George Wostenholm

[keithw]

Howdy,

I just won this one off the bay,
and was wondering if anyone could guesstimate a manuf. date.
It's a little beat up, chips on both handles near the bolsters, and a pin crack,
but it was cheeeep (less than a Rough Rider).
I couldn't find anything definite in Goins.
The tang reads:

I-XL
GEORGE
WOSTENHOLM
SHEFFIELD
ENGLAND

Thanks
Keith

[gino]

With that tang Goins says between 1890 and 1971.
I would say towards the latter end of that time frame

[smiling-knife]

What is the scale material? It appears to be from towards the end of the time frame as Gino stated. Still should be a decent user. s-k

[keithw]

Thanks guys,

The item description didn't include what the scales were made of.
I would guess horn, but I don't have anything other than the look to base that on.

I've been looking for a Barlow to add to the EDC rotation,
but the last one that I bought (Taylor Eye Witness) in the AAPK auction a few weeks ago weighs a ton.
I really like it, but it feels like you're carrying a brick in your pocket.

[FRJ]

keithw, here's a similar jack. Maybe a little older.

[Luckypaul777]

Nice Joe.

Paul

[Owd Wullie]

I'm going with the later end of the production. Those knives are built like tanks and are great EDC knives. They rarely go "cheap"' on ebay too. I*XL was a great company with a long lineage in the Sheffield knife industry. Now they're just a memory.
Here's a late production one with wood scales.


and a 2 blade with reddish bone.

[tjmurphy]

Here's my one and only I-XL. Had this puppy about 40-years. I've come to the conclusion that this is from about 1960.

[Paladin]

What hasn't been mentioned in this post is the 'OIL THE JOINTS' stamp that appeared from about 1930 to 1970 on the back side of the tang. The question I have is did that stamp appear on all the production between those dates?
The answer to that might clear up when this Barlow was made.

[keithw]

Ray,

I'm not positive but I don't think that it does have "Oil the Joints",
but I will check for sure when I get home tonight.
Thanks for the info

Keith

[tjmurphy]

What hasn't been mentioned in this post is the 'OIL THE JOINTS' stamp that appeared from about 1930 to 1970 on the back side of the tang. The question I have is did that stamp appear on all the production between those dates?
The answer to that might clear up when this Barlow was made.

Not 100% sure, but I don't think "Oil The Joints" was used after the 1950's unless in the newer reproduction stuff after the Wostenholm era.

[Paladin]

According to Goins it was used from 1930 to 1971.

[tjmurphy]

You're right about Goins, my knife does not say "oil the joints" and I know it is prior to 1970. I guess all were not marked with that stamp

[Ramrod]

TJ,
"About" 40 yrs puts it "about" 70. Might be too close to call and make the assumption that they were not all marked. IMO
Mark

[tjmurphy]

I've had it about 40-years, but did not get it new. I traded a friend something or other for it. The knife is 1960's, I think.

[FRJ]

My Barlow of previous posts says Oil the Joints, But my Congress, which I assume is an older knife has no such mark.

[Ramrod]

TJ,
I have a twin to it. Can you see any etch (IXL) on the blade, and is yours marked stainless steel on the back tang?
Mark

[tjmurphy]

No hint of etch on blade and the blade is carbon steel, no stainless. Can you post a pic?

[smiling-knife]

'oil the joints' is a later mark 1930-71. The other knife looks older than that. s-k

[keithw]

Mine doesn't have "Oil the Joints" on it either.
Thanks
Keith

[Ramrod]

Tj,
I missed that request before. You can barely see the stainless steel stamping on the reverse tang, pic 3
Mark

IXL tyne ss.jpg (46.95 KiB) Viewed 3098 times

[tjmurphy]

Wow! I'd have never guessed that knife would have been made in bot stainless and carbon. Kinda cool.

[orvet]

I got a Wostenholm off ebay from mossdancer. It arrives a couple days ago.
Nice deep etch on the master blade: PREMIUM STOCK KNIFE.
A little pitting on the blades.

Note the OIL THE JOINTS stamp on the pile side tang.

I have been carrying it since I got it a couple days ago.
I really like the steel!

I will eventually put new bone handles on it.
There is a piece missing out of the front handle pretty much the length of the handle.
It feels good in the hand though.


Dale

[Gary0855]

I have a few from the mid 80's.
My favorite is the Pipe knife.

[orvet]

Wow Gary,
You are right, the pipe knife is my favorite as well!
I would like to find one like that!

Nice one,
Dale