Michael May Barlow first impressions

A look at a custom from Michael May in Sheffield.
*UPDATE* Might have fixed it!
See here: pB3J0NTAjW...
Spring Strength:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Website:
michaelmayknives.com/shop.htm...

[@albion1949]

The faults on the Rough Rider can probably be accepted at the price, those on the Michael May knife can't. If you're happy with it fair enough, a pocket knife is after all a very personal thing, personally I would have been spewing with that.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Fair, I can see a lot of people losing interest over the issues, I put them early for such folk.

[@colchesterritter8992]

Thanks for the review. It's a good looking knife but its sad that you got the issues. I got a MM knife a couple of years back and it has a large gap between the back spring and liner. I won't get another.

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

great looking and the problems only matter if it affects you.that knife will work well i think.atb paddy.

[@davidkurle5418]

Congrats on 300! Thanks for showing this knife. I think the horn paired with the turquoise is a great look. Shame about the fit and finish issues, but Michael's designs have definitely caught my attention and I plan to own one someday. I look forward to seeing how it performs for you. Cheers.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Thank you very much sir! I do like it regardless of the glaring faults, may yours reach you in better shape!

[@slick_slicers]

Well done on the 300!

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Thank you sir!

[@magicdave93]

Just subscribed to this channel and I’ve got this very knife. I’ve always wanted a Sheffield made Barlow and I’m not disappointed. Look forward to your future reviews. 👍🙂

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Thank you very much sir! It's a cracking little knife, even better now I've sorted the issues mine had 🙂 -Al

[@magicdave93]

If you don’t mind me asking is how did you the issues you had with yours? 👍🙂

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

@@magicdave93 actually, I think I've fixed them, seems the bolsters weren't pinned tight enough, check the update link in the description! Only used it for one night since repairing but it seems great!

[@patrickvanovermeeren4513]

Beautifull knife , nice blade on it. Thanks and ATB !!

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Thank you very much! I'm chuffed with it!

[@Adrian-Muica]

Great video, more pls! 100 quid is GEC money where you got perfection. Unacceptable for a custom! I make stuff myself and I would not sell anything like that... I would send that back in a second. Also, because this seems to be common practice now I always warn the seller not to send me a knife with issues because I would just send it back! So far it worked every time!

[@colchesterritter8992]

GEC are the premier traditional knife company IMO; I have more than I'd like to think about. I recommend getting at least one.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

It is a shame to be true, but it's what I got and it's what I'm showing now, I'm gunning for a GEC now you've said that haha Cheers -Al

[@StephenWorth]

re: centering... If you notice, the blade is leaning towards the nail nick. That is to prevent the lateral pressure you put on the nick to open the blade from pushing it back too far and scraping the back of the liner. If it was perfectly centered, over time your pressure will cause the blade to move backwards slightly. This way, the knife evolves into being *more* centered, not less centered. The blade wobble you demonstrate is not OK. I would send it back for that.

[@finnhodby9791]

U bought the same one as me mine just has a bit of blade play but I think because I got mine a couple of years ago mine had more time out in maybe but still I love all of his knifes

[@210195111]

Got mine today and it's perfect, a good as any of my GEC knives and I got it in a month.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Paddy sent me one that May made for him and it was exemplary, I was impressed enough to immediately order one, mine was just a shame.

[@finnhodby9791]

I remember asking a few months back btw I have the exact same one as that apart from a few minor differences from it being a couple of years old

[@blackhill6426]

Glad you’re feeling better Al.. The major issue I have is the p*** poor way the blade is badly misaligned with the backspring . It’s a very good looking knife and the price is fine for a handmade custom . That blade to backspring transition is just shoddy . It lets the whole knife down . I’d love to support out own craftsman but not with that glaring flaw . It’s my biggest pet hate

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

You are of course, not wrong, I'm not sure what went on with this one but I can get along with it, Slick slicers has 2 on the way so we'll see if his have any similar issues. Cheers -Al

[@davids9549]

As others have noted, the defects are not good news. 'Defect', or 'Custom Made Artisan Character'? - I see the latter used as an excuse for the former too often for me to be persuaded. £100 gets you a GEC - 'nuff said.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

To each their own, if perfection is all you want of course, GEC is the way to go, but having something handmade has something machines could never produce, besides, I've fixed the main issues. Cheers -Al

[@iunderw2]

It has never been D2 steel he gets his parts stamps out by A.wrights with his name on and they only use c70 carbon steel

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

That's what was advertised, ( see kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTHYaaMd5yBe6c 16 secs in) to be fair it hasn't tarnished whatsoever but it also wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't D2.

[@Tony-ze1mg]

Alright mate I would definitely send it back with that blade play & centring the all knife looks on the piss If you like you can borrow one of my Shing knives

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

Ah, He sent me that, that's what I'll review! I'm totally unfamiliar with Shing however

[@Tony-ze1mg]

He’s a UK Knife maker his Instagram page is @trainedspider or Google Shing Custom Knives he makes some beautiful UK friendly knives

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

@@Tony-ze1mg That he does! just looked at his instagram! They look great!

[@Tony-ze1mg]

Yea mate he makes some cracking knives he’s a nice bloke too deal with as well

[@rachael5177]

It’s a nice knife but I would expect a better finish for a custom, I would send it back I hate blade play no matter how small and the mis-aligned blade and back spring would bug the hell out of me

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

I actually may have just fixed it! Check my Insta, but you're right, shouldn't have had it in the first place!

[@paulf2529]

The thing is, I own a few very old knives, my day to day carry is a very well-used George butler lambs foot with a horn scaled handle. The centring is exact, the spring tight and no blade play, 80 years of daily use. On a new knife, I can put up with the need to give it an initial sharpen, possibly forgive a slight discrepancy in handle polishing depending on price point, but the basics should be right.

[@chimpaflimp]

I can accept a bit of wonkiness on something like an Arthur Wright or a Joseph Rodgers that costs a fifth to a quarter of what this does, but at that price point that kind of blade play is pretty unacceptable. It'd be better if May got rid of the turquoise and spent more time making sure it was structurally more sound. I have two Arthur Wrights and a Rodgers and they're a bit squiffy in places, but the blade's absolutely rock solid, even if the steel itself's not great.

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

sorry congrats on 300 subs how did that happen.lol.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

wait what? Oh damn! Cheers!

[@slick_slicers]

A tad disappointing. I’m still looking forward to getting mine, but I hope they’re better than these.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

I hope for you too friend, perhaps Mike had an off day?

[@pmwheatley]

I'd say it's unacceptable. If he can't get it right, maybe he needs to spend more time and increase his prices appropriately. Maybe he needs to do a little less strictly by hand. If you can see that it's not centered, certainly he saw it before sending it to you.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

A fair point well made, turns out, the bolsters needed to be clamped more, the knife is fine now, there's a link to it in the description but you're correct, that May didn't see and sort that at the shop is quite lacking.

[@robertkirk4387]

Does he know about this issue? and what if anything has he done about it as I WAS about to order one but not anymore, I am not in the mood to play Hobson's choice with £90. I have had the same issue with Taylors eye witness in the past and this is exactly why the little mesters went out of business, even the Chinese are getting it right, this is not acceptable at any price, how can we be expected to buy British when it's crap. so angry.

[@UKLegalCarryKnives]

To my shame, I didn't contact him about it so he didn't get the chance to make it right, not an excuse for how this arrived but I wish I'd handled it more elegantly and reached out, even if he ignored me I would have been able to pass that on to viewers, lesson learned. Slick slicers has since bought many and has not appeared to have any issue, he's a better metric for traditional style than myself and will have more examples to show.