All About Pocket Knives

I found a rusty Barlow with a tipped main blade at a Thrift Store. I rehaped the blade and cleaned it up.(Too much. I know... ) I like it. It’s a solid EDC.
So... once again I call upon the wisdom of the AAPK members to tell me the approximate year of manufacture for this common little knife. The main blade is stamped “Japan” with “K413” on the back.
Thanks for any and all info.

Perhaps I was a bit of a dreamer, but I thought for sure someone would provide a birth certificate for my lowly little Barlow. I think it’s from the late 90s.
My search of popular forums showed me some beautiful vintage Barlows that are, in reality, works of art. Still, this little knife is razor sharp, has a decent heft, fits the hand nicely and cost me a staggering $3.00 CDN.
Serendipity rules my quest for pocket knives.

I don't think we're all ignoring your question, there may just be nobody that has any decent dating info for many of the Japan-made knives. It reminds me a lot of the Imperial barlow, which uses pretty much the same construction method.

Hey, if it's sharp, fits in your pocket, and you're happy with the price, then you're already there!

A lot of halfway decent knives (i.e. Sabre, Jet Aer, among others) were made in Japan in the 1980s. I suspect that that little Barlow was yet another from that era. Whoever made it likely also made the Sabres, as the pin setup and font of "BARLOW" is identical.

Thanks for the replies and information. I didn’t mean to imply that anyone was ignoring me, as that job is already taken by my family....
My Barlow is definately similar to many other “brands.” I think the Sabre Japan 603 is the same knife. The brass pins, solid bolsters and handles are nicer than the newer Imperial Ireland versions IMHO.
Happy hunting to all.

It is a good possibility that BARLOW is the name of the company that produced it. I have several knives that have such a tang stamp that are mainly small advertising knives and metal handled multi-blade fob knives.

Hello !
I'm from Quebec City, Canada !
I have the EXACT same knife than the one pictured !
I don't know much about it, except that my grandfather gave it to me, used, and the blade was sharpened so that it lost almost one fifth to one quarter of his size...
As he died in 1990, and it was so used, I for sure can tell you it's older than 1980...

sergeibedard wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 11:29 pm Hello !
I'm from Quebec City, Canada !

Welcome to the forum, Serge.

Welcome to AAPK glad you are here.

Very nice find for 3 Bucks. I paid 5 Bucks for this Barlow. Barlow’s have quite a history in America and England. This one’s birthdate is much earlier than yours. Straight line tang stamp.

Don L59 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:52 am Very nice find for 3 Bucks. I paid 5 Bucks for this Barlow. Barlow’s have quite a history in America and England. This one’s birthdate is much earlier than yours. Straight line tang stamp.

Knice.

Nice HOK Russell, Don. Not sure if the Furness Barlows are the oldest examples . . . ? I'll have to see if Levine says anything about them when I get home tonight.

*edit- Here's what Levine says, but he references Goins-
Hope you can enlarge to read this.

Levine's 4th Edition, Pages 210-211.

Good stuff 1967 RedRider thanks for sharing that piece out of Levine’s book.

You're welcome. Knowledge is power.