2021 Great Eastern Cutlery GEC #15 TC Barlow, Rough Sawn Osage Wood

[@davidkurle5418]

The covers on that knife look fantastic! Thanks, Joe!

[@MesserHQ]

Thanks bud, they really do😍😍😍

[@richterknives]

Solid video! I'm enjoying my TC. The 15 is such a great size and makes a perfect little slipjoint to tote around in the pocket and use for odd jobs here and there.

[@MesserHQ]

Thanks bud! For sure, the 15 great in the hand and pocket👍🎯

[@HobieonYouTube]

Wow, five of them now! I like the spear point and the Osage wood looks nice. I’ve never had any. It must be flexible if the make bows from it! Thanks for the good information!

[@MesserHQ]

Yeah got a little collection i guess. Great pattern. And this is my first experience with osage, cool looking stuff🤟

[@fossilimprint2954]

Learned what osage wood is like, looks wonderful as knife covers. Danke schon

[@MesserHQ]

Yeah me too, shortly before the video🤣 thanks bud👌

[@gizmocarr3093]

I remember using Osage orange wood for inlays on rifle and pistol grips. It was actually orange in color. It was very hard and took special care cutting it so it wouldn’t blacken from being burned when you cut it. I wonder if collectors ever think about the wood that is on their knives. When I look at the wood on knives and rifle stocks I made or ones I bought. The wood they are made from likely was living hundreds of years ago in some faraway place. I have some stocks made from wood from Turkey. It was bought before World War II. It was cut by someone and pulled out of the forest by teams of oxen. Then shipped to America and sat waiting to be made into a rifle stock. That approximately means the wood is about 200 years old. That is young if you think about the wood used to make knives that are from the early nineteen hundreds. Yet they didn’t have any modern machines like today; and quite a few are made as well as ones made today. Fact is; some are made better. The wood used on your knife is likely much older than you are. ✨🌳

[@MesserHQ]

It sounds like really tough stuff. I have to admit, I am not a wood man. I am however trying to look up and learn about all these fancy wood covered knives!

[@bluetoad2001]

Bois d’arc, yep Hedge, Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera, named in honor of Maclure the bamboo guy. it is used in the area of North Missouri for fence posts. will last upwards of 100 years in the ground. the antique fence posts when removed from the ground are nearly petrified and can be green in color

[@MesserHQ]

It really sounds like some amazing stuff 💪

[@Rancherinaz]

Oh man ! Digging the sawcut on that one . It's reminding me of something I've seen before somewhere but I just can't put my finger on it .

[@Warthogg1]

Awesome knife Joe! I was lucky enough, with the help of a good friend & subscriber to get on a reserve list at dealer pricing with this one. You have a nice bevy of beauties laid out there my friend! lol

[@MesserHQ]

Awesome bud, not often that happens 👍 It really is a great looking barlow. The only one I really wanted from the run🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️

[@Zen_Ali_123]

Did not know all that about Osage wood, thanks 👍

[@MesserHQ]

Yeah man, pretty cool stuff💪🏋

[@MesserHQ]

You ever get the Western Camp?

[@Zen_Ali_123]

@@MesserHQ I did. It needs a little love but it's cool.

[@bdh3949]

Another comment disappearing into the darkness. lol Joe I left a lengthly comment here but I guess I forgot to hit the send button. That Osage wood and the company's namesake history is great information and always appreciated. Thanks Joe.

[@MesserHQ]

Haha, yeah that is a real problem, I do it often🤣. Glad you like the info on the wood and the company 👌. The Knife Makers that went West showed up today! Gonna be a fun read, lots of pictures 🤗

[@bdh3949]

@@MesserHQ Indeed, talk about the history knife makers in US. I especially like the collection of pictures and catalogs of the vintage Western companies. Hey Joe, one thing for perspective. The book was published in 1978 just as they moved from Boulder, Colo to Longmont, Colo about 12 miles as the crow flies. That means the book was already written and then they added pix and info ref the move to Longmont to make the move out of Boulder because og gentrification (btw which was due to the higher costs of real estate and taxes in Boulder which itself was going through a period where they were looking for cleaner manufacturers/tech industries and looking to hold back steel, coal, and pharma industries in the city).The Platts still owned the company as it wasn't until 1984 that Coleman took over. Coleman/Western stayed in Longmont for the duration of their ownership until selling to Camillus in 1991. Western Cutlery technology and machinery was then moved "back" to New York. That's what I call "full circle". lol

[@MesserHQ]

Great history! Im halfway through 💪 I would love to have some of those Northfield and C Platts $ son knives pictured actual size in the book😍😍

[@bdh3949]

@@MesserHQ Oh man Joe, an original Northfield knife maybe made by one of the Platts, how cool that would be. I forgot to mention that in Harvey's book, take a look at the 1921 "catalog" at the Boy Scout Knife #6490. You may recall from the book that their first production year, as in previous years, Western worked with Challenge Cutlery to make some of their knives. I found an original 1920's Challenge Boy Scout Knife in rough condition with intact covers and very workable with good action. It is the exact same model as the 6490, same everything, tool set, covers, shield, size. I am torn between reconditioning it (meaning general cleaning, rust and carbon removal, sanding/polishing the blades and frame, oiling, and sharpening) or leaving it rough. What do you think?

[@MesserHQ]

@@bdh3949 hey bud i checked it out and looks the same to me! That great that you have it in your collection. I would say clean it. I don't think rust/ patina removal effects the value. Some do, but not me. Up to you I guess, let me know what you decide to do💪

[@gabehixenbaugh1997]

Looks killer joe. That one might be my favorite of your barlows.

[@MesserHQ]

I really like it too! Such a cool wood and sawcut 👍

[@alanhooley4089]

Hi MHQ, I wonder if you can help, in 2019 I was on holiday in Dodge City Kansas and in an antique shop purchased a traditional slipjoint knife It is a copperhead style by Robert Klass, on one side of the clip blade it has two birds, could be Storks and Robt Klass Solingen, on the other side it has 2028 x II, on the other blade it has the two birds and Germany, if you could tell me a little bit about it, it has all brass fittings,liners, bolsters, pins and shield, the scales look like ebony, it looks like it’s been used and feels quite old with some wear on the clip. I know nothing about Robert Klass and hope you can enlighten me. By the way I love your channel. Thanks. Alan

[@MesserHQ]

Well I don't know too much about Robert Klaas Copperheads other than they were and still are currently making that pattern in Solingen. The 2028 could be the pattern number... the two storks are the Kissing Crane trademark from Klaas👍

[@alanhooley4089]

@@MesserHQ thank you for your prompt reply, I’ll delve a little further. Keep up the good work. Alan

[@abarkcanoe]

Hey MHQ. Like many, I really dig your enviably comprehensive collection and the informative content you post. My own collection is small, maybe 40+ knives with 2/3 of that pocket patterns, mostly vintage or at least traditional. Not too into contemporary “tactical” stuff and for whatever reason have never been able to sidle up to Damascus steel. Two questions: 1) who on You Tube do you think has great knife videos? 2) would you consider doing a video on vintage razor patterns? Thanks.

[@MesserHQ]

Hey, thanks for the kind words. Yeah I really like to watch Hobieonyoutube, jerseyknifeguy, warthogg, islandoutdoors1, ect...all are good and entertaining channels. As far as razors, are we talking straight razors? For shaving?

[@abarkcanoe]

@@MesserHQ razors like Bokers razor Jack or Rough Riders razor Barlow or Trapper

[@MesserHQ]

@@abarkcanoe yeah I would for sure. I had a one arm bandit from bear and son. Traded it away though. Ill keep my eyes open👍

[@bluetoad2001]

i’ve burned up saw blades cutting it and i’ve broken drill bits drilling it. weird but sometimes it can be brittle and split easily

[@MesserHQ]

Thats crazy! I wonder how many blades and tools got beat up by this stuff at the GEC factory. 🤣🤣

[@bluetoad2001]

@@MesserHQ it is an interesting wood for sure. my tree guru (arborist) pal said Osage was Mulberry with cancer. if you look at the structures of the fruits you will see they are very similar. the wood of Mulberry is much the same as Osage Orange, oxidizes the same color brown when exposed to UV and has about the same BTU’s. enjoying your vids✅😎✌️

[@richterknives]

I think there are a few more blade shapes…a one arm and a Spey for sure

[@MesserHQ]

Haha yeah I realize that now. Ill get them eventually 👍👍

[@MEDIC1944]

Great knife great pattern big enough to get your stuff done but not big enough that people think your Rambo🤣 Just got an acient barlow in and really love it next to the #12 pattern it is one of my favorites👍

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

Hey Joe fantastic pieces bud super highly sought after!!!!! Hey Joe did you see the new Remington baby bullet knife Smokey mountain put out….. Remington is in bankruptcy but SMKW bought the rights to the name or some shit like that but somehow GEC is assembling them there put together with perfection try to get one this piece is going to be one to get it’s a bigger piece almost 4 inches closed anyway if you can do me a favor Benny from Jack Wolf knives is putting his new traditional line out if you can support him it would be great you have to see his new line of traditionals!!!!!! Thanks Joe

[@MesserHQ]

Thanks bud, yeah i saw them just didn't have the funds, ill get one eventually 😉 Ive never heard of that other company but ill check them out and help them any way I can👍

[@prh8068]

Wow, what a great knife! Maybe one of these years I'll manage to get a TC Barlow. I agree with you about the #15 being a better fit in the hand than a #14. I have both of those frames in "boys knife" versions and the #15 is a real favorite of mine.

[@MesserHQ]

They're worth hunting down my friend. May take a while but they come up for sale pretty often👍

[@timbo4374]

You're missing one blade shape. They're rare, but they also have a razor jack type blade. There's one listed on EBAY right now for the low low price of $699 if you're interested! 🤣 I'd love to get my hands on one, but there's no way I'm willing to pay the stupid prices they ask for them on EBAY.

[@MesserHQ]

Ahh yeah, forgot about that one.... 700🙄 , maybe ill find one at a flea market one day🤣

[@timbo4374]

@@MesserHQ It's crazy what people ask for them, and even crazier that epople actually pay that asking price. I love my GEC's, but no way I'm willing to pay 3, 4, or 3ven 5 times the original list price.

[@MesserHQ]

I hear ya, I guess for me it would depend on the knife🤣🤣🤣

[@abarkcanoe]

That is a very high asking price for “brand new” and for just bone scales. Love the razor jacks though.

[@timbo4374]

@@abarkcanoe In my humble opinion, it's not only a high price, it's stupid expensive lol. You could get a damn nice custom made slip joint in a much better steel for that price.