The first run Charlows are tang stamped with the 12 as the last digits, they were all Spear Bladed.
12/3/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11568705] http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... parts1.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/4/12[QUOTE=waynorth;11572250] The first one off the line!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... TCfin3.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/5/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11576115] the first Ebony came off the etching bench!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... /TCEB1.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... /TCEB2.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/6/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11580467] GEC had a few pieces of Ebony left from the one blades, so they put together some of these, but only a few. . . .
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... es/151.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... es/152.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... es/154.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/6/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11580637]
The Ebony was sort of an afterthought, brought in at the last minute, and with available materials, there are only a few single blades, and very few two blades.
~20 and ~9 respectively. I understand the whole run is about 200 knives. [/QUOTE]
12/7/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11583192] They got a deeper sawcut on this one
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... es/169.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/12/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11604283]
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... arlow1.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/12/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11604361] Even though the long pull on the master "hides" behind the pen blade it is easy to access. There is a wide swedge on the back of the pen blade that lets your thumbnail slip right to the pull!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... arlow2.jpg [/QUOTE]
------
12/17/12 [QUOTE=SonnyJim;11621832]
http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/o48 ... 652e76.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/19/12 [QUOTE=pertinux;11628800]
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... 1355937310 [/QUOTE]
12/20/12[QUOTE=waynorth;11635086]
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... elback.jpg
About the only thing I should have added, is "Don't forget to Oil the Joints"!! [/QUOTE]
12/21/12 [QUOTE=waynorth;11635463] I'm a firm believer in cider vinegar. I scrub the knife real good and dry it completely. I heat the vinegar in this skinny little glass I have, in a microwave, 'til it starts to bubble slightly. (don't boil it!). Insert knife. Leave until it is black, moving it slightly to move fresh acid to the metal.
Rinse and rub it with a cloth or paper towel.
My Bullwinkle has kept its homemade patina/bluing for a year, and I never worry about it rusting!
We will find out soon if it makes a good traditional Barlow Better!! [/QUOTE]
12/30/12 [QUOTE=Rusty1;11667384]
http://imageshack.us/a/img41/1159/dsc1709edit.jpg [/QUOTE]
1/7/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11700578] Here's an example of how much Macassar Ebony can vary!
I was quite surprised to see the "stripes"!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... Ebony1.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... Ebony2.jpg
I have to look at them a while before I decide whether I like the stripey one or not. It is so startlingly unexpected. They certainly did a good job of matching the handles, front to back!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... Ebony3.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
For the second run, Clip bladed Charlows were produced, and because there were a few spear blades left over, a few spear bladed Charlows were produced in the second run. These have a 13 as the last digit in the number.
1/20/13 [QUOTE=willgoy;11751073] Any single Clips in the pipeline? [/QUOTE]
1/21/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11755136] Will, there will be 1-blade and 2-blade versions.
The sawcut bone will be a little different. Just slightly. [/QUOTE]
1/23/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11763106] For the collectors of statistics, there were 218 spear blade TC Barlows made last year. And there will be about 350 Clips this year. [/QUOTE]
2/8/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11832567] I have gotten a lot of requests for numbers. Many people have missed the Spear blade run, so we have upped the numbers for the clip. There were 218 spears made, and now there will be 335 clips.
200 will be single blades, Duncan! [/QUOTE]
2/27/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11909085] Some say a better Barlow has Redbone on it. My little spy managed to sneak out a pic of an unfinished scale! Looks promising!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... d75394.jpg [/QUOTE]
2/27/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11909544] Yes, the sawcut striations are more pronounced this time. They "grew" at my request, after the first color on the spears came out, and they really "hit the nail" this time, IMO!!
I can't wait!!!!!!! [/QUOTE]
2/27/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11910343] My mole managed to snag this pic before they slammed the doors and set the alarms today!!
Crappy pic, but it shows the Dark Brown handles coming up! Kinda chocolatey - I think they are going to be nice when they pic up some highlights from polishing/finishing!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 6c137f.jpg [/QUOTE]
2/27/13 [QUOTE=pistonsandgears;11912282] Just curious to know if they are only using the Gabon ebony on this batch as opposed to the Macassar used on some of the last batch. I ask because I spied this picture on their "What's Happening" thread with the caption "#15 TC Barlow Gabon Ebony ready for milling"
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp- ... /02/55.JPG [/QUOTE]
2/27/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11912303] I believe it will be all Gabon. I found the wood in San Francisco a couple of years ago, and just sent it to GEC two weeks ago. Bill assures me there is plenty.
The streaks are more grey than brown, and overall it is darker/blacker than the Macassar. [/QUOTE]
2/28/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11915307] The very first one off the line!!!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 1d34da.jpg [/QUOTE]
3/13/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11966979] The first batch of several shipments went out today!! About 100 knives [/QUOTE]
3/15/13 [QUOTE=paulhilborn;11974094] I absolutely love the Rust Red covers, the f&f is spot on. Happy, happy happy!!!
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1838/p3150001v.jpg [/QUOTE]
3/16/13 [QUOTE=mr_badexample;11976984]
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174 ... G_1292.jpg [/QUOTE]
3/17/13 [QUOTE=Arathol;11981981] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/ ... GP8788.jpg [/QUOTE]
3/19/13 [QUOTE=biglmbass;11988132] Speaking of details... I notice the long pull is narrower on the new clip blades than on the spears. [/QUOTE]
3/19/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;11988392] I talked to GEC today and brought up the thinner pull. They have been trying different tooling to see what is most durable. The long pull is cold forged into the blade which puts tremendous pressure on the tool, and occasionally breaks it.
I mentioned that I prefer the wider one, because it allows my nail to pivot more without "shaving" it. [/QUOTE]
3/20/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12027067] Here's a mystery/tease picture for you!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... fcd634.jpg [/QUOTE]
3/31/13 [QUOTE=Rusty1;12030398] Is this an original two blade spear point, with a Gabon ebony two blade spearpoint above? [/QUOTE]
3/31/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12031173] I'm glad someone finally saw the Gabon Spear!!:rolleyes: [/QUOTE]
3/31/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12031415] GEC Bill was making some Spear Boy's and mentioned I had a few pieces of Gabon, and other Barlow parts - enough for 9 Barlows with Spears! [/QUOTE]
4/4/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12046512] I am trying to get GEC to do a run of Marrow Bones!! [/QUOTE]
4/4/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12045440] There is a short run of Pile-Pen Spears coming up at the end of April, for those who had a problem with the Mark-Pen Spears.... Just 100 knives. Half Ebony, Half Sawcut. [/QUOTE]
4/6/13 [QUOTE=black mamba;12054307] I'm surprised, given their tradition of only putting long pulls on Northfield knives, that they used the long pulls on their Boy's Knives.
Seems a standard crescent pull would be more appropriate for the "lower end" offering. [/QUOTE]
4/6/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12054607] Jeff, we batted the pulls around quite a bit, and decided the long pull was the way to go, especially on the Spear version. If gives that little extra access behind the pen! Besides, they look better to my eye! [/QUOTE]
4/8/13 [QUOTE=Campbellclanman;12060436]
http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44 ... 78b27a.jpg
http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr44 ... 96366f.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
4/17/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12093213] Sawcut Redbone, Blaine. In a week! Pen blade behind the SPEAR!! [/QUOTE]
4/17/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12096262] P&G, that's the same batch of Ebony! But it's also the last of it.
I think about 45 knives are Ebony in this batch, and the rest are Redbone. The color is similar, but deeper/redder than Rust Red. I wanted them different than the first run, so collectors holdings aren't "diluted".
All runs will be exclusive in some way.
And, I hope this will satisfy those who prefer the pen at the back, and some who plain missed the Spear! [/QUOTE]
4/19/13 [QUOTE=pistonsandgears;12101480] So I guess these are now officially Charlows
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp- ... RIL-18.png [/QUOTE]
4/25/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12124778] Speaking of Pens on the other side, I finally got my hands on these guys!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... b26eb0.jpg
They have the usual nice workmanship IMO, plus that easy to reach Pen of course.
Along with them are some 1 blades for those who missed the first Spear Run (or maybe DIDN'T miss them;)).
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 143586.jpg
A comparison shot of the two-blades front (mark) and rear (pile).
The Pen just sits back there waiting for you!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 1f6743.jpg
And finally, here's a pic of the Rust Red variations. The previous batch rep is in the middle. The two outside ones (new spears) were dyed longer, without an "overcoat".
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 900190.jpg
We were looking for a deeper red, but dye doesn't always do what is expected. Still nice though. We need to pull out the "Wayback" machine, and go spy on Case in the 40s and 50s!:D
Hope you like them! [/QUOTE]
4/26/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12125965] there are a few more to be made. Sheepfoot, Spey, and Razor/one-armed yet to go! That will cover all the traditional Barlow Blades of the last Century or so. [/QUOTE]
4/28/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12135743] http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... g:original [/QUOTE]
4/28/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12137332] Those "innie/outies" are the last of the Spear and Clip blades for this year! (There's hope for your wallet yet Mr. Bad!)
Spaced out over the next 7-8 months you will see the Sheepfoot, Spey and Razor Mains, probably in that order. [/QUOTE]
4/29/13 [QUOTE=sitflyer;12139009] Soup Bone! [/QUOTE]
5/2/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12150911] So, I finally managed to drag a few of these Soup Bones home to scan. ...I gave my clip boiley to a knifeless friend, so one of these would make a worthy replacement.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 5cf3c7.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... a5c952.jpg [/QUOTE]
5/2/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12151461] My mother's favorite soup was Beef Barlow errr. . .Barley - Beef Barley - I kid you not!!:D [/QUOTE]
5/3/13 [QUOTE=paulhilborn;12154152]
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/627/p5030001.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
5/4/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12157052] Every once in a while, a "second" comes off the bench at GEC, and I usually buy them.
Sometimes it is a slight variance in the handle covers....
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... d4e125.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 9c4293.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... b428c0.jpg
The other knife in the picture is a "Thank You" knife, I think for ordering so many Barlows and being a friend to GEC!. I owe that one to all my good friends here who enjoy the knives!
The handles are pre-ban xxxxx stuff.:rolleyes: [/QUOTE]
5/10/13 [QUOTE=jon_slider;12178551] My Grail Knife arrived, Ebony Single Spear Charlow. I blame this thread. Thank You Barlie!
http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae22 ... a542ad.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
Enter the Sheepfoot
5/31/13 Baaaaa [QUOTE=waynorth;12251111] Here's a pattern #15 setup knife. Gee! I wonder what this means??:D
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 437f8f.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... cadcee.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... bcdbef.jpg [/QUOTE]
6/1/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12255410]
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... ~originall [/QUOTE]
6/1/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12255815] My father had a couple of walnut gunstock blanks in his closet from the 1950s. My brother gave me one of them, and I of course immediately thought "knife Handles"!
We are just looking at it to see how it finishes up. [/QUOTE]
6/8/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12280883] Back to TC Barlows - The Sheepfoot run will have 4 different handle options.
Tentatively, 2 wood and 2 bone.
Past examples have had Macassar, then Gabon Ebony. This time, African Blackwood will dress them up. I am also hoping my dear old Dad's Walnut will work out. We haven't seen how it will finish yet. Walnut is marginally hard enough, but needs to be stabilized to perform optimally. It should be back from the process soon.
Everyone liked that Antique Yellow on the first run, so we are bringing that one back in sawcut, and for the fourth one, we will try smooth white bone. It looks so good on a barehead knife, I thought it would suit a Barlow.
Feel free to comment, please! [/QUOTE]
7/18/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12425632] O.K. today we are closer!
The first finished Sheepfoot!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... eb4046.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... c1a7ac.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 54e328.jpg
[/QUOTE]
7/23/13 [QUOTE=burnside;12443346] New cover story today...
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp- ... ULY-22.png
[/QUOTE]
7/23/13 [QUOTE=AM515;12444999] http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i39 ... ckwood.png [/IMG [/QUOTE]
----
7/26/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12456298] Here's one I picked up for a friend. I'm now noticing that the single blade's sheepsfoot appears to ride higher than that of the two-bladed version; I'm not sure if this is universal or simply a variation between these two knives. More investigations tomorrow!
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... g~original
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... g~original [/QUOTE]
7/28/13 [QUOTE=Gary W. Graley;12463751] And while I'm at it and since this thread was started by Charlie aka Waynorth, here's a photo I took while he was at GEC this weekend, sharing his immense knowledge of Barlow lore to all that would pause and listen, and there were MANY that visited him and were better for it I might add
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/ ... G_1672.jpg [/QUOTE]
7/29/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12465617] This is my first post since I got back late last night.
I have 109 emails requesting Barlows or info, so please be patient everyone!! [/QUOTE]
8/3/13 [QUOTE=gunstockjack;12485726] Thought I'd put up a group shot:
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n322 ... G_1346.jpg [/QUOTE]
8/8/13 [QUOTE=AM515;12505282] These came in today...
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i39 ... arlow1.jpg [/QUOTE]
8/9/13 [QUOTE=akadave2;12508587]
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TPH5 ... 4-no/5.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eT0W ... 4-no/6.jpg [/QUOTE]
8/15/13 [QUOTE=paulhilborn;12532584] Just a pair of Sheepfoot Charlows :thumbup:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4136/btqr.jpg [/QUOTE]
8/17/13 [QUOTE=jon_slider;12539578] Thanks for my Walnut Charlow, and the Canuck Comic Relief Barlie
Its a beauty, and I feel honored to be part of the Heirloom Gunstock Fan Club.
http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae22 ... 4a81b6.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
Announcing the Spey Charlow
10/22/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12772518] No answers on the "when" except it will be this year, but there will be three blade configurations:
> Single blade Spey.
> Spey with a Clip behind it, like a trapper. That configuration was produced in Sheffield, and later in Germany over the last century or so.
> Single Clip. We've done these before, but because of overwhelming requests, we are producing a short run with different handles than the first run.
I have been looking at old catalogs, and have found that the "Spey" blade configuration has also been sold as a "Budding" blade, and as a "Farmer's" blade by various cutleries. [/QUOTE]
11/5/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12819226] http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... g~original
Farmer Barlows, double-bladed, with a change-up...
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u38 ... g~original [/QUOTE]
11/5/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12819377] Not JUST a nail nick, but a long, agonizing decision about what pulls to use. Took me more than a month to decide!!...
Tom has grown up now, and become a farmer!!:D [/QUOTE]
11/8/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12832504] Yes, I've spent my first 60 years on this earth, not ever needing a Spey blade!:eek:
Wondering why the heck the cutlers even bothered to make them!
A waste of steel I tell ya!!:rolleyes:
But the last 9 years, I have enjoyed 20 or 30 of them. Very useful if you ask me.
[/QUOTE] 11/11/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12842729]
I am expecting the Rosewood and smooth Yellow Bone to Handle the single blade clips. [/QUOTE]
11/14/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12854737] I like the swedges on the Spey blades! ETA is DEC. 1st. [/QUOTE]
11/15/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12857204]
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 067af3.png
they are starting assembly next week [/QUOTE]
11/19/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12870544]
I had a Rooster once, a Bantam, who kept my laying hens safe and happy!
His success always impressed me, so I thought I'd pay him a bit of tribute.
I even put his picture on the new Spey blade - he was never afraid of anything!! [/QUOTE]
11/19/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12871863]
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp- ... k-wood.png [/QUOTE]
11/20/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12873165] It cracks me up every time I hear that alternate name for Chechen Rosewood - Black Poisonwood!
Makes me think machiavellian thoughts, picturing people like Lucrezia Borgia and Henry VIII.
The wood itself, doesn't look sinister, or capable of intrigue, and in fact it is quite pleasing to the eye. But then, reportedly, so was Lucrezia!:D:D [/QUOTE]
11/20/13 [QUOTE=pertinux;12875849] Here come the two-fers!
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp- ... HECHEN.png [/QUOTE]
11/21/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12879211]
Just dashed off the Back Label and GEC embellished it.
I hope you will forgive my amatuerish rantings - it's the place where I actually get to be hands on besides (he groans) wrapping packages!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... c01bee.jpg [/QUOTE]
11/22/13 [QUOTE=AM515;12883752] http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i39 ... age-35.jpg [/QUOTE]
11/23/13 [QUOTE=Dr. Scott;12885874] http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad31 ... r3xcrn.png [/QUOTE]
11/30/13 [QUOTE=waynorth;12910267] Well, I finally got to open the boxes from GEC, and mail out some Spey blades!...
Here are samples of the handles, and each variation of blades. I like all of them, but really like the two blade. It has a pleasing appearance closed, and each blade turned out great. The Spey has a subtly arched spine, and the drawn swedges appear just right on both blades.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 80e2bf.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/w ... 416f2b.jpg [/QUOTE]
----
11/30/13 [QUOTE=Dr. Scott;12911558] http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad31 ... wtalka.jpg [/QUOTE]
12/1/13 [QUOTE=gunstockjack;12914266] http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n322 ... G_2972.jpg [/QUOTE]
====
Charlow trivia:
12/6/12
9 spear with mark side pen in macassar ebony, 20 macassar single spear
4/17/13
45 spear with pile side pen in gabon ebony, 9 single spear gabon,
55 spear with pile side pen in Redbone, ? single spear redbone
? single spear soup bone (I don't think any 2 blades were made with soupbone covers)