Vintage Barlow Brands

[JohnDF]

I'm looking to add a few Barlows to my very small Barlow collection
I'm already good with TC Barlows, I've got a Spear, a Sheepsfoot, and a Clip Point.
I'm also good with Case Barlow knives, I have several newer runs and some vintage.
I also have a Boker, Queen, Keen Kutter, Remington, Camillus, and Imperial USA vintage Barlows... still searching for a nice Russell at a bargain price.

I'm now looking for other brand recommendations that would have been popular back in the day.

 

[SteveC]

Utica, Cattaraugus, Winchester, Western...

 

[r8shell]

Robeson, Schrade...

 

[r8shell]

Empire!

 

[Boattale]

There was a nice Imperial Ireland one in the last burst of Barlows that happened last week.

 

[JohnDF]

burst of Barlows

I'm not sure what a "Burst of Barlows" is.

 

[waynorth]

I'm not sure what a "Burst of Barlows" is.

Like a Gaggle of Geese??
A Murder of Crows???
A Sunburst of Soupbone??!!

 

[JohnDF]

I don't see your Dead Skunk in there.

 

[Arathol]

A couple GECs and a Russell

Northfield

A couple Northwoods with a Case trapper

Kutmaster

Bulldog

 

[waynorth]

Here are a few:
Skunk!!

 

[5K Qs]

John, I have a Belknap Blue Grass Barlow, but I know nothing about it, including how I got it. It spent decades in my "window repair bucket" before I dragged it out as I started collecting old pocket knives in 2014.




- GT

 

[Boattale]

Lionsteel makes a nice modern version of the Barlow. I'm fond of my ebony warhorse.

 

[JohnDF]

There's that little rascal... So cool!

Here are a few

That's a little more than a few.

 

[JohnDF]

Thanks for helping me narrow down my search everybody... I've got a few brands in mind now to keep an eye out for.

 

[calm]

For " back in the day" try some Sheffield makers. There are few still around, some better than others, but they do make old school/look Barlows and have been doing so for a long time.

Boker is also popular these day, and have some history too.

https://imgur.com/VmX99jn

https://imgur.com/H6GYUut

 

[r8shell]

You say you already have a Camillus, but you could start looking for some of the various bolster stamps they used:

 

[Modoc ED]

John JohnDF Is your Queen Barlow one with the one-piece, cast, aluminum frame and Delrin Winterbottom covers?

 

[afishhunter]

Popular "INEXPENSIVE" (not "cheap" -- there is a difference) Shell Construction/Hollow Bolster Barlows were made by Imperial, Colonial, and post 1933-ish Hammer Brand.

They all had/have the same high quality and properly heat treated 1095 blades as their more expenive contemporary counterparts.

They are still available for a "reasonable" cost.

To tell if a knife has shell construction/hollow bolsters is easy at a glance, if you know what to look for:

Hollow Bolster/Shell construction NEVER have a visible center pin, real OR FAKE.
Fake cover pins and bolsters? Yep. They are common.
The larger center pin about mid-length, nearest the bottom of the covers?
NEVER, regardless of brand and pattern.

 

[JohnDF]

Is your Queen Barlow one with the one-piece, cast, aluminum frame and Delrin Winterbottom covers?

Nope... Sawcut Bone and Backsprings

 

[mbkr]

Kabar has been around a long time. I don't know that much about their Barlows. Some of the later ones, sawcut delrin, were made by Camillus. I don't know who made the vintage ones. Maybe Kabar themselves.