Charlow Barlow History

Thanks guys for bumping this thread. Those GEC cover pages are great to see all in one place! I really need to add some updated pics of my own to this thread.
 
Bumping this thread because of the upcoming run of ancient TC's. This will be the second time these are run.

edit: information about the last run of ancient TC's starts on page 18 post 343.
 
Last edited:
A few pictures to bring this thread a little more up to date. First are taken from other forum members not sure if I can do that or not. If not a Mod can take them down. I believe these were a new old release for the OKCA Blade show but I’m not positive.
Next are two new ancient barlows one light and one dark colored.
 
Bump to the top !!!!! :D
Picked this up at the 2018 Oregon show from the man him self Charlie :thumbsup:
What a honor it was to meet him .
I felt like I gained years of wisdom with love for traditionals and knowledge from just shaking his hand :)
JC385Hb.jpg

jVgDJWJ.jpg
 
waynorth said:
Thanks for posting those Al!! I copied them into my files - great reference!!
Click to expand...
OK, Directing this question to Mr. Campagna but others please weigh in too. Sorry in advance, it may be just splitting hairs but I am a stickler for details and there seems to be much confusion out there especially in the secondary market. All over this and other knife forums, YouTube, eBay and elsewhere across the interweb many people refer to all "TC" Barlows as "Tom's Choice." There are even those who report (some actually insist) that the "TC" stands for "Tom's Choice" but most of us here know that that "Tidioute Cutlery" is the correct answer. When I look at GEC's production information, the TCs are referred to as "Sawyer Barlows" but only the clip points are also called out as "Tom's Choice." Mr. Campagna, is it correct to refer to all TC Barlows as "Tom's Choice" or just the clip points? Thanks in advance for an answer and thank you for resurrecting a pattern (with help of course) that drew only limited attention a bit more than a decade ago.
 
I believe Charlie has answered this question before and it stands for Tidioute Cutlery.
 
LastRodeo said:
I believe Charlie has answered this question before and it stands for Tidioute Cutlery.
Click to expand...
Yes he has and I state that TC stands for Tidioute Cutlery in my post. I'm asking him to let me/us know if ALL TC Barlows should be referred to as "Tom's Choice" or just the clip points.
 
Only the clips are marked Tom’s Choice. The spears are marked real Barlow. The one arms were Stew’s Blade. The speys were Day’s Work, bigger speys were New Day. Real Sheepsfoot. Ancient
 
I made a guess some years ago, that a clip blade was Tom Sawyer's favorite blade!
Now this is all speculation and daydreaming at work, but I thought that calling the clips "Tom's Choice" was a pleasant addition to the stories of Tom and Huck, so GEC and I went with it.
It is complete coincidence that the letters TC (Tidioute Cutlery) also stand for "Tom's Choice".
All the Barlow's are TCs - the clips just happen to be Tom's (and many other peoples') favorite blade!! I could have called the Clips "Tom's Favorite" but that's too boring!!
:):D

P.S. I am still waiting for my #14 Barlow shipment . . . . . . . . .sigh!!:rolleyes:
 
waynorth said:
I made a guess some years ago, that a clip blade was Tom Sawyer's favorite blade!
Now this is all speculation and daydreaming at work, but I thought that calling the clips "Tom's Choice" was a pleasant addition to the stories of Tom and Huck, so GEC and I went with it.
It is complete coincidence that the letters TC (Tidioute Cutlery) also stand for "Tom's Choice".
All the Barlow's are TCs - the clips just happen to be Tom's (and many other peoples') favorite blade!! I could have called the Clips "Tom's Favorite" but that's too boring!!
:):D

P.S. I am still waiting for my #14 Barlow shipment . . . . . . . . .sigh!!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Thank you sir for commenting so quickly! I always took the clip points to be "Tom's Choice" based on many of your posts and the GEC production data...thanks for the "last word." By the way, in the theme of Tom and Huck, I was just up in your fine state for work...yes, as an archaeologist....maybe discovered an old paddle wheeler up on (under) the Columbia.
 
I have invested lots of money and time on the tc barlows. Wish charlie would make more but the the demand and value for yhem as a collector may suffer.


Oh well love ut ir hate it they are cool and dont mind paying secondary market for some hard to get tc.

I think charlie is doing a god job at keeping the runs at a low and not repeating them again.
 
Primble said:
More precise information added to the list today, including blade pulls and labels. Hoping I got the order right, as GEC did not provide that and I studied the threads and obtained info from other TC Barlow enthusiasts.

TC Barlows released since order #1 in 2012, taken and organized from GEC production totals for the years 2012-2014:

These are the orders of TC Barlows - special ordered by Charlie Campagna and produced by Great Eastern Cutlery Company.

2012 Complete List:

1st Run (Harness Maker Label), Genuine Barlow etch and PPP etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull, the Ebony is striped Macassar:

152112LP
Ebony Wood 57 pcs. no serial numbers
Copperhead Saw Cut Bone 57 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 51 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 20 pcs. no serial numbers

1st Run (Harness Maker Label), Genuine Barlow etch and PPP etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull and pen blade:

152212LP
Ebony Wood 20 pcs. no serial numbers
Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 39 pcs. no serial numbers
Copperhead Saw Cut Bone 5 pcs. no serial numbers

2013 Complete List:

2nd Run (Apple Cider Vinegar Label) Genuine Barlow etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull:

#152113STL Inside Out Saw Cut Bone 14 pcs. no serial numbers
#152113STL Ebony Wood 25 pcs. no serial numbers
#152113STL Rust Red Jig Bone 23 pcs. no serial numbers

2nd Run (Apple Cider Vinegar Label) Genuine Barlow etch Spearpoint Blade with Long Pull and Pen blade:

#152213STL Ebony Wood 32 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213STL Rust Red Jig Bone 31 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 1 pcs. no serial numbers
#152213 Genuine Pre-ban Elephant Ivory 1 pcs. no serial numbers (A gift to Charlie from Bill for the success of the TC Barlow SFO's)

* The Rust Red, Gabon Ebony, and Charlie's Ivory 152213 models had pile side pens.

2nd Run (Canada Whitewasher Label) Tom's Choice etch Clip Blade with Long Pull:

#151113STL Soup Bone 6 pcs. no #
#151113STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 49 pcs. no #
#151113STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 49 pcs. no #
#151113BE STL Black Ebony Wood 47 pcs. no #
#151113BE STL Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 55 pcs. no #

2nd Run (Canada Whitewasher Label) Tom's Choice etch Clip Blade with Long Pull and Pen blade:

#151213BE STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 28 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Saddle Brown Saw Cut Bone 28 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Black Ebony Wood 55 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Antique Amber Saw Cut Bone 26 pcs. no #
#151213BE STL Ebony Wood 35 pcs. no #

3rd Run (Orchardist Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch and Long Pull:

#153113STL Smooth Ivory Bone 48 pcs. no #
#153113STL Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 44 pcs. no #
#153113STL Walnut Wood 45 pcs. no #
#153113STL African Blackwood 36 pcs. no #
#153113STL Saw Cut Soup Bone 25 pcs. no #

3rd Run (Orchardist Label) Real Sheepfoot Barlow with RamsHead etch, Long Pull and Pen blade:

#153213STL Smooth Ivory Bone 47 pcs. no #
#153213STL Antique Yellow Saw Cut Bone 48 pcs. no #
#153213STL Walnut Wood 52 pcs. no #
#153213STL African Blackwood 49 pcs. no #

4th Run (Speying and Chicken Feed Label) Days Work etch Spey Blade with Crescent Nick:

#154113STL African Blackwood 48 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Smooth Yellow Bone 47 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Saw Cut Saddle Brown Bone 49 pcs. no serial numbers
#154113STL Soup Bone 17 pcs. no serial numbers

4th Run (Speying and Chicken Feed Label) Days Work etch Spey Blade and Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#151213STL Smooth Yellow Bone 50 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL African Blackwood 48 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL Soup Bone 7 pcs. no serial numbers
#151213STL Saw Cut Saddle Brown Bone 46 pcs. no serial numbers

4th Run Tom's Choice Clips with Crescent Nicks:

#151113STL Inside Out Saw Cut Bone 10 pcs. no # (Canada Whitewasher Label)
#151113STL Che Chen Rosewood 30 pcs. no # (Apple Cider Vinegar Label with Reversed Positions)
#154113STL Smooth Yellow Bone 50 pcs. no #(Canada Whitewasher Label)

2014 Complete List:

(Recycling Label) Genuine Barlow Etch Spear Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#152114EC Blood Red Jig Bone 38 pcs. no #
#152114EC Chestnut Jig Bone 38 pcs. no #
#152114EC Gabon Ebony Wood 80 pcs. no #
#152114EC American Walnut Wood 40 pcs. no #
#152114EC 3rd Cut Stag 18 pcs. no #

(Recycling Label) Genuine Barlow Etch Spear Blade with Crescent Nicks and pen blades:

#152214 Blood Red Jig Bone 40 pcs. no #
#152214 Chestnut Jig Bone 39 pcs. no #
#152214 Gabon Ebony Wood 20 pcs. no #

Stew's Blade etched Razor Blade with long pull and (Charlie's Hooks & Bait Label):

#15A114STL African Blackwood 34 pcs. no #
#15A114STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 34 pcs. no #
#15A114STL Chestnut Saw Cut Bone 34 pcs. no #

#15A114STL Oil Sucker Rod Wood 30 pcs. Serialized ( Made for GEC Event and not a Special order )
#15A114STL Oil Sucker Rod Wood 3 pcs. Non-serialized ( Made for GEC Event and not a Special order )

Stew's Blade etched Razor Blade with long pull and pen blade (Charlie's Hooks & Bait Label):

#15A214STL African Blackwood 20 pcs. no #
#15A214STL Chestnut Saw Cut Bone 17 pcs. no #
#15A214STL Rust Red Saw Cut Bone 17 pcs. no #

(Drake Oil Label) Tom's Choice II Etch Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks:

#151114STL 3rd Cut Stag 20 pcs. no #
#151114STL Walnut Wood 42 pcs. no #
#151114STL Rust Red Jig Bone 40 pcs. no #

(Drake Oil Label) Tom's Choice II Etch Clip Blade with Crescent Nicks and pen blade:

#151214STL 3rd Cut Stag 22 pcs. no #
#151214STL Rust Red Jig Bone 48 pcs. no #
#151214STL Walnut Wood 40 pcs. no #
#151214STL Dead Skunk Acrylic 7 pcs. no # (Skunk added to Drake Oil Label)


Anniversary Edition (Charlie's Soup Label with Red Sneakers):

#151114STL Red Soup Bone 155 pcs. no #
(Long pull clip blade)

#151114STL Brazilian Rosewood 11 pcs. no #
(Long pull clip blade)

#153114STL Brazilian Rosewood 6 pcs. no #
(Long pull sheep foot blade)

#152114STL Brazilian Rosewood 7 pcs. no #
(Spear blade with Crescent nail nick)

*Total TC Barlows produced to date is 2,450.

* Thanks to Jon Slider and Knowtracks for helping with the order and Nail nicks, etc.

I have checked and re-checked all of the totals many times, however, if anyone sees any errors, feel free to let me know and I will try to make any needed corrections. ;)

STL = steel frame BE = bare end
Click to expand...

Primble, Old post of yours but perhaps you have an answer, what does the “EC” stand for in the 2014 run of TC’s numbered “152114EC” ?? I thought EC was for “end cap” but clearly that doesn’t apply here. Thanks in advance (I also asked on the general Barlow forum). Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top