This thread has no pictures !!!!
I'm gonna change that. I like my single blade more than the two blade version.

nOp7dyr.jpg
 
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