Bear And Son 4" Barlows The Lowdown

[@singingtoad]

Thanks for sharing about these 3 really cool knives and for explaining how you fixed the minor issues with 2 of them. 👍 Take care my friend and Cheers!

[@LastChanceKnives]

Overall I am happy with them for the price. I'll just do the finish work myself!

[@BaxtersBlades]

This is absolutely an excellent video. Ken. You notice things that I never noticed. As far as these traditional slip joints go that blade wobble really doesn't bother me that much in the closed position. My Buck lockbacks do the same thing. As long as they are locked in the open position. I'm fine at this price point. I do agree the modern is a more serviceable better build. I love your take on this. Thank you so much for sharing Ken!

[@LastChanceKnives]

I am fine with them too. At the price point I look at them as kit knives. They are usable as is, but if you do the rest of the fit and finish they can be spectacular!

[@BaxtersBlades]

@@LastChanceKnives my carbon walnut has no blade play in the closed position. So maybe they made that one right? Alot of room for error when using 1 washer though i agree.

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

Hey Ken I went back and checked mine I out of the 3 had loose blade!!!! That’s a real bummer thsnks for bringing this to our attention have a safe holiday 😊

[@LastChanceKnives]

That's too bad I was hoping it was just bad luck on my part. A few wacks with a hammer, some sandpaper, and a little case paste and they turn out perfect!

[@865knives]

Great video! Thanks for pointing these things out! I am much less excited about the one I have a route to me, but we’ll see if it’s worth the effort or not!! Thanks so much for a great video!!

[@LastChanceKnives]

Most people seem to have gotten good ones. Maybe I was just unlucky.

[@bigjsknives]

Great video, I never noticed the washer in mine but after investigating after this video i can definitely see it. I can see one on each side i believe but the pile side washer seems to be thinner than the show side one, very odd. Thanks for sharing this!!

[@LastChanceKnives]

It is very odd construction for a slipjoint isn't it? I can only see a washer on one side of mine. I'll inspect it a little closer with some magnification and let you know what I find.

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

Excellent review Ken I missed the blade being loose thsnks again 😊

[@LastChanceKnives]

I was hoping to not have to finish the knives myself. They had so many positive reviews, but for the price I can't complain. It was an easy fix.

[@littlemanscorner1718]

Good catch about the washer. Still a fan of the series

[@LastChanceKnives]

@littlemanscorner1718 I made another video of fixing the knife. Since then it has been a joy to use!

[@SouthernKnifeLife]

You saved me a few dollars cause I was definitely getting these, but my attention was to the g10 version with the screw

[@LastChanceKnives]

The G10 screw together was the only one that was perfect probably because of it's modern type of construction.

[@RandysWSG]

Shame they didn't come centered. Mine was alright. It's the yellow delrin. It came out sooner than those. I wonder if the rushed these?

[@LastChanceKnives]

Ahhhhh yellow delrin! That's why it's better! 😂

[@RandysWSG]

@@LastChanceKnives 😂😂

[@DavidBurge-xf8zx]

Thanks for sharing. Was considering one of these. Now I'm going to pass. Thank you.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I would suggest you try the more modern version of the knife. It is definitely a good step up in the fit and finish department.

[@thebodybeatdownDiTi]

That's too bad about the blades. They should be inspecting them. You'd think they would know that's not good or acceptable. Have a good weekend..

[@LastChanceKnives]

They have a target price point and there is only so much they can do fit and finish wise. These are inexpensive knives and I look at them as kit knives. Do the fit and finish yourself and end up with a spectacular knife pretty cheap!

[@LarryReynolds591]

I'd rather have the carbon with pinned construction. Might be cool to have the one with the screws in carbon too

[@LastChanceKnives]

You said what I have been thinking! A blade swap, putting a carbon blade in the modern one. I have some K390 to play with and just might make a new blade for it, that would be sweet!

[@MrVitamincpp]

Mine is red bone carbon too, and it has no such problems really. The only thing I had to do was to sharpen it, because it was terrible the stock is too thick for my taste. It is a great knife to be abused and carried everyday, which I wouldn't do with my GECs.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I made another video where I fixed the knife pivot. To date I have fixed two of them and they are now perfect and are a pleasure to use. The next mod will be a regrind of the blade to thin it out because like you said they are way too thick behind the edge. I look at the knife the same way, a great user. Not that I am going to abuse it, but because of the price I don't mind using it to get stuff done.

[@KB3UKTKB3ULN]

My be let Bear and Son know what they could do to improve their knives. They can’t correct any thing if don’t know what there customers notice that they can improve on in their product.

[@LastChanceKnives]

They know exactly what they are doing. They set a target price point for a knife and then can only afford to make the knife to a certain level. On the other hand I have 5 of the new Queens that are made by Bear And Son and they are much better, but also more expensive!

[@jhtsurvival]

Ok i like those

[@LastChanceKnives]

They are nice. My favorite is the red bone, it's sweet!

[@Hunting4Hookers]

Good stuff and a great take! Some things that bother collectors doesn’t really bother me much. As long as the blade doesn’t rub or something. 👊🏻👍🏻💯

[@LastChanceKnives]

The knives are perfectly functional the way they came. The problem is people that I work with always want to check out my knives. They consider slipjoints as old outdated knives and I do not want to hand them one that is not right and give them a bad taste. I always carry a modern, a slipjoint, and a multitool. Lately a pocket fixed blade has been replacing the modern!

[@KB3UKTKB3ULN]

Why don’t you show how you tighten the blade on your Barlow Bear and Son

[@LastChanceKnives]

I still have to fix the one in red bone and plan to make a video on it.

[@Lunarpreparedness]

I’m new to traditional knives. I have a very extensive modern folder and fixed blade collection, from budget knives to very very high end folding knives. I prefer to carry a fixed blade and thought a traditional knife would fit well for an edc. Can’t open every box with a 5” fixie. But I’m about 8 traditional knives down in my collection, mostly Case and all American made, and I really can’t figure out why people bother. EVERY traditional knife I’ve bought has an issue. All across the board. Centering, blades smacking into the frame when you close them, denting the blade. They ALL wiggle like crazy with blade play. NONE of them come sharp. It’s really out of control. It’s embarrassing to America when the nicest traditional knife on the market is made in China. I’m really about to throw the whole idea of traditional knives out the window. So far, I feel like I’ve wasted my money on almost every one I’ve purchased. I have 3 knives that I’ve contacted Case about because they’re horrible. Can anyone tell me if there is an American company who makes solid traditional knives? GEC isn’t all the great either. I feel like the traditional style is bound to have issues and can’t see anything telling me differently.

[@LastChanceKnives]

@area51.52 You are absolutely right! GEC is probably as good as it gets in the US. I have had good luck with Boker Knives, but they have to be true Solingen Germany ones. Check out my video about "Fixing The 4" Bear And Son Barlow". Rosecraft males a good traditional. It is an American company that has their knives made in China, but they have a goal of moving production over hear in the future. The price is also right. Otherwise I would suggest buying traditional knives in person rather than online.