Clayton Barlow by Michael May of Sheffield

The Clayton Barlow in O1 tool steel and Yorkshire Oak covers

[@StephenWorth]

I'm a Yank, but my grandfather came from Yorkshire. He managed and owned woolen mills. Although in the United States, a Barlow may be known for having a clip point blade, since that is the most popular here; I think it could be argued that in Sheffield, sheepsfoot blades are traditional for Barlows. My great-grandfather was a bobbin boy in Huddersfield. At 7 years old, he was working all day 6 days a week in the mill going from machine to machine splicing in new bobbins full of wool thread. I would bet he had a sheepsfoot Barlow in his pocket all the time.

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

Hey Eric I just find them to be awesome and I can definitely see why you collect them and enjoy them so much….. they are the perfect size and that clip blade is unbelievable I love that clip blade!!!!!! Keep um comin I’m watching them buddy!!!!!! Thanks Eric on teaching me about barlows!!!!!! Stay well my friend see you soon!!!!!!😀

[@slick_slicers]

I’ve only got videos scheduled up to 22 April. I’m trying to find time to film another 7 to keep going up to the election… but I might do a results show on 6 May, but it depends how it goes 🥶

[@stonemason4902]

Good video (again) about knives I like and also I keep on learning new stuff from you. Great you spent the time on Michael May and the Clayton as well as Lee White. Enjoyable detail about length, shape and material. I agree the oak will bed in. Thanks.

[@rhino5419]

Hello. Always amazes me how much variety there can be in a design while retaining the same name. That goes for most traditionals not just Barlows. All the best.

[@slick_slicers]

If they all looked like identikit repeats, there’d be no joy in collecting.

[@dongkhamet1351]

I love that Clayton Barlow, it's beautiful. I'd call the handle profile a reverse dog's leg.

[@slick_slicers]

It’s a good and very usable knife. The blade/handle ratio is great for UK carry.

[@dongkhamet1351]

@@slick_slicers Might you perchance be interested in reviewing a UK friendly, reground EOS Urchin friction folder for your channel? There is a video on my channel detailing the knife and a project to offer a few examples of this superlatively functional, UK street legal knife to connoisseurs. The EOS Urchin is to my mind a very fine knife that came from the factory with some critical design flaws on the blade and the worst approximation I have seen of sharpness on any new knife just about ever. On my own Urchin I remediated these issues to the extent that I was very pleased with the results and bought ten more with the notion of making a run of these modded knives. In exchange for a single coin of the realm, of any vintage or value, and your commitment to critically test and review this knife for your channel, I will prepare a knife for you from my stack of fresh stock and send it over to you. I hope you like the idea but if it isn't your thing then no worries :D

[@StephenWorth]

I don't know how people can say Michael May makes poor quality knives. I've ordered four from him- Clayton Barlow, regular Barlow, ettrick and ergonomic- and they are all beautifully made. Being hand made, every one has its own personality, and you don't know exactly what the wood will look like until you get it. But I've never been less than delighted. I've gotten cherry, Yorkshire Oak, desert ironwood and bog oak. Every one is a really nice piece of wood. My regular Barlow has Damascus steel and it's important to note that this is true old school Damascus like on swords of old, not modern factory made pattern welded Damascus. It isn't fancy patterns like Japanese kitchen knives, it's rustic, having been heat treated with clay for strength. Michael May makes exactly what I want in a custom knife... clearly hand crafted, one-of-a-kind, ergonomically designed... a "user", not a safe queen. I have a couple of Lee White knives too, and they are very nice, but they don't have the "mojo" the Michael May ones do. They are highly polished and stiff and better to look at than to actually carry.

[@slick_slicers]

Im a fan of Michael’s knives, and have 8. All bought and paid for at almost full price. I’ve had some free file work, but that’s all. Lovely knives to carry and use.

[@TheStreamingEnderman]

@@slick_slicers I only have one, but I still adore it.

[@davidkurle5418]

I really like the looks of Michael's knives. I don't own one yet, but I plan to. I really like the bog oak covers that he uses. Cheers, my friend!

[@Bushcraftandknives]

Always a pleasure to learn more about the history of different knives! Thank you for sharing, Eric! Looking forward to your next video!

[@slick_slicers]

Thank you, you won’t have to wait long!

[@gadgetgus]

I really like the Clayton, as it does look exceptionally comfortable - good for prolonged use... An enjoyable video Eric, All the best, Gus 👍

[@slick_slicers]

It’s a great user!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Really nice selection of knives. I can see why you like the style of Michael May and Lee Wright. For me, I think the elongated bolster, is what makes a Barlow. But as you said, if the company calls a knife a Barlow, then I'm not going to argue with them. But it is that tear drop frame of a Boys knife with the extra long bolster with either a spear or clip main blade that defines the "Standard Barlow" for me.

[@slick_slicers]

I’d like to see an original Obedia Barlow just to know what he actually invented. The Arthur Wright Barlow has, what everyone else might consider a short bolster, but it’s at least 50% longer than their standard bolster. It’s all relative.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

@@slick_slicers , that would be cool.

[@ThriftyKaniffy]

I appreciate the blade shape comparisons, it's something I've been giving recent thought to among Barlows. The Clayton looks well made. Take care SS.

[@slick_slicers]

It’s a really lovely knife!

[@americanknivesenthusiast]

Hello friend, very interesting review Thank you so much🙏🙏🙏

[@slick_slicers]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@thehairywoodsman5644]

RJ sent me , I subbed .

[@slick_slicers]

Welcome on board!

[@ianrankin1293]

I've been waiting on a review of a M May Clayton Barlow,so thanks for that Eric! I have 2 M May knives and have no issues with either of them, the Clayton may (no pun intended) be no3 in the collection

[@slick_slicers]

Number 8 in mine, and all very good to perfect!

[@rowlandbrant674]

I only have one of Michael's knives, the standard Barlow in Yorkshire oak and I think it's a great knife. The handle seemed dry to me when it arrived but a drop or two of Danish oil soon fixed that. There were also a few sharp bits on the brass liners but a few strokes with a piece of 400 grit soon smoothed them. Not as well finished as a TEW premier knife but what is???

[@slick_slicers]

That’s most of what you’re paying for on a TEW, finishing!

[@gizmocarr3093]

If you think of what a Barlow knife looks like. I think of the handle and bolster shape. I see a longer bolster and bare head round handle. You can call other knives a Barlow if you choose but; as a standard, this handle shape is the standard. If I take all the different Barlow knives I have, they conform in size from 3¼-inches to 3⅜ inches in length. The bolster are slightly longer than one inch, plus a coupe sixteenths of an inch. You could say the bolster is one-third the length of the handle is a standard. Blades type has less importance than the handle size. Some are single blade and many have two blades. The one that Lee White makes is an English Barlow and comes from where the first ones came from. So having one was important to me. It is the nicest one of all of the others I bought. I think that others like Schatt & Morgan, Case are second because they do not have the history of and English Barlow. I think there are many knives called Barlow that stretch the pattern to extremes. I think this one has not gone that far from the standard compared to many others. ✨🥂✨🙂

[@slick_slicers]

The problem is that the Barlow pattern predates Case by over 300 years, and even TEW by over 160. What we don’t know is what Obedia’s original looked like. We can’t just trust that these new kids on the block aren’t just giving us their trendy new take on the thing. I mean, Case knives, they’ll never catch on!

[@ianrosie4431]

I wonder what Obadiah called the knife. John Barlow of Sheffield (I don't know if it's Obadiah's son, the one who began selling to the U.S, or not) was making New England Whaler's, certainly. There's one on Etsy. That would also be a Barlow in the parlance of the day, you'd imagine. It makes you wonder what Mark Twain was referring to. My knowledge on this is limited so if anyone can chime in...

[@slick_slicers]

One thing we can be sure of was that it wasn’t a Case!

[@ianrosie4431]

@@slick_slicers Twain set Tom Sawyer in the 1840s. And Wiki states the manuscript was completed by November 1875. So who were supplying 'Barlow's' during 1840-1875? That would narrow it down a bit.

[@ianrosie4431]

From what I can read up on, it appears mass production of Barlows within America, commenced with Russell in 1875.

[@TheStreamingEnderman]

Lovely Barlow! I have a Böker Barlow I'm currently waiting on. They make some nice ones, eh? Edit: I went with a Stockman instead!

[@slick_slicers]

They do, but they’re a little sterile for my taste.

[@TheStreamingEnderman]

@@slick_slicers Agreed. They don't feel "handmade enough".

[@Warthogg1]

Sweet Design! can't find any negatives here

[@slick_slicers]

It works for me!

[@Zen_Ali_123]

Never heard of the Clayton design. I like it. People don't call you a pretentious git for your vocabulary, mate. It's your accent. 👊😆🤜

[@Warthogg1]

At least, to my knowledge, nobody has called you a "fookin wanker" yet Slick.. let me be the first!😂

[@Zen_Ali_123]

When you come up with a line like that, you can't just toss it in the bin. That'd make you a tosser.

[@slick_slicers]

You calling me a pretentious git? I resemble that remark! 😂😂😂

[@Zen_Ali_123]

@@slick_slicers Glasgow kisses

[@TheStreamingEnderman]

I was hoping to buy an M. May knife within the next few months. Sadly, he broke his hand!

[@slick_slicers]

So I hear , but I’m sure he’ll be back at work soon… he’s self employed after all, and he had an apprentice these days.

[@TheStreamingEnderman]

@@slick_slicers Let's hope for a quick recovery!

[@jamesluther3506]

Does Sheffield produce longer blade Barlow for Export?😊

[@slick_slicers]

I don’t believe so. That being said, I’m sure one of them would make you one.

[@davids9549]

Can't say I like the styling, but Michael May's designs are certainly distinctive (a good thing) and appear to be aimed at comfort and practicality (two more good things). And staccato isn't posh, it's a word which you've employed to convey the feel of a stylistic feature accurately (yet another good thing).

[@slick_slicers]

I didn’t say posh, I said pretentious, though now I’m being pedantic! 😂😂😂