Thread: Tom Sawyer - Barlow knives - razors?

Who doesn't like Tom Sawyer? (Or Mark Twain) I read this book many times when I was a kid and seem to remember that all boys at the time thought Barlow pocket knives were the best.

Now I have a very nice olde Barlow smiling wedge, and was wondering if it's from the same company. Shaving with what was a cult brand in Tom Sawyer will be quite a bonus for me

So I was wondering if anyone knows a bit more

Thanks
Ivo

no Tom Sawyer fans here? Or no knowledge about Barlow?

just wondering...
Ivo

I'd say it's probable that it's from the same company. It seems like most of my straights that I own have Chicago, Little Valley, New York, etc cutlery stamped on them, so I'm pretty sure that chances are good that knifemakers/cutleries also produced straight razors. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable might have a definite answer for you.

I'm going to agree with Howard, and say they are the same company.
My dad always carried a Barlow pocket knife, and i usually do as well, but, dad used a Boker, a dubl duck and a genco for shaving. I like the old barlow folders.
the last new barlow i bought was made in china and could not keep and edge. so i found an old one on ebay and am happy.

that constitutes the sum of my knowledge.

I think Barlow is a style of knife, not a brand. Personally, I've owned 3; a Boker Barlow, a Camillus Barlow, and an Imperial Barlow (Good for scraping cotton picker spindles, but not much else). So my take is, it could've been made by anyone, although there could've been a maker or manufacturer named Barlow (probably Sheffield )

Copied and pasted from the Case website:
Barlow knives are a type of jack knife. They have an extra long bolster on the right side, and usually none on the left side. The larger bolster adds to the strength of the knife, and the lack of a left side bolster allows for a less expensive construction. Factory patterns that are known as Barlow's include the 05, 009, and 43.

Thank you all for the feedback!

Cheers
Ivo

I agree with Joe that the Barlow is a style
and not a brand. It seems that I once saw
a CaseXX Barlow.

His assesment of the Imperial is correct as
well, though I wouldn't have said a cotton
spindle, ain't much cotton up here where
I'm from. We do have a lot of coal though....


Terry