Wostenholm IXL Barlows

[JTB_5]

I am wondering if anyone here has any 1980s Wostenholm IXL barlows that were made in Japan? I just purchased a couple, which I may end up using as Christmas gifts for a couple of my boys. I tried to dig up some information on them, but I was hoping I could get that confirmed here. Were they made in Seki City? How is the quality--how do they compare to other well-known knives?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jack Black]

I am wondering if anyone here has any 1980s Wostenholm IXL barlows that were made in Japan? I just purchased a couple, which I may end up using as Christmas gifts for a couple of my boys. I tried to dig up some information on them, but I was hoping I could get that confirmed here. Were they made in Seki City? How is the quality--how do they compare to other well-known knives?

Thanks in advance!

The Wostenholm name was bought by Joseph Rodgers, and they in turn were bought by Richards of Sheffield. The group were then bought by Imperial. After that went down the pan, the names were picked up by a short-lived outfit called Meteor Industries, who licensed Jim Parker to use the Wostenholm/IXL name on knives made in Japan. Pretty shameful in my opinion, but an interesting footnote in 20th century pocket knife history. I've never actually handled one, so can't speak for the quality, but I imagine it was at least as good as some of the stuff knocked out in Sheffield, with the Wostenholm name on, during their final years (not including the Schrade-Wostenholm series which I think were of higher quality)

 

[JTB_5]

The Wostenholm name was bought by Joseph Rodgers, and they in turn were bought by Richards of Sheffield. The group were then bought by Imperial. After that went down the pan, the names were picked up by a short-lived outfit called Meteor Industries, who licensed Jim Taylor to use the Wostenholm/IXL name on knives made in Japan. Pretty shameful in my opinion, but an interesting footnote in 20th century pocket knife history. I've never actually handled one, so can't speak for the quality, but I imagine it was at least as good as some of the stuff knocked out in Sheffield, with the Wostenholm name on, during their final years (not including the Schrade-Wostenholm series which I think were of higher quality)

Thanks, Jack. I'll post an update here on the quality once I have a chance to look at them.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks, Jack. I'll post an update here on the quality once I have a chance to look at them.

I'll look forward to seeing them Joshua

 

[JTB_5]

I have a couple of other pictures that aren't loading for some reason, but I'm late in reviewing these two barlows as it is.

These are solid knives and I think have better quality that some of the ones that have a bad reputation from this era. They are made in Japan under the Wostenholm name bought by Parker. The left is a mother of pearl acrylic and the right is a thick bone stag. Both have good fit and finish--minor gaps in the springs, slightly off-centered blades, but no major flaws in the covers or the blade geometry. They came tolerably sharp as well. The action on the MOP is a little gritty, but the bone stag is pretty good. Both blades have cam tangs. There is no noticeable aging for knives that were made in the 80s. They had factory oil on them (a bit dried out and sticky), so I flushed them with some oil and that helped the action a bit and I stropped them both on a leather strop with grey and green compound on either side.

I bought these hoping to turn them into Christmas gifts for my oldest two boys and I think they'll fit the bill very nicely.

 

[Jack Black]

View attachment 1458332
I have a couple of other pictures that aren't loading for some reason, but I'm late in reviewing these two barlows as it is.

These are solid knives and I think have better quality that some of the ones that have a bad reputation from this era. They are made in Japan under the Wostenholm name bought by Parker. The left is a mother of pearl acrylic and the right is a thick bone stag. Both have good fit and finish--minor gaps in the springs, slightly off-centered blades, but no major flaws in the covers or the blade geometry. They came tolerably sharp as well. The action on the MOP is a little gritty, but the bone stag is pretty good. Both blades have cam tangs. There is no noticeable aging for knives that were made in the 80s. They had factory oil on them (a bit dried out and sticky), so I flushed them with some oil and that helped the action a bit and I stropped them both on a leather strop with grey and green compound on either side.

I bought these hoping to turn them into Christmas gifts for my oldest two boys and I think they'll fit the bill very nicely.

Thanks a lot for showing those Joshua, I often confuse Jim Parker and Jim Taylor I'm afraid Meteor Industries were a very short-lived outfit, run by a former accountant at the Richards factory, who bought up the Wostenholm name when Richards went under. They only ever employed a few workers, and were accused of asset-stripping. The Japanese IXLs were made under license from them. The bolsters look very much like the bolsters Wostenholm used in their final years, and also like the ones the company who own the name today use. The blades look very similar to other Japanese-made knives of the same type made during the late 70's and early 80's

 

[JTB_5]

A couple more pictures, with the blades open.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

Thanks a lot for showing those Joshua, I often confuse Jim Parker and Jim Taylor I'm afraid Meteor Industries were a very short-lived outfit, run by a former accountant at the Richards factory, who bought up the Wostenholm name when Richards went under. They only ever employed a few workers, and were accused of asset-stripping. The Japanese IXLs were made under license from them. The bolsters look very much like the bolsters Wostenholm used in their final years, and also like the ones the company who own the name today use. The blades look very similar to other Japanese-made knives of the same type made during the late 70's and early 80's

Having known both individuals personally, I didn't think Jim Taylor had anything to do with copying IXL knives in Japan. He was more of a cutlery historian.

 

[Jack Black]

Having known both individuals personally, I didn't think Jim Taylor had anything to do with copying IXL knives in Japan. He was more of a cutlery historian.

No, it was my mistake, it was Jim Parker who had them made

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

JTB_5 Great barlows Definitely Parker lineage they're the same shape and blades as this Parker eagle I have. Incidentally when I took the pic I had no idea there was a connection between the brands. Although my I*XL definitely is marked England. Also the jigging on the bone stag is very much like this Parker/Edwards lockback

After learning about Jim Parker and seeing how nice knives he had made with his own name on them could be,I wonder why he bothered whith all the con man stuff

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I noticed something looking at the pics, the asterisk on the Japanese Parker produced one have 6 points, the asterisk on the English one has 5. Interesting

 

[JTB_5]

I noticed something looking at the pics, the asterisk on the Japanese Parker produced one have 6 points, the asterisk on the English one has 5. Interesting

Well spotted!

Do you know what sort of issues the outsourced knives had? Or Jack Black might know? I’m not finding anything egregious on the ones I have—except perhaps there might be a fall off in the action from one maker to the next?

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

JTB_5 Unfortunately I didn't even know of Japanese made I*XL barlows until this thread. I will say the Parker barlows I've had were well made,I had two but gave one away in a GAW. I only have the one I*XL for a comparison,but from the very limited source to go by I'd say mine are about equal in overall quality.

 

[JTB_5]

JTB_5 Unfortunately I didn't even know of Japanese made I*XL barlows until this thread. I will say the Parker barlows I've had were well made,I had two but gave one away in a GAW. I only have the one I*XL for a comparison,but from the very limited source to go by I'd say mine are about equal in overall quality.

So many knives, so little time (and money!)

 

[Jack Black]

Do you know what sort of issues the outsourced knives had? Or Jack Black might know? I’m not finding anything egregious on the ones I have—except perhaps there might be a fall off in the action from one maker to the next?

I've not handled one Joshua, but I'm not sure they had any issues. The Japanese knives made around the same time, such as those with the Solar brand for example, were reasonably well-made inexpensive knives, much like Rough Rider are today for example, and I would imagine these Barlows are much the same. However, licensing the iconic IXL name to someone, who intended to have it used on Japanese-made knives, at a time when there was still a Sheffield cutlery industry, albeit a much depleted one, was a hugely erroneous act in my opinion. Far from the only one by the individual involved unfortunately, and were this affair more widely known about in Sheffield, I think he may have found himself being spat at in the street. His direct involvement in the cutlery business was brief thankfully, and I have never met a Sheffield cutler with a good word to say about him anyway

I think the Solar Barlow below has much in common with the IXL-marked ones

 

[JTB_5]

I've not handled one Joshua, but I'm not sure they had any issues. The Japanese knives made around the same time, such as those with the Solar brand for example, were reasonably well-made inexpensive knives, much like Rough Rider are today for example, and I would imagine these Barlows are much the same. However, licensing the iconic IXL name to someone, who intended to have it used on Japanese-made knives, at a time when there was still a Sheffield cutlery industry, albeit a much depleted one, was a hugely erroneous act in my opinion. Far from the only one by the individual involved unfortunately, and were this affair more widely known about in Sheffield, I think he may have found himself being spat at in the street. His direct involvement in the cutlery business was brief thankfully, and I have never met a Sheffield cutler with a good word to say about him anyway

I think the Solar Barlow below has much in common with the IXL-marked ones

Well the underhanded business side of things would certainly be enough to put off folks from the knives. How a knife brand has been handled is a significant gripe. Origins matter (though not always for the reasons people give), which is why many folks shy away from Chinese-made knives today, even though their quality has arguably been on par with other countries's efforts.

 

[Jack Black]

Of course prior to this, Imperial had created the Schrade-Wostenholm line of knives, but these were much higher quality knives, and though intended for the US market, they were at least put together in Sheffield (though at least one model was made with parts actually made by Camillus). Imperial went to a great deal of trouble because they anticipated that the Wostenholm name, IXL trademark, and the 'Made in Sheffield' stamp, still had bankable cachet. Richards, where Rodgers-Wostenholm were based then, also went to some trouble to keep the existence of the knives secret in Sheffield. Jim Parker, on the other hand, licensed the trademark from a scoundrel, and went straight to Japan. It certainly shows audacity, and considerable 'cheek' - as well as, arguably, a few other things!

 

[JTB_5]

Of course prior to this, Imperial had created the Schrade-Wostenholm line of knives, but these were much higher quality knives, and though intended for the US market, they were at least put together in Sheffield (though at least one model was made with parts actually made by Camillus). Imperial went to a great deal of trouble because they anticipated that the Wostenholm name, IXL trademark, and the 'Made in Sheffield' stamp, still had bankable cachet. Richards, where Rodgers-Wostenholm were based then, also went to some trouble to keep the existence of the knives secret in Sheffield. Jim Parker, on the other hand, licensed the trademark from a scoundrel, and went straight to Japan. It certainly shows audacity, and considerable 'cheek' - as well as, arguably, a few other things!

A good name may be hard to get, but a bad name is even harder to be rid of. I'd rather spend a lifetime earning a scrap of the former, than a lifetime trying to be rid of the latter.