All About Pocket Knives

Well, been awhile since it seems like anyone has posted any new work. I guess I have been busy with life myself, but managed to get a few projects finished. Luckily, my customers are pretty patient.

Anyway, Thomas (TAB2you) sent me a few knives to work on. He pretty much gave me full creative license to do whatever I wanted.

The first one was a Craftsman Old Crafty Barlow. It must have been an Imperial, cause it had the Swinden key construction. I was worried about trying to maintain the bolster etch, as I had to pin through them now. It didn't turn out too bad.

I used smooth Crimson from Culpepper, and just cleaned the blades up some to give it a more pocket worn used look. I had to replace the small blade, as the original was pretty well used up.

Here are some pics of the build...









I'll show the other one in the next post.

Glenn

This next one was alot of fun. I had never done a lock back before.

Thomas wanted to do something with this Imperial Frontier.

I decided to do some wood handles, and change the contour of the knife overall. I picked some Curly Tazmanian Blackwood.

Here are some pics of the build...









I really like the way this came out. It looks like it will carry nice in the pocket.

Thanks to Thomas for giving me the freedom to be creative with these.

Glenn

Nice work on those knives, Glenn.
I didn't know Imperial had a Swinden key design. I keep learning. Thanks.

Wow! Those are both nice. But that lockback, oh my goodness. Great job!

Men,

If you need a rebuild or rework of a knife- send to Glennbad with confidence. His work is outstanding. Both knives are now treasured keepers in my collection. Thank you sir- they turned out fantastic.
I am looking for another project knife- to send off!

Thanks again Glenn for showing them off!

Tab

VERY nice Glenn! Great handle material selection on both (who wouldn't like Redbone on a Barlow?). They both cleaned up real nice and look like they're ready for another 50 years.

(ps: If you ever need some Frontier blades, look me up. I've got some I'll probably never use.)

Awesome!!

WOW on both knives

Beautiful work. The handles are stunning.

Outstanding work as usual Glenn!
I like the way the Frontier turned out! That is a fun pattern to work with, albeit a bit tricky in a couple places. You did a nice job of making it much more pocket friendly!

FRJ wrote:I didn't know Imperial had a Swinden key design. I keep learning. Thanks.

Joe, there were a lot of the later Imperial knives made at the Schrade factory with the Swinden key. About 1983 Albert Baer bought out the last of the outstanding stock in Imperial and was free to make the knives where ever he wanted.
Several of the Imperial Frontier patterns were made in the Schrade factory. Camillus made others and some were made in Providence at the Imperial factory. I think a lot had to do with when they were made. I think the earlier ones were made by Imperial and the later ones were made by Camillus & Schrade. The whole Frontier series was phased out because they were too much direct competition with the Old Timer line, which was Schrade's bread & butter line then!


I suspect the Old Crafty Barlow was made for Sears as a SFO contract with Schrade in the 1960s or 1970s. Schrade was making a lot of them then.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

(Elvis, thanks for the offer, I'll keep that in mind.)

Glenn

Had some time with both knives, and they're back in EDC rotation now, instead of living in tool boxes like before. Just fantastic to have them back in service, thanks Glenn!