Barlow quality.
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Big Barn
- Posts: 181
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- Location: Columbus OH
Re: Barlow quality.
You could also look at Kissing Crane, Hen & Rooster, Henckles all make a Barlow with good F&F at a decent price. I believe the Kissing Crane's are a little thinner & a bit more pocket friendly (bolsters more rounded). Rough Riders - US Classic line also has a nice china made Barlow.
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MikeB
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- vikingdog
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:46 am
- Location: Pennsylvania The Keystone State
Re: Barlow quality.
Nice Belknap Willie. 
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash
My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/
Mike
My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/
Mike
- zippofan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:00 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Barlow quality.
Sorry to bring up an old thread guys, but I just had to post about a knife I just bought. Like so many, a Barlow was the first knife I ever got, talked Dad out of it back when I was 8 or 9 or so. Still have it, an Imperial, and I've been working to clean it up. Only took a little work on my Lansky to get it pretty darn sharp again and it hadn't been sharpened for 40(!) years.
Anyway, I was ordering some other stuff and came across Taylor's Eye Witness. ~$25 for a single blade Barlow style, I was curious and said what the heck. I am really impressed with this knife! It arrived nice and sharp, the pull is about a 7 out of 10 with a crisp half stop. Fit and finish is above a 25 dollar knife. I'm going to be EDC carrying it and see how it holds up to Scout trips and various other daily tasks.
If it's as good as it looks, I'll be saving up for one of their nice hand worked Barlows.
Cheers,
Griff
Anyway, I was ordering some other stuff and came across Taylor's Eye Witness. ~$25 for a single blade Barlow style, I was curious and said what the heck. I am really impressed with this knife! It arrived nice and sharp, the pull is about a 7 out of 10 with a crisp half stop. Fit and finish is above a 25 dollar knife. I'm going to be EDC carrying it and see how it holds up to Scout trips and various other daily tasks.
If it's as good as it looks, I'll be saving up for one of their nice hand worked Barlows.
Cheers,
Griff
- jerryd6818
- Posts: 39458
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Re: Barlow quality.
Where in the heck did you get a Taylor's Eye Witness for $25? Depending on handle material, that knife is over $100 at World Knives. I've had my eye on one for quite some time but haven't had the $$$ yet. At $25, I would pop for one in a heartbeat.zippofan wrote:Sorry to bring up an old thread guys, but I just had to post about a knife I just bought. Like so many, a Barlow was the first knife I ever got, talked Dad out of it back when I was 8 or 9 or so. Still have it, an Imperial, and I've been working to clean it up. Only took a little work on my Lansky to get it pretty darn sharp again and it hadn't been sharpened for 40(!) years.
Anyway, I was ordering some other stuff and came across Taylor's Eye Witness. ~$25 for a single blade Barlow style, I was curious and said what the heck. I am really impressed with this knife! It arrived nice and sharp, the pull is about a 7 out of 10 with a crisp half stop. Fit and finish is above a 25 dollar knife. I'm going to be EDC carrying it and see how it holds up to Scout trips and various other daily tasks.
If it's as good as it looks, I'll be saving up for one of their nice hand worked Barlows.
Cheers,
Griff
http://www.worldknives.com/products/tay ... -2626.html
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Edgewise
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:34 pm
Re: Barlow quality.
Great 46 year old barlow, Absintheur. That knife must be like another finger by now.
What brand is it? Hope you pass it on to someone who will continue to use it.

What brand is it? Hope you pass it on to someone who will continue to use it.
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Edgewise
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:34 pm
Re: Barlow quality.
Here it is, the barlow that I was looking for at the start of this thread.
It's a good quality, old USA company, discontinued user in good condition,
less costly than the current equivalents but probably better.
I got the Colonial with crystal clear New Holland for a song as a good back up.
Now I'm on the lookout for a good Tip-Top barlow because I heard they were a
strong workhorse knife built for hard use.
It's a good quality, old USA company, discontinued user in good condition,
less costly than the current equivalents but probably better.
I got the Colonial with crystal clear New Holland for a song as a good back up.
Now I'm on the lookout for a good Tip-Top barlow because I heard they were a
strong workhorse knife built for hard use.
- MyDogsHunt
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:30 pm
- Location: Idaho, Clearwater Co.
Re: Barlow quality.
Not as fancy as some, but I sure like this old Imperial.
Especially the steel. Boy does it take an edge!

Charlie
Especially the steel. Boy does it take an edge!

Charlie
Get my lantern Get my gun
Money can't buy happiness, but it will buy you a goat.
Money can't buy happiness, but it will buy you a goat.
- zippofan
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:00 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Barlow quality.
The ones on World Knives got me searching all over the 'net for Taylor's Eye Witness, and I stumbled upon their 'working' knives:jerryd6818 wrote:Where in the heck did you get a Taylor's Eye Witness for $25? Depending on handle material, that knife is over $100 at World Knives. I've had my eye on one for quite some time but haven't had the $$$ yet. At $25, I would pop for one in a heartbeat.zippofan wrote:Sorry to bring up an old thread guys, but I just had to post about a knife I just bought. Like so many, a Barlow was the first knife I ever got, talked Dad out of it back when I was 8 or 9 or so. Still have it, an Imperial, and I've been working to clean it up. Only took a little work on my Lansky to get it pretty darn sharp again and it hadn't been sharpened for 40(!) years.
Anyway, I was ordering some other stuff and came across Taylor's Eye Witness. ~$25 for a single blade Barlow style, I was curious and said what the heck. I am really impressed with this knife! It arrived nice and sharp, the pull is about a 7 out of 10 with a crisp half stop. Fit and finish is above a 25 dollar knife. I'm going to be EDC carrying it and see how it holds up to Scout trips and various other daily tasks.
If it's as good as it looks, I'll be saving up for one of their nice hand worked Barlows.
Cheers,
Griff
http://www.worldknives.com/products/tay ... -2626.html
http://taylors-eye-witness.co.uk/pocket_knives.htm
I had bought a GEC from Not Just Knives for a great price, and I happened to search their catalog and found the Taylor's working knives (mods, if the vendor mention is wrong my apologies), so I took the chance. It's a great knife! I carried it yesterday and used it for cutting up some boxes, cutting plastic strapping etc. and worked a charm. Well worth the money
Once I save up I'll definitely be looking for one of their ram's horn or other premier line knives.
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trail
- Posts: 1325
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:14 am
Re: Barlow quality.
Edgewise, a fine choice. You can look forward to years of good carrying with that one. I have a similar one and can vouch for the quality. And of course, there is the Kabar mystique, which is even stronger than Case in my opinion. I know if I go out in the plant and announce I have a Kabar to show around, I always draw a crowd.
- garddogg56
- Bronze Tier

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Re: Barlow quality.
I know these Imperials are not the best but the steel in these is amazing this one I got when a local hardware store lost the war with the big box stores it was in his store room new I have one I keep in my truck tool box.this one will replace the truck one if I ever break it 
"On the Road Again"Willie Nelson
- tongueriver
- Posts: 7239
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: Barlow quality.
I would not hesitate to recommend the Schrade 206 barlows in 1095 non-stainless steel. I have one which has been customized by Herman Williams with his famous red-dyed stag, but the knife itself is very good and cheap on the ebay thingamajiggie site thing.
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MikeB
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- Location: Israel
Re: Barlow quality.
Another one I'd like to recommend is Case C. Platts barlow, recently got it and was impressed by its quallity

Mike
Mike
Mike
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davidketterer
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:06 pm
Re: Barlow quality.
How many of these knives were under $50?
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Smalleyds
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Re: Barlow quality.
You paid real American money for Photobucket?
- New_Windsor_NY
- Gold Tier

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Re: Barlow quality.
You do realize that the post prior to yours is 12 years old.
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Skip
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Smalleyds
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Re: Barlow quality.
12 years old or not, it was still stupid.
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Gtrclktr-351
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Re: Barlow quality.
12 years ago, Photobucket was the easiest way to save photos and attach them to Forums. And, at that time, Photobucket offered a free option as well.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure."
Bill
Bill
- Mumbleypeg
- Gold Tier

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Re: Barlow quality.
Not an unusual reaction. Unfortunately rather than try to learn and understand the past, some are quick to judge our predecessors by todays’s conditions and moral standards.
If it didn’t exist before they were born, it didn’t exist. Or it may have been the only option, the prevailing sentiment or belief at the time, but now it is deemed to have been stupid.
Not to worry though. In a few years stuff they do, or have done, will be deemed stupid by future generations.
Ken
Not to worry though. In a few years stuff they do, or have done, will be deemed stupid by future generations.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- edgy46
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C-WADE7
- Bronze Tier

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Re: Barlow quality.
His profile shows he’s 83Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Oct 18, 2025 8:32 pm Not an unusual reaction. …Not to worry though. In a few years stuff they do, or have done, will be deemed stupid by future generations.![]()
Ken
- Mumbleypeg
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Re: Barlow quality.
My comments are just observations from life about those quick to pass judgement on our forefathers, without understanding their circumstances or situation. Unfortunately those of us who are older aren’t exempt from also making those judgements.
I should have said some “stuff WE do will be judged as stupid” by future generations.
Ken
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- cudgee
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Re: Barlow quality.
Some of the stuff i've done has been judged as stupid by past and current generations.Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 3:45 am My comments are just observations from life about those quick to pass judgement on our forefathers, without understanding their circumstances or situation. Unfortunately those of us who are older aren’t exempt from also making those judgements.I should have said some “stuff WE do will be judged as stupid” by future generations.
Ken
- bighomer
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Re: Barlow quality.
Cudgee, me too and I'm still very capable. 
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ea42
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Re: Barlow quality.
Most folks who know me are more surprised when I do something smart.
Eric
Eric