An inexpensively made, and inexpensively purchased, Irish Imperial Barlow...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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I was at a gun show today, and there was nothing that stuck out as a must have. So, while I was heading out, but still perusing tables as I headed towards the exit, I saw this shell handled Imperial Barlow made in Ireland. Anyhow, I knew it was an economy type knife when produced, (back some decades ago), but at $5, I felt I could find a spot for her somewhere in my collection. The blade has a few minor rust freckles, but other than that, it's very minty, and still sports it's factory edge.
Just another do-dad for my collection :)




 
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Don't get me wrong, I occasionally like adding such "cheapies" to the collection as good representations of the genre, but... I must say, the average Rough Rider is like a Cadillac compared to this Irish Imperial, lol! :)
Again, it's a collecting thing for me, so I like having such representations included :)

Btw, before having wiped down my new Imperial Barlow aquisition, I had just finished wiping down my set of vintage Heid & Roth, (of the 1951 patent version), German made restraint nippers. So, they wound up being included in the photo op session above :)
 
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I got a 2 blade Imperial on the bay, just to see if it would be worth tearing apart and rebuilding. I'm thinking probably not, but I'll know when I get into it. I'm currently working on trying to turn a two blade Kutmaster into a single blade.

Nothing wrong with buying the cheapies... yours looks like it's in excellent condition, and will probably take/hold a good edge. Difficult to go too far wrong for $5...:cool:
 
hornetguy said:
I got a 2 blade Imperial on the bay, just to see if it would be worth tearing apart and rebuilding. I'm thinking probably not, but I'll know when I get into it. I'm currently working on trying to turn a two blade Kutmaster into a single blade.

Nothing wrong with buying the cheapies... yours looks like it's in excellent condition, and will probably take/hold a good edge. Difficult to go too far wrong for $5...:cool:
Click to expand...

Since I just wanted it for a representative piece in my collection, it was nice not to have to do anything but to put a little oil on her and wipe her down. Like I mentioned above, even the edge is totally factory and still sharp :)
Everything about her seems really bare bones economy, but that's what she always was meant to be, so it represents that very well :)
 
You'll probably find it cuts very well with its nice thin blade.
This one has two pins in the bolsters because I can't solder.
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I have a 2 blade Imperial (Ireland) Barlow, and a matching (Providence RI) Barlow.
Other than the tang stamps, I see no difference between them.

Do they see pocket time? You betchya!
They cut just as well or better than any of my other Barlows. (and not that it matters to me, they also weigh a little less in my pocket than a Barlow with real bolsters.)

Are they the highest build quality? Of course not. They do, however, have the same blades/blade steel of the more expensive Schrade knives of the same pattern.

I consider them "Boy's Knives" ... inexpensive to buy, since chances are a young boy (or girl) will lose it or break it, inexpensive construction, but with the excellent blades of a more expensive and better finished knife.

For the record, back in the day a "boy's knife" was also popular with value conscious adults.
Why pay for "fluff" you don't need or that doesn't make the knife/tool longer lasting?
I'm not sure, but I don't think my great grandfather (1892 -1974) ever owned a knife (other than fixed blades) that didn't have clamshell construction.
He went for value in everything, and didn't see any point in paying extra for a name. (an attitude he passed down to 4 generations.)
:)
 
Since these knives were truly made and designed to be bargain sellers, I wonder what they used as steel for the blades? I would imagine that the US made Imperial knives were made with the common 1095 carbon steel. But, the ones made in Ireland, well... maybe they used whatever steel was common for them over there for their usual knife making. I don't believe it to be a stainless, but more likely a carbon steel, like 1095, or something similar?
 
I'd be willing to bet that it is still a nice 1095.
Those old Imperials are better than Rough Riders, IMO. Thing is, I'm not a fan of Rough Rider steel. Those old Imperials will take and hold a fine edge. Combined with the thin profile that means they cut like the dickens. I've got a couple shell handle Imperials which were in very bad shape when I got them, but they were less than a dollar. That means that after cleaning them up just a little I have dropped them in my pocket and used them freely. You would be surprised at what those shell handles will take.
 
And that construction was designed to be cheap, but if it isn't rugged, why have so many of these cheap knives survived use? (Well, of course one reason so many have survived might be that a lot were made, but still, how often do you see a broken one?)
 
I'm bound to say I've got a few of those too. They may not be real pretty, but they work. Sometimes that's all you can afford.
 
I tend to hit the gun show for both days it's in town, (and on both weekends in which they are held each year).
Anyhow, I went today to peruse some more, and came away with three more "souvenirs" from the event.
The same person that sold me the Irish made Imperial Barlow yesterday, today sold me a yellow handled two bladed Imperial Fish Knife for $10. This one is like the Barlow in construction, (shell handled), but was made in Providence RI USA. It's in absolutely mint unused condition in every way, and will make another great representation of it's genre within my collection.
I also picked up a three bladed Japan made Parker & Son, (in mint unused condition). The handle scales are bone, but resemble second cut stag. The blade has an etching to commemorate Texas' 150th year anniversary of it's independence from Mexico. I believe a total 1250 of these were produced back then. He was asking $55, but we managed to make a final deal at $38.
The third item is shown in the picture as well, my only non knife purchase during the event. It's a very vintage wooden billy club/night stick. Even it's leather lanyard is joined together on each end by stitching, not tied, making me believe it may be original to the club. The gentleman was asking $25, but $20 made the sale.
Just a few more "interesting objects" for my very eclectic collection :)


 
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Nothing beats today's easy internet searches to find info on just about anything.
When I purchased the yellow handled Imperial Fish Knife, I wondered how old it was, (since I knew Imperial had went defunct years ago).
Anyhow, the chart below lets me know it's at least 30 or more years old. The knife's condition, being absolutely mint, sure does hide it's age well.
Although it's a low end pocket knife, it does show a better build quality over the Irish Imperial Barlow that I purchased yesterday.
My collection now currently houses few, but good representations, of the shell construction type knives, (from both Colonial and Imperial).

I don't focus on any particular type of item in my collection of "interesting objects", it's simply very eclectic/diverse in nature.

 
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