Genuine Barlow?

[Pollaco]

The incident between Gen.
Forrest + Lt.. Gould involving the pocket knife. Was it a "Genuwine Barlow" that the General was picking his teeth with?

 

[Lanyard Puller]

History
What is a Barlow Knife?
The term "Barlow" has two meanings when it comes to pocketknives. First, it is a style of pocket knife. Second, there was the Barlow company in the USA that made and imported pocket knives, key tags, money clips, and other quality gift products, and put your logo on them. If you are looking for either of these two "Barlow" destinations, you have come to the right place.

http://barlow-knives.com/history.htm

courtesy of google search....

 

[Pollaco]

I've heard the generals knife referred to as a pen knife and than again as a Barlow. I'm guessing the style of the knife.

 

[Pollaco]

Heard these were very popular during the war. Was it Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn that called it a "sure enuf barlow"?

 

[zburkett]

Barlow is a style of knife while any small, folding pocket knife might be called a pen knife. A "sure enuf Barlow" is a Barlow made by J. Russell & Co. I don't know what pocket knife Forrest carried but since he is reported to have killed an assailant with it, it probably had some size to it.

 

[Pollaco]

I've heard Barlows were very popular with the troops. However the writer didn't specify which troops. So I'm assuming both. It was a popular item in the South, or so I hear

 

[zburkett]

The Barlow is a very old design. It was a popular working man's knife in England long before they were made in America. It is likely that most Civil War Barlows were English imports. They were carried by both sides. BTW the "Barlow" company is a 20th century company so has nothing to do with the Civil War.

 

[mofederal]

I like the older Barlows. I used to carry one from the 50's, and have some back into the 1930's. The vintage ones are made in the USA, the new ones used to be made in Pakistan. I haven't looked at one in awhile.

 

[johan_steele]

Period knives... all styles of pocket knife predate the ACW. As a note a 3" blade is more than enough to kill if stuck or sliced in the right place.

 

[zburkett]

The distinguishing feature of a Barlow is the bolster goes 1/3rd of the length of a tear shaped handle.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

The incident between Gen.
Forrest + Lt.. Gould involving the pocket knife. Was it a "Genuwine Barlow" that the General was picking his teeth with?

I doubt this question can ever be answered.

However, the info about the Barlow style pocket knife is correct.
While a Barlow can be classified as a pen knife, not all pen knifes are Barlows.

As has been said, "Barlow" is a specific design.

A "pen knife" is a generic term for many small gentleman's folders (aka pocket knives) that were
carried as tool to sharpen a quill. The 'pen' or writing instrument during an earlier era.