The 3 Best USA-Made Barlow Knives

Use Your Barlow Every Day
Use Your Barlow Every Day

When people ask me about the barlow knives, I ask them to let me know which “barlow” they want to know about. The word barlow has 2 meanings. The first meaning is the name of an American company that used to make pocket knives, tape measures, and key chains. They were all high quality, and made in  America. USA-made items were very popular, and still are. The Barlow company was sold to another company in 2007 approximately. Then that company was sold to a third company shortly after.

The second meaning of “barlow” is a style of pocket knife that dates back to the 1600’s in England. This is the knife that George Washington used. It still gets a ton of Google searches today.

It is these barlow knives that I am showing you today. These have 2 stainless steel blades, a slightly teardrop-shaped handle, and a large metal bolster.

 

Green Barlow custom knives Kutmaster Green Barlow Knife 15-24779gbe

A Barlow knife as a gift to your employees for appreciation of their service Kutmaster Barlow Knife 15-24789WL

BC5281 Bear & Son Barlow Stag Bone BC5281

 

The Best Pocket Knives At The Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015

The best knife show in Ohio 2015 had the best pocket knives this year. The Ohio Classic Knife Show was put on by Battle Horse Knives. It was held at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, 7033 Glenn Hwy, Cambridge, Ohio 43725. The best pocket knife that I saw was one of the Buck knives. Buck has always been one of my favorites, because of the durability and its reputation.

Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015
Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015

Here are some highlights of the show. Among the 90 tables were unique displays from “aroundthecabin.com/campfire“. These guys put on an entertaining live program 6 nights a week.

Kip from aroundthecabin.com
Kip from aroundthecabin.com

The “Best Display” award went to “Hair of the Bear” owner Moon Munjas from Marietta OH. Moon makes custom knives, sometimes 5 or 6 at a time. His display was colorful and attractive.

Moon Munjas of Hair of the Bear
Moon Munjas of Hair of the Bear
Hair of the Bear
Hair of the Bear

Yurco Handcrafted Knives owner Mickey Yurco, is from Canfield Ohio.

Mickey Yurco and wife
Mickey Yurco and wife

He makes custom designs, specializing in self defense knives. He is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild. Mickey is accompanied by his wife in the picture.

Tim Roddy
Tim Roddy

Mickey’s buddy, Tim Roddy, from neighboring Youngstown, Ohio also had a nice display of

Tim and Mickey
Tim and Mickey

custom knives that he made from the finest stainless steel. He specializes in quality fixed blade knives.

Woodlab Outdoors, LLC
Woodlab Outdoors, LLC

Michael J. Balaskovitz, the director of the 2016 knife show, has “Woodlab Outdoors, LLC”, Premium Materials & Servicing. He sells various knife handle materials.

 

 

Greg Gottschalk
Greg Gottschalk

The award winner for “Best Value” in the show was Greg Gottschalk of Carnegie PA. Greg does a beautiful job making hand crafted knives, and is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild and ABS Mastersmith. Of course, all the custom-made knives at the show are made in the USA.

 

 

 

 

Vallerie Hibbard
Vallerie Hibbard

Valerie Hibbard, of Plain And Practical LLC (Scales & Grip Blanks & More) had a huge display of various hardwoods that she sells to knife makers. She is from Hilliard Ohio, and travels around looking for unique specimens of hardwood which she can bring into her store.

Plain and Practical LLC
Plain and Practical LLC

 

 

 

 

Wayne G. Hensley, and his business, Custom MadeCutlery, had an interesting table. Wayne’s motto is: Materials by God, Crafted by Hensley. Wayne is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild, Professional Knifemakers Association, and Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild. He is also the vice president of The Knifemakers’ Guild. His picture is missing here.

My nephew, Tim Pike (a camo knife connoisseur) and I had a great day looking at some of the country’s best pocket knives.