Shiny hobbies?

[CaptainQuintero]

It's not cigars but I've noticed some cross overs with cigar smokers, most like handy things.

What have you that's handy and you like to have on hand?

I was gifted this on my Birthday last month

A Barlow knife! Made in my birth town by one of the few 'little messers' left in the city, essentially old masters of steel with little workshops. Sheffield used to be the centre of steel in the world until the end of WW2 where the rise of the US and USSR and the end of the favourable Empire taxes made big steel production unprofitable.

Some history of the style.

What is a "Barlow" style pocket knife?

A barlow style knife has one or two blades, a huge metal bolster, and a comfortable tear-drop shaped handle. The blade or blades are attached at the small end of the handle. Even though the first barlow knife was made in Sheffield England in the 1600's, it was made by several American shops soon after, and has become just as American as "apple pie". George Washington was known to have a barlow knife. Mark Twain referred to a "real Barlow" in his Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in 1876. Barlows have long been gifts, treasured by young American boys.

The history of the barlow knife has been difficult to trace. At least four American Barlow families have claimed that they invented the barlow knife. According to Laurence A. Johnson in his article, "The Barlow Knife", that was published in The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc. in June 1959, the Barlow knife was probably first manufactured by Obadiah Barlow at Sheffield, England, around 1670. Obadiah's grandson, John Barlow, joined the business around 1745 and it was he who was chiefly responsible for developing the exportation of the Barlow knives to America. Another source says the barlow knife was also made by Luke Furnace of Stannington, which in the eighteenth century was a small village on the outskirts of Sheffield. Luke Furnace's name occurs in the Sheffield directories from 1774 and 1787, but not in the 1797 directory, so he was presumably dead by then. He probably adopted the mark "1760" because that was the year he obtained the freedom of the Cutler's Company. The original Barlow, after whom the knives are named, was working in Sheffield at the same time as Luke Furnace.

The barlow knife was designed to be tough, and to be affordable. The keep the price low, the blade was high carbon steel, and the handle was bone, and not much time was spent in polishing it. To make it tough, the bolster was big and thick. The original barlows had only one blade. Now they have two, and more care is taken in finishing and polishing them.

John Russell may have been the first American to manufacture Barlow knives. The John Russell Company, now the Russell Harrington Cutlery Company of Southbridge, Massachusetts, first made Barlow knives at their Greenfield Massachusetts, factory in 1785. They were called the Russell Barlow knife and instead of the word BARLOW on the bolster, they were stamped with Russell's mark, an R with an arrow through it. Today these Russell Barlows are valuable antiques.

Here's some extra information kindly provided by Kenneth Da Silva

Do you know that the small pocket stitched into the right hand pocket of Levi Jeans used to be called the Barlow pocket? This was a pocket actually intended to carry a folding pocket knife ( NOT a plastic butane lighter!). The barlow knife was the knife of choice for outdoor workers, as it was solid and dependable. I first heard about this Barlow pocket back in the late 1960s from a representative of F.G.Gertler, the original British importers of Levi jeans. The jeans were designed to be working trousers for rough farm and range use back in the 19th century, and the addition of this little pocket was useful for workers and riders. They could retrieve the knife without standing or having to dismount. At one point Levis also made artisans jeans for carpenters, builders etc, and these also had an additional long pocket down the lower outside seam of the leg designed to hold a folding wooden rule. The lower leg was used, as most workers rode horses, drove carts or climbed ladders and needed to be able to bend their leg easily. Back in the 60s, levis were so heavy duty and full of starch when new ( they were actually delivered in bales of 12 held by steel straps and cost the equivalent of £3 or $5 then) that we used to display them in the shop window standing up on their own, one only had to form the legs into tubes to achieve this! They shrunk enormously when washed, so one had to buy them at least one size larger to allow for this. So there we are, a little more history of the Barlow knife and also of workers clothing of the 19th century period. I still actually carry my Swiss Army Knife in this pocket today.

[Pedro2486]

Cool knife mate and a nice bit o history. I was a collector of knives for years but have given it away and sold/gifted most. I've only kept a few Spyderco folders as they're really hard to get in Oz. Plus they're great knives

[StingMeadery]

Yeah carried a stainless steel Police model Spyderco for years...a pocket knife is a very handy piece of equipment.

[CaptainQuintero]

I looked into Spyderco a lot recently when looking for an everyday knife but most are locking and in the UK they have banned lock knives totally so was a bit restricted, the SC knives look super cool though!

[Cohiba Stevie]

Never be without my leatherman multitool.

Great bit of kit.

[Skyfall]

I've been collecting knives since I was a kid, Some collectible, some historical, some hunting, some tactical and some everyday use. If I get some time, I'll take some pics.

[Guest rob]

Nice one!

A lot of good tooling and steel comes out of Sheffield. As an apprentice, half my toolkit came from there.

[Maplepie]

What the hell CQ!? I was just in Sheffield!

You would've been the first to know if all would've went!

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

[CaptainQuintero]

Nice one!

A lot of good tooling and steel comes out of Sheffield. As an apprentice, half my toolkit came from there.

I think I read somewhere that more steel comes out of Sheffield now than at the height of the old days, just it's a handful of ultra modern automated factories instead of a whole city of steelworks and steelworkers

Such a modern life though, still even back in the 90's all cutlery, tools etc people owned near me were made in Sheffield, with the growth of the supermarket chains the locally made items suffered.

It is nice to have something locally made that you can use though, having the ability to go to the guy who made your knife and talk to him is a nice thought.

I'm just a sucker for history lol

[CaptainQuintero]

What the hell CQ!? I was just in Sheffield!

You would've been the first to know if all would've went!

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

Only just been back myself for a few days! Changes everytime I go, massive student city now, seems strange when just 20 odd years ago there were still wooden walk ways over bomb craters from the blitz you had to walk over to get to some shops!

[ogus]

In SC my son can have a switchblade, so long as part of the handle is exposed at all times.

[Overproof]

Probably not a bad idea to take it out of your wallet before you travel.

[Overproof]

I've been collecting knives since I was a kid, Some collectible, some historical, some hunting, some tactical and some everyday use. If I get some time, I'll take some pics.

Serious question...What is the difference between a hunting knife and a tactical knife? I keep thinking...Rambo had the right tactics for hunting, and one knife.

[Fosgate]

Brewing Beer, long range shooting and other shooting sports, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, boating, golf,old cars etc.

Very cool but tragic story behind the truck. Best friend who I grew up with and have been closer than brothers for over 25 years used to talk about this 55 Chevy pickup his aunt had in a barn in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. His grandfather died many years ago and his grandmother just left it parked in the garage and let it sit for nearly 50years as the property transferred to his aunt who was first in line. Growing up he always talked how some day that truck will be his as you could see he was emotional about the truck as a fond memory of his grandfather. She passed away nearly five years ago and then the truck transferred to my friends mother. She and her husband were avid campers and planned on restoring it to it's full glory and just take it to shows and camp at local areas for their retirement. When we pulled it out of the barn garage a neighbor was circling preparing to take it if anyone backed away from it for a second as apparently the aunt had verbally said he could have it. (Not legal or binding mind you).

We brought it back and it only had 59,000 miles on it with the original motor and glass in excellent shape and the body perfect. A decision was made since it needed to be repainted to do a full restoration on her keeping the original color scheme of blue green and white but updated it to modern paint colors of a pearl metallic white and metallic blue/green. The restoration ran upwards of $40k. A month before it was completed her husband was diagnosed with late stage of a fatal cancer. Two weeks later he died in the passenger seat as she tried to get him to the hospital. The bright side is he was with the woman he loved in the vehicle he loved. As you can imagine this vehicle holds a special place in the family and will never be sold. So now her son and I load it on the trailer for her and take it to shows in memory of her husband. Our next project is a 63 Buick LeSabre with a Wildcat motor and 68,000 original miles we scooped up out of a barn for $600. Though it really doesn't need much more than paint. Interior is perfect, trim and everything else is as well. Just needs paint and a good cleaning.

Video

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4451589975282&set=vb.1455498709&type=3&theater

[Skyfall]

Serious question...What is the difference between a hunting knife and a tactical knife? I keep thinking...Rambo had the right tactics for hunting, and one knife.

Hunting Knives vary for each purpose, Killing, Gutting, Skinning, and Dressing, however a tactical knife is mainly for fighting and killing, survival knives are a whole different category that serves many purposes which can be feathering, batoning, chopping, cutting, killing, cleaning, dressing, whittling, staking, ect.

[Overproof]

Hunting Knives vary for each purpose, Killing, Gutting, Skinning, and Dressing, however a tactical knife is mainly for fighting and killing, survival knives are a whole different category that serves many purposes which can be feathering, batoning, chopping, cutting, killing, cleaning, dressing, whittling, staking, ect.

Makes sense. Here I was thinking my Swiss army knife was the ****. Imaging a wild bore coming at me and I accidently opened the scissors instead of the blade lol

[Pedro2486]

I looked into Spyderco a lot recently when looking for an everyday knife but most are locking and in the UK they have banned lock knives totally so was a bit restricted, the SC knives look super cool though!

Have a look at their website cap'n. I'm sure they have released a non locking knife specifically for the Danish and UK laws. Mind you, your pretty much losing the features that make Spyderco great. Besides the build quality and fancy steels of course

[Skyfall]

Ok, found some time to snap some pics.

This is a portion of my "cutlery" collection/arsenal

If I get time I will snap some pics of the rest.

Here is a mix of collectible, historical, tactical, hunting and everyday use

I also have a Confederate Officers Calvary Sword from the Civil War that belonged to a direct relative of mine, I will need to take some pics of it next time I get it out of the safe.

[Webbo]

I think I read somewhere that more steel comes out of Sheffield now than at the height of the old days, just it's a handful of ultra modern automated factories instead of a whole city of steelworks and steelworkers

Such a modern life though, still even back in the 90's all cutlery, tools etc people owned near me were made in Sheffield, with the growth of the supermarket chains the locally made items suffered.

It is nice to have something locally made that you can use though, having the ability to go to the guy who made your knife and talk to him is a nice thought.

I'm just a sucker for history lol

Great knife, where did you find it? As an exiled Sheffielder from not too far from Stannington that's a super but of kit.

[Webbo]

What the hell CQ!? I was just in Sheffield!

You would've been the first to know if all would've went!

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

My hometown too. Get back there now and again so let me know if you plan another trip.

[mncz]

Great looking Smith & Wessons there, Sky. I love Moraknivs, too.

I don't boast a vast collection but I generally enjoy collecting and looking at art knives.

As far as other shiny things go, I'm into handmade jewelry. I have friends that make wire wraps with gemstones. I like to collect precious gemstones, as well.

That might be it for shiny, except for miscellaneous clothing accessories, electronics, and vinyl records.

[CaptainQuintero]

Great knife, where did you find it? As an exiled Sheffielder from not too far from Stannington that's a super but of kit.

Great knife, where did you find it? As an exiled Sheffielder from not too far from Stannington that's a super but of kit.

There's a little shop on Ecclesall Road called something like the Sheffield shop or Sheffield store, filled with everything from silver dining sets to pewter tankards and three big cases full of knives, each messed has their own little section of the shop.

Pretty sure they have a website too

[CaptainQuintero]

Found the website:

http://sheffield-made.com/

[CaptainQuintero]

Have a look at their website cap'n. I'm sure they have released a non locking knife specifically for the Danish and UK laws. Mind you, your pretty much losing the features that make Spyderco great. Besides the build quality and fancy steels of course

Yeah I saw the UK friendly versions, kind of what you said, they were devoid of what makes the SC knives SC.

I've a Mora knife, just the basic yellow handle one, had to get one after watching a vid online of someone hammering half a dozen into a tree then using then as pegs to climb the tree! It's my round the house knife when something razor sharp is needed, incredible prices too. $20 or something for their standard knife.

[Pedro2486]

Yeah I saw the UK friendly versions, kind of what you said, they were devoid of what makes the SC knives SC.

I've a Mora knife, just the basic yellow handle one, had to get one after watching a vid online of someone hammering half a dozen into a tree then using then as pegs to climb the tree! It's my round the house knife when something razor sharp is needed, incredible prices too. $20 or something for their standard knife.

Mora are great knives. May I suggest a number 7 or 8 opinel folding knife as a nice light duty folder