I recently posted an article outlining 4 things a modern knife enthusiast should know before purchasing their first slipjoint, but that begs the question ‘Why choose a slipjoint in the first place?’. I think this question probably deserves its own full article, and in a way this recent article on Fountain Pens and Traditional Knives goes into depth on one reason. That said, here I want to give you two other good reasons why it’s worth owning, carrying, and using a slip joint knife.
The sad fact is that some places have laws against locking knives. Several nations in Europe and even some localities in the United States ban locking knives. Slipjoints are both legal to carry and seen as less threatening in many places.
Walk & Talk
There’s nothing quite like the “walk and talk” of a good slipjoint. Walk and talk is the sound and feel of the knife opening and closing. Of course, modern knives have their own sounds and action, but there’s something particularly satisfying about the experience of opening and closing a good old fashioned back spring slipjoint.
Why Do YOU Choose to Carry a Slipjoint?
Reach out below to let me know!
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Great Eastern Cutlery Hunter & Filet Knife Set Video
So you’ve decided to try out a slipjoint knife, but don’t know what to expect. Maybe you’re familiar with modern, one hand opening and locking, knives but want to give a classic pocket knife from Case, Great Eastern Cutlery, or Cooper Cutlery a try. In this article I’ll cover 4 things you should know before you get your first (or next!) slipjoint.
What is a Slipjoint?
First off, what is a slipjoint? A slipjoint is a non locking folding knife. From there, things can vary. There are modern slipjoints, which often have screw construction or even can be opened with one hand, but a traditional slipjoint typically has no pocket clip, is opened with two hands, and is constructed with pins. Slipjoints have enjoyed a resurgence as of late in the knife industry. Why (in my opinion)? Firstly, they are often legal in places that locking knives are not and generally less intimidating to “non knife people”. Secondly, they have a great tactile feel and sound when opening and closing that is just satisfying. Finally, they harbor a historical and authentic feel harkens back to fond memories (real or imagined) like grandpa peeling an apple. Just a note, owner of GEC Bill Howard told me that the correct term for what they make is simply a “pocket knife” and that “slipjoint” is itself a modern term. Whatever you call them and whatever has caused the regrowth of interest in slipjoints, they’re a great addition for any knife enthusiast.
1: Simple Steels Abound
Many traditional slipjoints tend to have simple steels. While modern knives, and also many modern slipjoints, often boast matching modern super steels, traditional slipjoints often have carbon steel blades. You’ll want to wipe your carbon steel blades after use and before closing, in order to lessen the incidence of oxidation. Likewise, it’s good to apply a layer of oil before storing the knife for any amount of time, or even just at the end of the day each time you carry a carbon steel bladed knife. Carbon steel blades require more care than stainless steel, but they also develop a patina which can both be protective against harmful rust and many find to be aesthetically pleasing.
Two similar knives with 1095 steel, one (bottom) with years of patina and polishing and the other (top) unused
2: Pivot Maintenance Matters
Slipjoints rarely have ball bearing pivots, like many modern knives, and most production slipjoints don’t even have washers. For this reason, you’ll want to keep the pivot clear of debris and well oiled. You should check the pivot periodically and clean out any pocket lint or other dirt; I often use a Q-Tip or toothpick. Oiling the pivot will keep it working smoothly and without excess wear; I use simple mineral oil, but any knife oil should work. “Oil the Joints”, as Charlie Campagna’s Waynorth brand knives suggest on their tangs, and your slipjoint should keep its walk and talk for a lifetime.
A modern slipjoint with washers still benefits from regular oiling
3: Natural Material Expectations
Many slipjoints have natural materials for their covers, or handle scales, such as wood, bone, and antler. These materials are not as stable as modern synthetic composites, such as G10 or Micarta, and therefore can sometimes shrink, swell, or even crack. While these are still issues and should be addressed, they’re just a possibility that comes with natural materials. Reputable companies like Great Eastern Cutlery, Case, Cooper Cutlery, Jack Wolf Knives, and RoseCraft Blades understand this and stand behind their products, from my own personal experience working with them. If you have an issue with a natural cover material, send the company an email and let them know you heard from Knife Thoughts that they’ll take good care of you. While issues can be more common, natural materials provide a warmth, uniqueness, and charm that just can’t be had with synthetic materials.
Three common natural materials found on slipjoint knives (left to right): bone, antler, wood
4: Disassembly Discouragement
One major difference between slipjoints and modern knives is that disassembling slipjoints is generally heavily discouraged. This tends to be true both with pinned (ie traditionally built) knives and even with screw construction slipjoints, like Jack Wolf Knives. Disassembly is a common enjoyment for modern knife enthusiasts (though I personally avoid it) but, due to the way that most slipjoints work using a backspring to hold the blade open and closed, it is usually quite difficult to reassemble them. This is even more true on pinned slipjoints, where disassembly has an actual destructive element. So the best thing to do to keep your slipjoint in good working order is to keep it clean, oiled, and sharp and use it only for cutting (no prying or lateral pressure on the blade).
A traditional construction (top, Old Hickory Folder) and modern construction (American Blade Works Slipjoint) slipjoint, neither of which would I disassemble
Embrace the Slipjoint Experience
Now that you’ve taken in these four points, you’re more than prepared for your first slipjoint! Take the time to appreciate the craftsmanship, the walk and talk, and the history that went into its design. Use it with care and intention and it will bring you a lifetime of enjoyment.
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One of the classic ways to carry your EDC tools is on your keychain. It makes sense, since you likely carry your keys with you all (or most) of the time anyway. There’s a whole world of keychain sized tools out there; everything from flashlights, to pens, pry bars, and of course knives.
I have carried a full keychain EDC before, but don’t currently. I find that it becomes cumbersome quickly, and isn’t such a great look to have a big tangle of metal clinking and swinging around. Still, I do keep a few things other than keys on my keychain:
Barlow Bearcat Club Copper Coin
Rough Ryder Cross Slipjoint (bone scales removed)
Apple AirTag
I used a simple dangler hook for years, but recently have been using a Nite Ize G-Series clip.
That said, I do have two keychain kits setup currently. One I keep on my backpack (… sometimes) and the other I keep next to my door at home. Do I use them much? No, but it’s fun to put together intentional setups and can be useful to have them around.
Left (black) setup:
Olight iMini 2
Mini Sharpie
Spyderco Manbug Leaf
Nextool Mini Sailor Lite
Right (silver, USA made) setup:
Christy Companion
Maratac Widgy Pry Bar
TEC Accessories PicoPen
MagLite Solitaire LED
ASP Palm Defender
Do you carry a knife or any other EDC tools on your keychain?
2024 has already been a banner year for Great Eastern Cutlery. They have produced the quintessential #15 TC Barlow, the new #78 BulletEnd Barlow, the well loved #39 Colt Cutter / Horse Rancher, and the classic #47 Viper (among others) so far. Now they have a new pattern in production and it looks like another on the way with some old favorites coming back around also. Read on to learn what’s (possibly… probably?) on the way!
#32 Engineer
GEC is currently making a new pattern called the #32 Engineer. This is a large swell center multi blade knife, like an up-sized #33 Conductor. It offers a clip point main blade and a pen secondary on opposite pivots, both riding on a single spring. It’s being offered in Agate ESPL (a synthetic), Cocobolo Wood, Hemlock Jigged Bone, and Sambar Stag. Some of these have already dropped, so if you’re after one now is the time to be watching dealers!
Image from GEC (source linked)
#91 Large Stockman
The #91 is a new pattern and sure to cause a splash in the collector community. It’s a 4.38″ closed round ended serpentine. It seems they will be making it in a classic Stockman configuration with a clip point main blade and sheepfoot and spey secondaries. I am not sure if this will be considered a Sowbelly Stockman, but it’s certainly arguable based on the frame shape.
Image originally posted by Spark on BladeForums and made by GEC (source linked)
#81 Moose
The #81 is a serpentine pattern that GEC has run as a Stockman, a Muskrat, and a Moose. Considering the “City Stock” version that Charlie Campagna has shown is coming under his Waynorth brand, it seems they are doing a new take on the Moose with a full size clip point and a small spey blade. Many enthusiasts have been hoping for a re-release of the Abilene Stock Knife on the #81 frame, so it will be interesting to see what all versions they end up making this run.
Image originally posted by Charlie Campagna on BladeForums and made by GEC (source linked)
#93 Swayback
The #93 is a swayback frame that GEC has used both for their Ramfoot and the Waynorth Lambfoot. Both these versions of the #93 are widely loved and there has been excitement for a possible re-release since the “What’s in the Hallway” picture began showing a line of lambs earlier this year. All About Pocket Knives has announced that their 2024 knife is on the #93 pattern, but there’s little solid information on the specifics so far.
Image from GEC (source linked)
To be clear, these are merely speculations. There is no confirmation from Great Eastern Cutlery of any of these patterns except for the #32. That said, my reason for expecting the other 3 patterns all amount to basically the same evidence. There have been SFOs confirmed to be upcoming for all three patterns. A Waynorth on the #81, the BladeForums 2024 knife on the #91, and the All About Pocket Knives 2024 knife on the #93. Does this mean that there are definitely regular full runs of these patterns coming also? No, but historically GEC does not typically do SFOs on a pattern without also doing a normal run under their own brands. No matter what actually comes to fruition, it’s an exciting time to be a fan of Great Eastern Cutlery knives!
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I love Barlows. A Barlow is what ignited my interest in traditional pocket knives, and the main focus of my collecting to this day. I’m not alone; many knife enthusiasts consider the Barlow to be among the best patterns, and even non enthusiasts often know the name. But what actually is a Barlow? What makes a knife a Barlow… or not a Barlow?
One of the Best Recent Barlows, the GEC 2AB, and a Barlow Bearcat Club Slip by Lynch Leather
I Like Big Bolsters and I Cannot Lie
The defining characteristic of the Barlow pattern is an elongated bolster. More specifically, the rule is typically given as the pivot end bolster being 1/3 the total handle length. A Barlow has no end cap, or butt end bolster. The Great Eastern Cutlery Barlows (so far….) have all held true to this rule, with the following bolster to handle length percentages: #14 36%, #15 36%, #25 33%, #77 36%, #86 35%. There is also the so-called Grandaddy Barlow, which is a larger and, particularly, longer version of the Barlow. While Grandaddy Barlows have extended bolsters as compared to other similarly sized knives, their sheer size would make a full 1/3 length bolster less aesthetically appealing. That said, the large Barlows GEC has made still stick close to the 1/3 rule, with the Northwoods Madison being 31% and the Remington “The Cowboy” at 29%. Case Barlow bolsters are also around 35%. Where does the percentage cutoff lie? How short is too short? It’s tough to say, but usually easy to see. For example, the currently being released GEC #78 Bullet End Barlow doesn’t indisputably make the cut to my eye, and it is around 26%. So the most distinctive feature of a Barlow is the extended Bolster.
TL;DR? A Succinct Infographic
Big Bolster = Big Durability & Big Aesthetics
So, why the extended bolster? The answer usually given is that it results in a stronger and more durable knife. The bolster is what the pivot pin is peened or riveted into, and maybe the extra metal allows for a more secure hold by the “mushrooming” from being hammered. Alternatively, the additional metal might allow for a more rigid handle and in turn less likelihood of the knife pulling apart. By moving the cover material, usually a much less durable material than the metal bolster, away from the pivot there is less flex and therefore wear at the transition between the bolsters and cover material or on the covers themselves. A more durable knife was an important feature when the Barlow was mostly seen as an affordable working tool. The extended bolster certainly also adds an undeniably unique aesthetic. I think this visual appeal is as much a reason for the extended bolster as the durability, at least among collectors. The extended bolster calls back to the golden era of traditional pocket knives, they’re place in history, and a time when they were ubiquitous as every day tools. No matter the original intent of the extended bolster, it is the defining characteristic of the Barlow and a recognizable hallmark among pocket knife patterns.
Most of GEC’s Barlow Patterns
Variety is the Spice of Life… and Barlows?
While the extended bolster is a necessity, almost everything else about the Barlow can vary. Barlows have come in basically every blade shape (Clip Point, Spear Point, Sheepfoot, Wharncliffe, Drop Point, Spey, Razor, etc. etc.), though I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Hawkbill Barlow. Additionally, they can have a main blade and secondary, usually a pen blade, or even two full size blades. Any blades must all come from the same pivot end. Barlows can also come in several handle shapes. The most common shape is the regular jack, but a Barlow can also be a swell end jack, sleeve board jack, or even a curved jack. Sometimes you’ll see English made knives with extended bolsters on swayback handle shapes called Barlows, but that type doesn’t seem to have made it “across the pond”. The fact that most Barlows are in the shape of a Regular Jack has, in my experience, contributed to people misidentifying normal Jack knives as Barlows.
A Handmade Barlow by Sean Yaw
Barlows in Spirit… or in Name Only
With the rise in popularity of traditional pocket knives and slipjoints, and particularly Barlows, there has been a growth in the phenomenon of knives being misidentified as Barlows. I am fine with knives that have extended faux bolsters, often a different color of the same material or a different material than the rest of the handle (Micarta vs G10, etc.), being called Barlows. Are they purely traditional? No, but on that note I am also fine with knives using modern construction being called Barlows as long as they have a true extended bolster, like the Jack Wolf Knives Midnight Jack (and even the fully modern After Hours Jack!). I’m even okay with knives that just have aesthetic milling to give the appearance of an extended bolster being deemed Barlows, such as the LionSteel Slim Dom and Traditional Pocket KnivesLake Champlain Barlow. However, knives with a normal size bolster or no bolster at all just don’t pass the test for me. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see a knife that is vaguely shaped like a Regular Jack to be called a Barlow, especially when modern knife companies take cues from traditional patterns. I understand that definitions change, and that that is an integral part of the evolution of language, but I think it worth holding onto the distinction of a Barlow at the least having the appearance of an extended bolster.
Two Barlows in Spirit
A Barlow in Every Pocket
Now that you know what a Barlow is, I hope you decide to try one. A Great Eastern Cutlery TC Barlow brought me into the world of traditional knives, but the enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge shared by people (such as great patrons of the Barlow like Charlie Campagna, who is always sharing traditional knife wisdom such as on the Catch Bit Podcast) about this classic pattern is one of the main things that has kept me so engaged. If you find yourself hooked by the allure of this classic pattern, make sure you check out and apply to the Barlow Bearcat Club.
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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!
