Hey y'all...
I got this old Boker Barlow. I got it mostly because I like the bolster.
ANYWAY.....
The main blade looks short so I figured it was tipped and then re-profiled. Putting that aside.....
WHY is the tree on the mark side of the main blade? I thought the tree was on the opposite side of the blade....
SO...
Here is a couple of the sellers pics for y'all to see.
What do y'all think?
Mike
This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
- Meridian_Mike
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This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- rangerbluedog
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
Pre-WW2 Barlow knives made by BOKER USA had the tree stamp on the front like that.
The "cloud" bolster stamp appeared right around WW2.
I think that may be the real deal from the early 1940s.
I'll post up a catalog pic this afternoon...
edit
1941 catalog. You can just make out part of the tree on the tang stamp. By 1954 things had changed a little: note the long nail nick.
Post WW2 is about the time BOKER USA changed from the tree tang stamp to just having the pattern number.
The "cloud" bolster stamp appeared right around WW2.
I think that may be the real deal from the early 1940s.
I'll post up a catalog pic this afternoon...
edit
1941 catalog. You can just make out part of the tree on the tang stamp. By 1954 things had changed a little: note the long nail nick.
Post WW2 is about the time BOKER USA changed from the tree tang stamp to just having the pattern number.
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
Thanks Blue!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- 1967redrider
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
Has characteristics of that era- such as unshaped, natural (maybe faded) bone scales, bolster stamps and iron liners. If you're looking to buy it I say it's a go.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
10-4.... Thanks for the input.1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 1:52 pm Has characteristics of that era- such as unshaped, natural (maybe faded) bone scales, bolster stamps and iron liners. If you're looking to buy it I say it's a go.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- rangerbluedog
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
Thanks for sharing that one M_M.
I too, love that bolster stamp, and searched for a long time to find an example that was both clear, and INEXPENSIVE.
Here's mine. Note you can barely make out the pattern number on the blade. The early 1950s knives had a caramel colored bone that I really like.
I haven't seen any real evidence, but I believe that BOKER USA was trying in the post WW2 years up through the mid 1950s to distance themselves from the parent company ( and their relatives) in Solingen. You won't find many TREES on the USA made Boker knives during that decade or so after the war. I almost hate to use the term "transitional" knife when it comes to Boker, because they seemed to make large quantities of blades and use them for years. However I think one could make the argument that the knife in the original post has a "pre-war" blade and a "post-war" bolster, made that way at the factory.
I too, love that bolster stamp, and searched for a long time to find an example that was both clear, and INEXPENSIVE.
Here's mine. Note you can barely make out the pattern number on the blade. The early 1950s knives had a caramel colored bone that I really like.
I haven't seen any real evidence, but I believe that BOKER USA was trying in the post WW2 years up through the mid 1950s to distance themselves from the parent company ( and their relatives) in Solingen. You won't find many TREES on the USA made Boker knives during that decade or so after the war. I almost hate to use the term "transitional" knife when it comes to Boker, because they seemed to make large quantities of blades and use them for years. However I think one could make the argument that the knife in the original post has a "pre-war" blade and a "post-war" bolster, made that way at the factory.
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: This Boker Barlow just looks kinda funny
That is a very good explanation of the Boker companies before and after WWII.rangerbluedog wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:03 am I believe that BOKER USA was trying in the post WW2 years up through the mid 1950s to distance themselves from the parent company ( and their relatives) in Solingen. You won't find many TREES on the USA made Boker knives during that decade or so after the war.
I almost hate to use the term "transitional" knife when it comes to Boker, because they seemed to make large quantities of blades and use them for years. However I think one could make the argument that the knife in the original post has a "pre-war" blade and a "post-war" bolster, made that way at the factory.
I guess my Old Timer's disease (forgetfulness... not knives this time) helped me forget that Germany didn't get along with the US just prior to and after WWII.
SO.... Boker knives were "born" in Germany but later became a USA made knife hence the "MADE IN USA" bolster. Very good! That pretty much nails this one to a post war time period.
(I need to buy a copy of your book.)
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne