- Eric's Jack
Why I am especially grateful to Eric is less interesting, but won't be told unless I tell it here. I've been carrying pocket knives for almost half a century, but I had never owned more than one at a time until two years ago, when I realized the knife I had been carrying for eight years was illegal in the city where I work. That knife had always been a compromise. To replace it with an even shorter blade was more than I could bear, so I set out to replace it with two knives: one for Boston, and a larger knife for more urbane environs.
You're way ahead of me, I'm sure. It didn't take long to settle on a Half Moon Trapper as my usual pocket knife, but I had a hard time finding a knife I liked that would fit within Boston's 2.5-inch limit on blade length (tip to bolster). I went through half a dozen small pocket knives before settling for one that worked well enough.
So I had accumulated a small collection of small knives, most of which I would rarely use.
Then Canal Street released its English Barlow. I bought one to give to a friend who had helped me out and deserved a token of thanks. To my great surprise, I liked that barlow. Its blade length was just under 2.5 inches, so it could be carried in Boston. I thought it was a little too short, a little too wide, too heavy, too rectilinear, and two blades were one more than required, but I liked the knife so much I felt sad giving it away. I bought more barlows for relatives. Some months later, I bought one for myself. It did not disappoint. It's become the knife I usually carry on weekend trips when I might have to go into or pass through Boston.
But I promised myself I'd pounce on a single-blade version if Canal Street ever made one.
Now Canal Street has produced this limited run of Eric's Jack. In genuine stag! I pounced. Eric's Jack has a short bolster, and the blade is 440C stainless instead of 14-4 CrMo. Otherwise it seems to be a noticeably lighter single-blade variant of the barlow, with premium covers.
I like my English Barlow. I really like this Eric's Jack.
Thank you, Eric.
