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.
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!
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!
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”!
