Posted 5 years ago
Bottlefly
(59 items)
I think this is called a Russell’s Arrow. It has a bone handle and is very clean overall. Unsure of age......possibly 40’s.
Russell’s Arrow | ||
| Tools and Hardware2589 of 9815 |  |  |
Russell’s Arrow | ||
| Tools and Hardware2589 of 9815 | | |
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Posted 5 years ago
Bottlefly
(59 items)
I think this is called a Russell’s Arrow. It has a bone handle and is very clean overall. Unsure of age......possibly 40’s.
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The R-arrow mark is from the J. Russell Co. which made pocket knives from 1875 thru 1941 (also, you can just see the "R" and the "LL" on the tang. This pattern is a type of jack knife called a "Barlow" (named after a 18th century English family of cutlers who, supposedly, "invented" the basic design). If it's over 4" it is called a "Daddy Barlow." The cut-out in the handles is an "easy-open" notch allowing the blade to be gripped by those who bite their nails. So it's an easy-open barlow.
Among collectors there seems to be a certain cachet surrounding Russell barlows, which is wholly undeserved insofar as any objective quality is concerned. Every major American knife company of the last 150 years seems to have made barlows in all quality levels. There's nothing special about the Russell product.
There is an A. G. Russell Co. (no relation) which is a retailer of knives and a Japanese Barlow BRAND which are cheap, usually all-metal, knives.
Thank you. Sounds like it’s nothing too special then. I picked it up an an estate sale for about $20. Probably overpaid, but I liked the handle. You are right. In terms of quality, I have many that are far sturdier that were purchased for less.