Why cowboys (should have all) favored two-blade knives

mnblade

mnblade

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This story -- "The Cowboy" by legendary Texas journalist Jerry Flemmons -- is a heck of a read if you're into the Old West. If you liked "Lonesome Dove," you'll like this one, guaranteed.

The protagonist cowboy finds himself in a mighty mighty hairy situation in 1892 and breaks the main blade of his pocketknife. Luckily, he has a second blade, and uses it to save the day (sort of).

What do you reckon he was carrying? I'd wager a Barlow sorta like this one:



-- Mark
 
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My grandad favoured two-blade knives. He wasn't a cowboy, but people said that he read so many westerns he walked bow-legged! ;) :D
 
I cowboyed full time for a few years.

I mostly carried either a trapper or a stockman, both yellow handled Schrades.
 
Jack Black said:
My grandad favoured two-blade knives. He wasn't a cowboy, but people said that he read so many westerns he walked bow-legged! ;) :D
Click to expand...

LOL

Love it!

That reminds me of my late Father and his reading.

We have several favorite western movies and shows as you may or may not remember.

I am in the middle of some old Wagon Train shows. I haven't got out my blue metal camping mugs or made cowboy coffee in the house this winter though.

Cate
 
mnblade said:
This story -- "The Cowboy" by legendary Texas journalist Jerry Flemmons -- is a heck of a read if you're into the Old West. If you liked "Lonesome Dove," you'll like this one, guaranteed.

The protagonist cowboy finds himself in a mighty mighty hairy situation in 1892 and breaks the main blade of his pocketknife. Luckily, he has a second blade, and uses it to save the day (sort of).

What do you reckon he was carrying? I'd wager a Barlow sorta like this one:



-- Mark
Click to expand...

Thank you for this story link!

Good story. Thanks again.

Cate
 
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Jack Black said:
My grandad favoured two-blade knives. He wasn't a cowboy, but people said that he read so many westerns he walked bow-legged! ;) :D
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Sounds like my grandfather. Except he quit carrying pocketknives after WWII (too hard to open with just one arm), and favored fixed blades.

-- Mark
 
Good read, thanks for sharing. It definitely did have the feel of Lonesome Dove to it.
 
Great tale!!!

I remember reading someplace a long time ago, in some knife book, that more John Russell's Barlow's were shipped west than any other brand knife in the post civil war era.

I always did like a mulit blade pocket knife!
 
My father and uncle were cowboys and never saw them with barlows. Both used stockmans and western fixed blades. Real deal, tough as nails wore boots everyday but not in the house. Miss my dad, a man's man.
 
Thanks for the great story to read. I see longhorns from time to time. They were big old beasts for sure.
 
mnblade,

Thanks for sharing the link. I really enjoyed reading this story, set on the region from where I and part of my ancestors grew on (South Texas, the braised area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande River, in the middle of which still stands the King Ranch. My mother was born in Kingsville, TX, home or headquarters for the King Ranch). I have always loved the cowboy lifestyle, finding echo in one of my favorite country songs: "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" (in its most popular rendition by Willie Nelson - done in 1980).
Raul
 
mnblade said:
The protagonist cowboy finds himself in a mighty mighty hairy situation in 1892 and breaks the main blade of his pocketknife. Luckily, he has a second blade, and uses it to save the day (sort of).

What do you reckon he was carrying? I'd wager a Barlow sorta like this one:
Click to expand...

Please talk about knives, not the story. Else this will be moved to the lounge.
 
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