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Barlow Knives

A barlow knife has one or two blade, a huge metal bolster, and a comfortable tear-drop shaped handle. the blade or blades are attached at the small end of the handle. The first barlow being made in Sheffield England in the 1600's. It was made by several American shops soon after, and has become as American as "apple pie". George Washington was known to have a barlow knife, Mark twain referred to a "real barlow" in his tom sawyer and huckleberry finn in 1876. Barlow's have long been gifts treasured by young American boys through the ages. at least on song was written about a barlow knife.

"I been livin' here all my life, All I got is a Barlow Knife; Buck horn handle and a barlow blade, Best dang knife that ever was made."

Tags: Barlow, Pattern, barlow-knives

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Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on October 27, 2015 at 23:37

Here are a few Schrade barlows..I really like the Daddy Barlows..

Schrade 280 Daddy Barlow with dark red jigged bone handles...SFO for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Schrade 280 Daddy Barlow with White Bone handles

Schrade 206 Barlow with fancy bolsters and Sambar Stag handles

Schrade 206 Barlow with fancy bolsters and White Bone handles

Schrade 2661 Heritage Barlow with Red Bone handles

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on October 28, 2015 at 2:50

Barlow knives will forever hold a very special place in my heart since it was the first pattern I carried as a very young lad. I'm talking elementary school young, like 9 or 10. All boys carried a Barlow knife when I was a kid. Or so my perceptions indicated at the time. It was a completely different world back then when I was a boy. Fire had just been discovered, and the wheel soon thereafter. Truly a kinder, gentler time.

That's why I have such a fond appreciation for these beauties that you have posted, Doug. They're all incredible! But these bottom 3, especially the last one, are super-duper delicious for my eyeballs to feast upon. Love the embossed bolsters on the stag and smooth white bone! For my money, however, the '83 Everlastingly Sharp red boned beauty really takes the blue ribbon home. I like the shield on it, too!

Simply beautiful, each and everyone of them! Good show, Doug ~ Good show, my friend!

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on October 28, 2015 at 4:47

Ron,

After such high praise, I pulled out another Schrade Heritage Barlow. If you aren't familiar with Schrades, the smooth bone Heritage knives were made for 4 years 1983-86. In 83 and 84 the set consisted of the 2661 Barlow, 2941 Trapper, 7801 Muskrat, 8041 Whittler, 8801 Stockman and the 8341 Jr. Stockman. In 85 and 86 the Barlow was replaced with the 2331 Jack. The knives were available in Red, Green and Brown bone.

I think the shield is outstanding, however, it is one son of a gun to clean.

1983 Schrade Heritage 2661 Barlow with Green Bone handles

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on October 28, 2015 at 5:09

Beautiful, Doug! Thanks for posting this green bone Schrade. Indeed, it too is worthy of my "high praise." Schrade made some mighty fine cutlery back in the day...back in the day when they were made in the USA!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 28, 2015 at 19:03

I can imagine that the shield is a bugger to clean but oh, how worth it! They are both very nice, the smooth bone and a favorite blade etch!

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on June 9, 2016 at 20:21

My latest Barlow is a White Smooth Bone Barlow offered by the North American Fishing Club. My guess is the knife is made by Jim Frost and Co. The quality is simialr to that found in his Frost Family and Ocoee River knives. Nice tight blades with a decent edge. Most likely 440 steel. The bone looks pretty good. What can I say; it is worth the $10 I paid for it and would probably be a decent pocket carry. Typical 3.5 inches closed. The scrimshaw work and laser engraving is typical of the work done by Frost and SMKW.

I bought it for the fish, and the white bone, not to mention its a Barlow.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on June 9, 2016 at 20:36

Nice knife Tobias. I have a NAFC fish knife.

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on June 9, 2016 at 22:22

I've got one of their fish knives also. Wondered about the other ones in the line.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 10, 2016 at 18:32

The fish looks great on that smooth white bone. I woulnt mind seing more of that series in the fishing group!

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on August 24, 2016 at 20:00

Here is a Barlow I found recently while visiting in Atlanta. Saw a small hand written sign on a telephone pole in Marietta that said "Estate Sale" on it, and being a junker at heart I decided to follow the crumbs, (glad I did). Came out with a Robeson Barlow from the late 60's for a measly $2. SCORE!! Cleaned it up and it came out looking pretty good, at least pretty good for a 50 year old-plus carbon bladed knife. Research tells me it was probably made by Camillus. Some would call this a "Swell End Jack" due to it having two blades, but ultimately it is a Barlow frame, so it IS a Barlow.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on August 25, 2016 at 18:34

I've posted these elsewhere on IKC, but I didn't even know there was a dedicated Barlow thread here until I dug around and found it yesterday, so thought I'd post them here too. Two, count 'em two Buck #331 Granddaddy Barlows, one in Yellow Sawcut Delrin, the other in Black. Both are NIB and are SFO's made by Camillus for SMKW in the 90's. The other photo is the Trestle Pines Portage Barlow I won from TSA Knives this spring, it has old growth recycled Ash handles and 154CM steel. I keep the Bucks on display in a window box, and will never use them, but I carry the TP every day in a belt sheath and use it often. Trestle Pine knives are "made to be used", so I'm using this one and I love it. So, anyway here they are.