Thank you Dave, I appreciate your opinion and agree with most all of it, though I do like nice saw cut bone.
I have a lot of Barlows, they are a pattern I collect. I also don't like the unfinished look many Barlows have especially where the hafting is concerned.
Squared handles and rounded bolsters drive me crazy as there never seems to be a good transition on factory knives!
I understand that the Barlow was primarily a working man's knife, a no frills tool, if you will.
However, even simple tools like a screwdriver can be improved by providing a better handle that improves one's grip on the tool and gives the user more control over the tool.
I think if they look better and feel better in the hand the user will have more confidence in the tool and will use it more often, plus I enjoy the way a customized Barlow looks and feels in my hand.
