The Western Barlow

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
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FRJ
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The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Who knew?
I was surprised to see one on ebay, and more surprised to win the auction.
I never thought of Western and Barlow together. Never seen one.
This is a nice knife even if the blades are a bit thin.
Great font on the bolster and a nice patina delivered right to my door.
Just makes me want to grin. ::super_happy::
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Joe
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by 313 Mike »

Cool knife Joe, I've never seen a Western barlow either!
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by garddogg56 »

Joe;what makes them so rare??Is it just shear numbers?
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Thanks guys.
A lot of things can get past me, but I've never seen or heard of a Western Barlow before.
So I win this one for $18.50 and the next thing I see another one, and I win that one too ......
for $18.49. Second one with different bolsters and not in as good shape, interesting and cheap enough to own. I think some folks scramble for Barlows, but for those that don't they wont pay much for them. I don't spend a lot of time trying to figure this stuff out. They may not be rare.
I'm just glad I got them. Especially this one. I just like knives.
Thanks again guys.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by Producer »

Very nice Barlow.
Western was a great company that made really good knives.
Good finds!
I never met a Schrade I didn't like
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by Colonel26 »

Westerns are my favorite using knives, especially my beloved 742 stockman patterns. I see several of the 822 pattern Baliws for sale, but not being a Barlow guy, I've just never bought one. Maybe I need to change that.....

Western had the best steel ever IMHO.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by edge213 »

I just counted the Barlows in our knife collection (my daughter and I). 30 Barlows, no Westerns.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by knifeaholic »

Joe;

Your knife is a modern example, 1960's to early 70's, made on contract by Schrade/Ulster. Check yours as compared to the Ulster "Prince Albert" barlow...same exact tooling, handle material, etc.

Attached is an image of an older one from the pre-WWII Western States era.

Western also made a more modern barlow in the 1970's (model 822) that I believe they made in-house. Tooling and materials are different with solid nickel silver bolsters and delrin handles.
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Western States Catalog Pages.jpg
Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Thanks for your nice comments, guys.

Steve, thanks for that information and attachment. Well, they put together a decent little knife.
I think the other Barlow you're referring to is in transit to me. I'll post a picture of it.
So there must be quite a few out there.
Thanks again.
Joe
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

That other Barlow came in today. Take a look.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by edge213 »

Those are a couple of nice Barlows.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Thank you David.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by edge213 »

No problem Joe, I love Barlows.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

As you stated in an earlier post. 30 Barlows. And your daughter like them too.
That's really neat.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by edge213 »

I just added 2 more. A 2010 Case with with the Case Bros. stamp and a HS&B O.V.B.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Here's another old Western Barlow. I forgot to get picts of the tang.
Curved Western States over Boulder.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by Colonel26 »

Oh man Joe! I like that one a lot!
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by djknife13 »

Western must not have been sold as much in other parts of the country early in the 1900's as it was in the midwest and central north. I started out collecting Western fixed (my first hunting knife as a kid was a Western L28, still have it) and when I started into folders, most of them were Westerns including a number of Barlows. I just thought they were all over the country. Someday I'll have to try to group them for a picture, but they are all over in different safes and display cases. ___Dave
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Colonel. It's got "old timey" all over it.

Dave, I sure would like to see pictures of your knives if you can take a day off for a photo shoot. :lol:
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by Colonel26 »

djknife13 wrote:Western must not have been sold as much in other parts of the country early in the 1900's as it was in the midwest and central north. I started out collecting Western fixed (my first hunting knife as a kid was a Western L28, still have it) and when I started into folders, most of them were Westerns including a number of Barlows. I just thought they were all over the country. Someday I'll have to try to group them for a picture, but they are all over in different safes and display cases. ___Dave
Dave, no one here had ever heard of them. I'm the only one in these parts that I know of who collects them. Growing up here it was Case, Eye Brand, and all them other off brand cheap knives.
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by djknife13 »

Years ago two brothers from the Twin Cities used to gather all the local stuff from around here including Westerns and Marshall Wells and haul them down south and trade for early English stuff that was then considered gaudy, with the horse and alligator guards, and the Bowies that were considered too large and cumbersome to be a useful knife. You wouldn't believe that collection. You see some of it some of our reference books. He told me he couldn't hardly give the stuff away that he traded for the stuff he and his brother wanted. ___Dave
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by edge213 »

Western 822
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by garddogg56 »

::tu:: Them Western barlows just say workingmans knife 8)
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by FRJ »

Nice one, David. ::tu::

The Barlows are short but stout.
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Re: The Western Barlow

Post by wlf »

Isn't it fascinating how the cheaper sawcut, maybe ebony handles that were on the old knives,now suit the replicas and make them very desirable.

I think authenticity goes a long way,'cause the golden age knives were about as good as it could get.

Great knives fellas.
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