Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Well fellows a long search has ended successfully. The first knife I owned was a Camillus Barlow Model 51. I bought it when I was about 9 or 10 I think in the late 50s. I had it in all the young adventures and kept it shaving sharp. It was stolen out of my car in about 1975 in Davenport, Ia sitting right next to a Buck 112 which the thief left. I bought a replacement but it had different markings so all this time I have been looking for one when low and behold a new one shows up on Ebay. And it is now mine and became a father's day present from my wife.

Image

Here is a picture of the tang if any of you are Camillus fans and familiar with the tang IDs.

Image
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Hobie
Moderator
Posts: 13902
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:54 pm
Location: Staunton, VA, USA
Contact:

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Hobie »

A Barlow used to be the knife to aspire to have.
Sincerely,

Hobie

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Here is a bit of history. I recall staring in the case to make my choice of which pocket knife to buy and just zoning in on the Barlow. I have a collection including another Camillus of later manufacture, Bear&Sons, Case and Boker. All are great knives. I have tried to pick up others like the Russell but have found them out of stock.

http://www.barlow-knives.com/history.htm

Boker makes a very nice one that is almost exactly the same design as the older Camillus.

Here are a couple of other Camillus knives with the newer Barlow included. The bolster is plain and the blade is a slightly different shape with more belly toward the front.

Image
Last edited by Old Savage on Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
C. Cash
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5384
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by C. Cash »

Super cool! :mrgreen:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13136
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pitchy »

Cool, grats OS, i`ll have to keep my eye open for them. 8)
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
86er
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 4703
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:58 pm
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by 86er »

Very nice. Who is/was Barlow? I have a close friend and hunting partner named Barlow and I'm thinking I should look for one of these to give him as a gift.
Professional Hunter
http://www.TARSPORTING.com
"Worldwide Hunting Adventures"

Professional Hunters Assoc of South Africa
SCI - Life Member
NRA - Life Member
NAHC - Trophy Life Member
DWWC - Member
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13136
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pitchy »

OS, i found this one but it says Imperial Ireland on it.

Image
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Pitchy, Camillus made knives for a lot of other companies - I think Imperial was one of them. On the Blade Forum there is a Camillus collector's site with some fellows who worked there that have given this information. Pitch - could you take a better picture of the tang stamp.
Last edited by Old Savage on Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Sorry Joe - gave the wrong link before:

http://www.barlow-knives.com/history.htm
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13136
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pitchy »

Here ya go OS.

Image
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
User avatar
olyinaz
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3978
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:19 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by olyinaz »

Nice! My very first knife was a Barlow almost identical to that one Doc. After my Dad passed I found it in one of his tool boxes last year. :D

Oly
Cheers,
Oly

I hope and pray someday the world will learn
That fires we don't put out will bigger burn

Johnny Wright
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

That is great Oly, have a picture of that?
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Pitch, I would bet that was made by Camillus.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13136
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pitchy »

Old Savage wrote:Pitch, I would bet that was made by Camillus.
Well find out OS and let me know, if it fits in your collection it`s yours. :)
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
1894c

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by 1894c »

Old Savage -- CONGRATS ON FINDING THE BARLOW....that Camillus #51 Barlow was made in the 80's i think, it has the older imprint -- the newer imprint came into being in 1989-90 (how do i know i was working with the ad agency that created the updated logo and imprint). i grew up in Camillus, NY and had friends and family who worked in the plant... :)

Camillus Cutlery had three basic brands : Camillus brand, Western brand, & Camco brand, and from what i've been told they made jack-knives for Buck and Ka-Bar (not sure if that's just an urban-legend). i also know that that made knives for Remington, but i do not think that Imperial/Ireland was a client (could be wrong)... :)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by 1894c on Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:34 pm, edited 6 times in total.
Tristan
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 171
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:59 pm

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Tristan »

Old Savage wrote:Well fellows a long search has ended successfully. The first knife I owned was a Camillus Barlow Model 51. I bought it when I was about 9 or 10 I think in the late 50s. I had it in all the young adventures and kept it shaving sharp. It was stolen out of my car in about 1975 in Davenport, Ia sitting right next to a Buck 112 which the thief left. I bought a replacement but it had different markings so all this time I have been looking for one when low and behold a new one shows up on Ebay. And it is now mine and became a father's day present from my wife.

Image

Here is a picture of the tang if any of you are Camillus fans and familiar with the tang IDs.

Image

I think my second pocket knife was the exact same model, the first being a Boy Scout Knife! Recently, I've caught myself looking over ebay for those same two models, and for the same reasons you did.

Glad you found one, and in such good shape!
User avatar
olyinaz
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3978
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:19 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by olyinaz »

Old Savage wrote:That is great Oly, have a picture of that?
I'm on the road but yes, I'll definitely post one when I get home!

And let me say that eBay is just GREAT for reacquainting yourself with old gear you'd like to own again. Some of it at just ridiculously good prices. I'm a vintage toaster nut...don't get me going... :lol:

Oly
Cheers,
Oly

I hope and pray someday the world will learn
That fires we don't put out will bigger burn

Johnny Wright
bdhold

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by bdhold »

My Grandfather the blacksmith was so easy at Christmas - give him a new Barlow every year.
smokenrust
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:55 am
Location: WI

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by smokenrust »

I had 3 of them Barlow jackknives, First one was solid on the end with Barlow cast in it, Lost that on the farm. The second one was a lighter stamping of BARLOW in it and the grip came off that one.. The third was a tin stamped end on it, cheaply made, lost that one too but was no big loss... Think it was some knock off because there was next to no quality in it.
(discloser) Not a gunsmith, just a tinkerer at heart, it gets me into trouble, When I take it apart...
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

336bl

I think that the tang stamp they used in the late 70s and early 80s was slanted like this one I bought about 76.

Image

Notice also the change in blade shape and plain bolster.

Image

Because of the BARLOW and line on the bolster I think it was likely in the 60s. My original one has the BARLOW and the line but I can't be sure of the stamp style.

Here is where I got that.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...amps-and-dates

I would appreciate any info - there are a couple of fellows on this forum that worked there. Possible you know them. Questions always exist. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forum ... or-s-Forum

Now if you would be willing to part with one of the "multitools" let me know what you would like and I will of course pay shipping also. Thanks, I would like to add one to my collection.


Pitchy - thank you and I will take you up on your offer. PM sent - thanks again. :)
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Pitchy
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 13136
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:15 am
Location: Minnesooooota

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pitchy »

Pitchy - thank you and I will take you up on your offer. PM sent - thanks again.
Your welcome Fred, i`ll send it off tomorrow.
Did ya find out anymore about the maker?
Because I Can, and Have
-------------------------------------------------------------
USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
1894c

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by 1894c »

Old Savage wrote:336bl

I think that the tang stamp they used in the late 70s and early 80s was slanted like this one I bought about 76.

Image
YOU ARE CORRECT--didn't look closely...that makes it a better find... :)
1894
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 695
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:16 am
Location: Central NY

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by 1894 »

Been a while since I been on that forum , but the link posted to you Cal , is now saved in my favorites .
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... -and-dates

And another pic for 336bl ,

Image
Phil
Jhampton08
Levergunner
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:48 pm

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Jhampton08 »

I have a original Camillus Barlow 51 for sale if anyone is interested. Email me at jhampton0810@gmail.com
Pete44ru
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 11242
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:26 am

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Pete44ru »

.

I'm glad you found it, Fred - I know what it's like to look for something in vain for many years.

CONGRATS !


I found my Barlow a few years ago, in a local consignment store for 8 - IIRC, It's an Imperial, made right here in RI.



Image

Image

.
Last edited by Pete44ru on Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Rube Burrows
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2076
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:27 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Rube Burrows »

Great looking knife. The Barlow pattern is one of my favorites. I have one of the old Barlow knives like yours that my grandfather used to own. It is plum wore out though.
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

J Hampton, I sent you an email. Feel free to message me here with the details.

Pete, nice. I have an Imperial or two. I have one at the office that Pitchy sent me that he cleverly serated. I use it to open packages
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
308magtip
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:59 pm
Location: Stevens,Lancaster co Pa

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by 308magtip »

Blade shape looks identical to the Booker Tree Brand barlow I bought 30 plus years ago.Also I have a Camilis Barlow with a spear or rounded main blade.The old hardware stoe had 4 in the orginal factory box of 6 and I bought all for for $3.75 each.Kept one and gave one to ea of my boys and one to the oldest grandson.Should of kept all 4..Just got a Bear and Son American made carbon steel blade barlow from Knife country USA.A little thicker than most barlows but can be sharpened and holds and edge.
User avatar
Ysabel Kid
Moderator
Posts: 27790
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:10 pm
Location: South Carolina, USA
Contact:

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Happy you found it OS! :D
Image
User avatar
fordwannabe
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3369
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:52 am
Location: Womelsdorf PA

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by fordwannabe »

You guys do realizenl he posted that in 2012, right?
a Pennsylvanian who has been accused of clinging to my religion and my guns......Good assessment skills.
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16688
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Old Savage »

Still current, always looking. :-)
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Ysabel Kid
Moderator
Posts: 27790
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:10 pm
Location: South Carolina, USA
Contact:

Re: Found the Camillus Barlow 51

Post by Ysabel Kid »

fordwannabe wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2017 9:32 pm You guys do realizenl he posted that in 2012, right?
Nope! :oops:
Image
Post Reply