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(re) Introducing the Barlow Bearcat Club

Sticker for inaugural members!

I am excited to introduce the Barlow Bearcat Club!

Clubs have always played an important role in the knife community, and one of the most curious examples is the Barlow Bearcats. This unusual club was created by Allan Trout for his “Greetings” column in the Courier-Journal of Louisville Kentucky. Starting in 1949 and going right up to the start of 1960 Mr. Trout penned countless amusing articles inducting members into the Barlow Bearcats and sharing their experiences surrounding barlow knives.

A Case Barlow next to a Mini Hunter

Membership in the original Barlow Bearcat Club was restricted to those who owned an original Russell Barlow. The Russell Barlow is often purported to be the first barlow made in America, starting in 1785, but there’s no question that it’s the knife that launched the barlow pattern to universal fame. In “Home Life in Colonial Days” Mary Earle said “The boy’s jack-knife was a possession so highly desired, so closely treasured in those days when boys had so few belongings, that it is pathetic to read of many a farm lad’s struggles and long hours of weary work to obtain a good knife”, which illustrates the value put on knives like the Russell Barlows. That said in 1920 a Russell Barlow cost $1 which, when adjusted for inflation, is only about $15 in today’s money. What a deal!

The Great Eastern Cutlery #77 Yankee Barlow

This re-imagining of the club will be open to anyone who owns any barlow. You can learn more about membership and apply at the page linked here and below. My hope is that the club grows into a fun new way to participate in the knife community. I love barlows, a barlow knife helped launch my love of traditional slipjoints, and I know countless others love barlows also… so I hope to see you in the Barlow Bearcat Club!

Barlow Bearcat Club

Very soon I will be sending out the first newsletter for club members. This will include some of the stories submitted by applicants, interesting details on the original club, and other various related thoughts and news. While I plan to go into more detail on the original club in the newsletter, I thought I’d leave you with one of my favorite lines from Mr. Trout’s column, which he wished upon the 100th member of the club; “May the keen edge of your interest last as long as the keen edge of your blade”!

How it feels to own two barlows!

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts

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No, not the golfer; The Great Eastern Cutlery #65 Ben Hogan Knife’s Namesake was a Larger Than Life Character in Local History

Great Eastern Cutlery is releasing another run of their #65 Ben Hogan pattern currently. Go ahead, do a google search for Ben Hogan… you’ll be scrolling for a long time before you come upon anything on the colorful character for whom the Great Eastern Cutlery #65 pattern is named. Unfortunately this unique player in American history has been overshadowed by the golfer, but Great Eastern Cutlery is doing their part to keep his story alive with their #65 pattern that carries Ben Hogan’s name.

Who was Ben Hogan?

Ben Hogan was one of the many larger than life characters involved in the heyday of Pithole. Pithole was one of the major epicenters of the early days of the oil boom in Pennsylvania and is nearby to Titusville, where Great Eastern Cutlery knives are made. The narrative comes down to us mostly from the semi autobiographical “The Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan, The Wickedest Man in the World”. This book details the many (supposed) exploits before and during Hogan’s stay in Pithole. Born in Germany in 1840, Hogan (originally Benedict Hagan) immigrated to New York and immediately began his notorious career by killing a scam artist who had targeted his father. From there he becomes a cabin boy then a blockade runner and even a full fledged pirate. Eventually he hears of Pithole and the oil boom and moves to take advantage of the already raucous environment. He puts on a strong man show, tries his hand at sparring and gymnastic lessons, opens a saloon, and claims to have been part of the notorious French Kate’s brothel business. By no means is this an exhaustive list of his feats and claims to notoriety, and I highly suggest checking out further reading (Explore Clarion Petroleum History). Finally, in a twist worthy of such an exceptional character, Hogan converts to Christianity, goes on an evangelical tour, and runs a soup kitchen in Chicago for the remainder of his life.

What is the Great Eastern Cutlery #65 Ben Hogan Pattern?

The GEC #65 pattern is a long slender jack knife that almost defies definition using traditional slipjoint nomenclature. It might be called an English Jack, due to its long slender mostly sleeveboard shape, but the irregular bolster calls that designation into question. The bolster, with its extension on the blade well side that almost covers the tang to create a sunken joint, is reminiscent of a Copperhead but the handle is just not shaped like a typical Copperhead. So it’s an unusual pattern. Great Eastern Cutlery has done several runs of the pattern including spear point blades and clip point blades, plus the Fish Knife with a scaler / degorger / bottle opener secondary tool. So far this run in 2022 has included three single clip point bladed versions (Osage Orange Wood, Jigged Red Bone, and Smooth White Bone) and a Fish Knife version with Tortoise Shell Acrylic covers. Both the versions I have came with interesting lanyards that are not something GEC has done before; an acorn bead for the Osage Orange and a whistle for Fish Knife.

They come with some interesting lanyards

Unfortunately, pretty much every #65 I’ve had (including 3+ from previous runs and 3 from this run) have had blade rap. Blade rap is when the blade over travels upon closing and the blade hits the spring, causing damage to the cutting edge. While I think it’s probably possible to make a knife of this long and slender shape without blade rap, it’s not a huge surprise that this issue rears its ugly (and all too common) head on the #65 pattern considering the greater momentum the blade has upon closing. So while I don’t plan to buy any more of the variations on this run of the GEC #65 Ben Hogan pattern, I still think it’s an interesting knife with a great namesake!

The blade rap is not at the typical place, the spring pin location, but at the belly

If you decide to pick up a Great Eastern Cutlery #65 Ben Hogan I highly suggest trying to get yours from Knives Ship Free using my Affiliate Link. Not only does it help Knife Thoughts, it’s also just a great place to buy knives (of all types, not only GEC)! That said, Great Eastern Cutlery knives tend to sell quick so you can check out my article on how to buy GEC knives and try at other dealers like Traditional Pocket Knives, Blue Creek Cutlery, etc.

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts

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In Defense of Plastic; 5 Reasons to Love Injection Molded Knife Handles

In the knife world people often talk down on injection molded plastic handles. These are often called things like FRN or Grivory (among other acronyms and trademarks), but they’re all a plastic injection molded to the handle shape with some sort of supporting material added (like fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.). People online often criticize these types of handles and claim they feel cheap, are less durable, and other such nonsense. Well in this article I’ll give you 5 solid reasons why I love plastic handles on knives and think they deserve more appreciation in the community.

1: They’re ergonomic

Due to being manufactured using injection molding, this type of handle can have significant curvature at the edges (or even across the whole surface). These smooth corners and edges make the knife more comfortable to hold, especially in extended or heavy use. This is in contrast to most G10 handles (which, by the way, is just as synthetic as this type of handle) which usually have sharp corners along the entire edge of the handle and little contouring. What it really comes down to is that it’s easier to make a mold have more contour and curvature then inject into that countless times than it is to grind the same contour and curvature into a handle material that isn’t produced by injection molding. A comfortable handle is a huge part of what makes using a knife enjoyable, so I think this is a major “pro” for injection molded handles.

The classic Benchmade Griptilian with its checkered pattern and jimping

2: They offer great traction

One of the things people look for in a user knife handle is good traction. People in promotional or review videos often comment on the texture of a knife handle and its affect on the user’s ability to hold the knife in use, even when the user’s hands are wet. Now, I have very rarely found this to be a point of practicality. Only in unusual circumstances where my hands are very cold, very wet, or both have I found a knife’s handle texture to be the deciding factor in whether or not I can keep hold of it and manipulate it effectively. Moreso I think that is a function of the handle shape. That said, injection molded handles often offer much more aggressive texturing than other handle options. This more aggressive texture is possible because the injection process allows for more void areas in the handle than would be feasible in other handle types. While I personally don’t find myself using knives in a way where I need extreme traction all that often, I think it’s a positive trait of injection molded plastic handles for those who do need or want better texture.

Spyderco Endura with bi directional texture

3: They allow for unique patterns and colors

One of my personal favorite things about injection molded handles is that they offer basically endless possibilities of pattern and color combinations. The mold can be made to have various patterns, from something as simple but functional as the triangular Xs on some Cold Steel knives to the honeycomb pattern on Honey Badger knives or the dragon scale pattern on the Civivi Wyvern. Beyond pattern, injection molded handles also come in a huge variety of colors. Pick any color you can think of and I’m sure a knife has been made with an injection molded handle in that color. In a sea of knives handled in flat slabs of black G10, I think this diversity of pattern and color is sorely needed in the knife market. Some people like their knives serious and plain, but I like a little vibrancy and injection molded handles allow for that in pattern and color.

Civivi Wyvern with a dragon scale pattern

4: They are durable

Injection molded plastic can take a beating and keep working. Sure, it might take scratches and dents more easily than harder materials like G10 or Micarta. However, these harder materials are more likely to chip or crack in a way that affects function or ergonomics than the softer and tougher (in my experience) injection molded plastics. Again, this characteristic makes this type of handle ideal for a user knife. If I’m gonna be putting a knife through its paces, I’d much rather it get some scratches and dents and keep going than get a crack or chip that makes it less functional. I have used knives with injection molded handles extensively and have found them to be much more than adequately durable for all types of cutting.

Kershaw Thistle with the K Texture pattern

5: They are budget friendly

Knives with injection molded plastic handles often come at some of the most budget friendly prices on the market. This is in part because the injection molding process allows for some manufacturing cost reduction, particularly when compared to other handle types like G10 or Micarta (not to mention natural handle materials). As much as I love knives and wish I did, I don’t have unlimited money to spend on knives. So I appreciate cost savings, especially when they also offer as many positive characteristics as injection molded handles do. I often find knives with injection molded plastic handles offer better values than comparable knives with different handle types.

Cold Steel Voyager XL with triangular cross pattern

So, what are some knives worth picking up with injection molded plastic handles? Below are a few options that I have and enjoy. I have linked to KnifeCenter for all of these purely because they have a sale this weekend (ending 2/6/22 midnight) for free shipping. SMKW also has a Valentine’s sale going on. These aren’t affiliate links, so feel free to shop around to see if you can find better prices. I hope you enjoy whichever you choose as much as I have enjoyed them!

Civivi Wyvern

A very cool and well made knife for a budget friendly price. I love the ergonomics and blade shape, but I think the handle pattern is just plain cool. If it’s your style, I think you’ll be happy with what you get.

Benchmade Griptilian

A classic for a reason. Lots of different options for handles, blade shape, and blade steel. The base model has an injection molded handle with some nice jimping and texturing plus a cross hatch pattern. Great warranty also.

Spyderco Police 4 Lightweight

If I had to only keep one knife, it might be this one. It’s very big, but it carries easier than you’d think because it’s thin. Great ergonomics and blade shape. The two I’ve had have both come with surprisingly smooth action also, not to mention solid lock up.

Cold Steel Voyager XL

The Voyager XL is ridiculously huge, but you’ll never be under knifed. Of course there are smaller versions available, but that’s up to your preference. The ultra strong Demko designed Triad lock is easy to use and worth relying on. Extremely aggressive texturing on the handle might need some sanding below the clip, but overall this is a great heavy use or tactical knife.

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts

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We Need to Talk About Proud Tips and Blade Rap on Traditional Slipjoints

I’ve had enough of it, and it’s time someone said it; proud tips and blade rap are manufacturing defects that are far too prevalent on traditional slipjoint knives. Proud tips and blade rap are issues that plague slipjoints across the spectrums of price, quality, and manufacturer. So, what are they, why are they a problem, and what can be done about them?

What is a proud tip?

A proud tip, simply put, is when the tip of the blade sits above the blade well when closed. What is considered a proud tip can vary depending on the shape of the blade and handle, and the personal preference of the observer. That said, if you can catch a fingernail under the tip of the blade when its closed that is a definite indicator of a proud tip.

What is blade rap?

Blade rap is when the edge hits against the spring when the blade is closed. Many people assume when they hear it said that it is “blade wrap” because of the edge damage that it causes. However, I have always known it to be “rap” meaning to rap against the spring, like “rapping at the window”. This happens because the momentum of the blade closing due to the spring pressure of the backspring causes the blade to overtravel and hit against the inside of the backspring (usually at the backspring pin hump). This causes edge deformation, usually in the form of rolling but sometimes pure flattening or occasionally even chipping.

What makes them legitimate issues?

Both proud tips and blade rap are legitimate manufacturing defects because they cause practical issues.

A proud tip, though unlikely, could catch on clothing fabric and inadvertently partially open the blade risking injury or even directly catch on skin when you reach in a pocket and potentially cause injury. Now, some people will say “well you can just file the kick, so it’s not a real issue” (my video on filing a kick). While it is true you can usually fix a proud tip by filing the kick, there’s two reasons that doesn’t excuse a proud tip. First, filing a kick involves an extremely fine balance between filing enough that the tip falls below the handle without filing too much and causing blade rap. Second, and more importantly, the consumer should not have to modify a product for it to function correctly.

Blade rap is more straight forward; an edge with damage doesn’t cut as well. Sure, the damage is usually only on a very small portion of the blade, but that doesn’t change the fact that that area will catch and not cut like the rest of the edge. Now, some people will say “well blade rap just means that the company fit as much blade into the blade well as possible”. The argument there is that the more blade is fit into the handle the more sharpenings a blade can take and therefore the longer working life the knife will have. While that is technically true, it doesn’t make up for the downside of blade rap for two reasons. First, either you have a knife that doesn’t cut as well as it could or you sharpen out the blade rap and take away that extra blade height. Second, and more importantly, the consumer should not have the modify a product for it to function correctly.

Now, being the astute and attentive reader you are, I’m sure you noticed that both second reasons and final sentences in the previous two paragraphs are the same. Therein lies the real crux of the issue; no matter the upsides or how easily the issues are rectified by the owner, knives should not come with practical issues from the manufacturer and consumers shouldn’t be expected to accept those issues.

What can be done about them?

So, what could be done to mitigate the issues of proud tips and blade rap?

Well, as mentioned above the consumer can often fix these issues themselves if they have the tools and will to do so. But, as I mentioned above, I don’t think consumers should have to do those things on a new knife. Aside from fixing them themselves, I think the only thing for a consumer to do is let the manufacturer know that they are unhappy with their knife coming with these issues. You could also return knives to the dealer that come with these issues. I personally have reached a point (after getting an Albers Cutlery Company knife with blade rap and being frustrated by trying to fix it myself) that I intend to commit to not keeping any knife that comes with either of these issues. This can actually be more difficult than it might seem. If you fight through the drops and finally secure a highly sought after Great Eastern Cutlery knife, it can seem like a small issue like a proud tip or blade rap isn’t worth sending the knife back… and maybe it’s not!

Better yet, there are things the manufacturer can do to mitigate these issues. One thing that some brands, like A.G. Russell and LionSteel, have implemented is a stop pin. Using more accurate methods of cutting out blanks, like laser cutting or EDM rather than punching with dies, could help to get more consistent interfacing between the kick and the backspring and therefore making proud tips less likely. A stop pin stops the momentum of the blade closing and doesn’t allow for the overtravel that the backspring does, which makes blade rap much less likely.

Of course, I’m not an engineer or involved in knife manufacturing in any way, so it’s not my place to make suggestions or assumptions about the process. I just love traditional slipjoints and want to see them be as good as they can be. I hope that these issues become less common and help slipjoints continue their rise back to quality and popularity.

My wife’s observations of my experiences with blade rap;

A Guide to getting rid of your blade rap:

  1. buy some fancy sharpening stuff
  2. find a tiny miniscule little nick on the blade to nit pick for several days at a time
  3. set up in the most annoying location possible, so the most people can hear the horrible noise of the knife sharpening.
  4. sharpen the knife
  5. feel the blade
  6. swear
  7. Repeat 4-6 5-7x before you become disgusted and swear that you’ll never buy this type of knife again.
  8. buy that type of knife again.

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts

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Don’t miss one of the best values ever on a hard use EDC knife!

To make a long and still developing story short, Cold Steel was sold to GSM Outdoors recently and since then several knife models have gone on deep sales. I was recently able to get a Voyager XL Drop Point for the incredible price of ~$48 from Midway USA, and you can watch my unboxing video below. These price cuts are in contrast to price increases across the knife market, including some significant hikes in the Cold Steel catalog.

So, even though this isn’t the usual type of article for Knife Thoughts, I wanted to post about the incredible deal right now on the Cold Steel 4 Max Scout (Amazon affiliate link).

I bought a 4 Max Scout for ~$100 from White Mountain Knives in 2020, and I feel that it was a good value for the knife. By the way, White Mountain Knives has the knife for ~$85 right now so you can get it for ~$77 with my discount code “KnifeThoughts”. I think that’s an amazing value for this knife if you’d rather not patronize Amazon.

I have used my 4 Max Scout a lot for everything from breaking down cardboard to splitting tinder in the almost 2 years I’ve had it. I have never had any issues, never had to adjust the pivot, it has incredibly smooth action, rock solid lock up, and have sharpened it several times with no real difficulty. To put it frankly, I think this is the best budget hard use type folding knife available right now. Sure, some might scoff at the nylon handles and AUS-10A steel but I doubt anyone who’s really used the knife will have any concerns over the materials. They’re not high end or fancy, but there’s no question they work. Plus, there’s essentially no difference between the design of this budget version and the multi-hundred dollar version. It still has the insanely strong Demko Triad lock and great design reminiscent of Demko’s customs. It’s just a super solid knife that can handle anything that any folding knife could with a great design that makes it easier to carry and use than you’d expect of such a big knife.

Now, the 4 Max Scout isn’t for everyone. It’s a VERY big knife. It isn’t ground ultra thin for slicing performance like a kitchen knife or something like the Paramilitary 2. You also might want to sand under the clip a bit so that it doesn’t wear down your pants pocket too much. But it’s a big burly budget friendly blade at a steal of a price. I highly recommend it even at the normal price, let alone about 50% off. I actually bought a backup, and I don’t hesitate to suggest that you get one at this price… who knows how long the sale will last!

I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts


As an aside, I realize I haven’t posted an article in a long time. I have started and almost finished several, but just haven’t been able to complete them to my satisfaction. It’s been a hectic several months. But I will be finishing and posting them soon, so make sure you’re subscribed via email and to my other media outlets!

Some links in this article are affiliate links. That means that if you click them and purchase the product you won’t pay any more than you normally would, but I get a commission from the sale. This is just a way for you to support Knife Thoughts. Be sure to try my discount codes “KnifeThoughts” or “KT10”!