EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Barlow is one of my favorite traditional knife patterns.
Its simple elegance just has a timeless feel.
A Barlow is known for having an elongated bolster, an oval-shaped handle and one or two blades. Its history goes back centuries and it has long been known as an affordable work knife.
Let’s fast-forward to today, where the Barlow is a favorite among collectors and EDC enthusiasts.
In the past few months, RoseCraft Blades has released two new versions of its popular Otter Creek Barlow.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to carry both of these around for several days as part of RoseCraft’s pass-around group.
I am quite familiar with the Otter Creek Barlow, which is RoseCraft’s take on this traditional knife pattern.
Last summer, I was able to check one out with yellow sandalwood handles. Here is a link.
Let’s take a look at the two new versions – one in denim micarta and the other in stag.
The first thing you really notice about this knife is the otter paw print that is laser etched on the bolster. It is distinct and clearly gives the RoseCraft version of the Barlow a way to stand out from the crowd.
My quick first impression of these two new versions of the Otter Creek: They live up to what the company has done in the past with this line and maybe even surpasses it.
Both of the new versions are identical – except for the handle material.
RoseCraft has a reputation for doing an exceptional job with its micarta and this one is no different. You can see waves and ripples in the micarta and it definitely has a “blue jeans” look and feel to it.
The stag also has a nice quality feel to it. The stag handles are made out of natural material from red deer stag and each handle is unique. The stag handles give out a nostalgic vibe, which I really like.
A key difference: The stag version is just chunkier in the handle than the micarta. And that little extra heft can give a knife a really nice feel in your hand when doing work.
Like you come to expect from all RoseCraft knives, these Barlows are well constructed – the handle material, pins, bolsters and back spring all come seamlessly together.
The Otter Creek Barlow is also a single-bladed knife which is right in my wheelhouse.
I love a single-bladed knife because it just makes for a better fit to your hand.
Having just one blade really allows your hand to wrap around the handle the way it was intended. When there is a second blade, you feel the top of the non-deployed blade instead of the handle when you are using it.
Both of these Barlows have a nail nick as the only way to open it up. The pull is strong but not too strong where you get frustrated or feel you are going to rip your nail apart.
They also have a nice “snap” when the blade is closed back up.
Both also feature a robust halfstop, which is a nice safety feature for a knife without a locking mechanism.
Let’s take a look at some numbers. Both feature a 2.9-inch D2 clip-point blade. I am always ecstatic when I can find a pocket knife with a blade under 3 inches. Just a personal preference. Small, light and non-threatening.
They are 3.5 inches when closed and 6.4 inches with the blade open. The stag is slightly heavier at 3 ounces vs. 2.7 ounces for the micarta version.
I’m a big micarta fan, but I would give the nod to the stag version out of these two, but both are fine knives.
At the RoseCraft website, the denim micarta version is listed at $59.99 and the stag version goes for $76.99. You can use the code “BIGREDEDC” for 10 percent off.
At C. Risner Cutlery, the micarta and stag version go for the same price as above. You can use the code “BIGRED10” at that site, also for 10 percent off.
Here are some YouTube channels on pocket knives and gear that I watch and find informative:
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