All About Pocket Knives

I love Barlows in stag, I just think they go together so nicely.

When I saw this Kutmaster New Holland Barlow I fell in love with the bolsters even though the handles looked boxy to me.
I brought it home and did a handle-ectomy and a stag transplant,
I think his chances of getting taken out on the weekends (or anytime) have dramatically improved.

Most excellent! I've always liked the New Holland barlows. New Hilland was the most common hay equipment around here when I was a kid.

You sure made it look nice! Very nice.

That sure is a dandy, Dale! That stag looks like a perfect match on that knife, great work coming out of your shop lately, as usual!

Dale you've certainly improved the looks of that knife.

I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy packing that little piece of "knife bling".

Really nice match on the handles Dale.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement.

Dale, I've never cared for Barlows but didn't ever really question why. I like the Queen barlows because they have nice rounded handles and I just figured out from your comments and this knife that it was the square, usually sawcut scales that didn't appeal to me. You made that New Holland look absolutely great. Nice job fixing what the factories should have figured out years ago. ___Dave

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.

Thanks Dale... I never knew there was a word for the process of attaching a handle to an object. I got a curious look from my wife this morning when I casually said, "The hafting on that fry pan looks to be of marginal quality."

Beautiful as always! It may have been a decent knife to start, but your work really made it something special