Colonial Prov. USA Barlow Rework

[Jeffinn]

I've had a few Barlow knives apart recently but this one is a fairly inexpensive model with a cheap and unique way of attaching the handle scales. The entire knife is assembled with the blades and liners pinned together and then the scale/bolster is attached via a flimsy bend tab at the top of the knife. Here's a photo of the scale/bolster from the back side;

If you look closely you can see where the attachment tab used to be at the top of the scale. They are pretty much designed for one time use. I disassembled everything and noticed that the liners werent brass but stamped sheet metal. There was some surface rust that needed to be cleaned from all of the parts. The blades looked good enough to re-use so I decided to clean them up and put them back in;

I couldn't come up with a plan to salvage the scale/bolsters so I decided to abandon them completely and to re-scale the knife with some acrylic scales with no bolsters. It turned out pretty good. I polished the backsprings a bit and they cleaned up nicely. I did end up with a slight gap between one of the backsprings and the scale but it appears to be caused by some thickness variations between the backspring and the blade. It has no effect on the function.
Heres a few photos of the finished knife;

I have a few more of this style of Barlow knife to work on. I might look at a way to cut the hollow bolster from the handle scale and see I there's a way I can attach it to the new scale material (or I may just disassemble the remaining knifes of this design and relegate them to the parts drawer!)
Thanks for looking!
Jeff

[americanedgetech]

Very cool Barlow!

I can see it being fairly easy to replicate the original design in using the stamped steel liner under your new handle material.
Then your new pins would hold it all together, and no need for the bendable tang.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I like to pick up this kind of knife for a dollar or two at the flea market and customize them. On the ones that have the "shell" handles with the tab on the ends to hold them on, I usually throw the old handles and steel liners away and make new brass liners from .025" brass and bolsters from .125" brass and then rehandle as usual. This Imperial Kamp King and Hammer brand cattle knife were done this way.
Kamp King with Kirinite Patriot rehandle

Hammer brand cattle knife redone in Ironwood

[Jeffinn]

Really nice!
I always try to determine how much time, effort and money I want to invest in a particular knife before I get too far down the rabbit hole. If the blades are nice I'm willing to invest the time and effort. If the blades are sketchy or roached out I may just part the knife out. Your knifes are really nice examples of what can be done!
Thanks for sharing.
Jeff

[glennbad]

Looking good, OC!

[Landersknives]

I am with Glenn! Looking very good OC! Awesome work. Jeffinn shell Knives are always hard for me. I have several that I have put back till I decide what franken knife creation I can create or the best way for me to restore to factory or make it better

[americanedgetech]

I 100% agree w/ Jeffin... It's all about the blade(s).

I especially like the Cattle Knife OC. Very classy!

[OLDE CUTLER]

Thanks guys. I am glad to see that I am not the only one that "rehabs" some of these old "lower priced" knives.

[#goldpan]

Those knives look real nice! Here is one I did and kept the shell in place. The handle material is red oak. I did this about five years ago!

[Landersknives]

Randy that is a dandy! I really like that it looks fantastic. Great job my friend.

[TripleF]

Knice works fellas!!