Even if you’ve never heard its name, you’ve seen a Barlow knife. Originally devised in 17th century England, the folder took off in the US when the John Russell Manufacturing Company began producing them a century later. Today, it’s considered an American classic.
The original EDC knife
Unlike more intricate knives, the Barlow aimed for simplicity, utility and affordability — it was supposed to be the type of knife a working person could afford and carry, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
“It was sort of like the first everyday carry knife,” says The James Brand founder Ryan Coulter.
Coulter should know: The James Brand’s Wayland knife is modern interpretation of a Barlow. The example follows the pattern’s clearly defined characteristics — center-line symmetry that runs through the pivot, a rounded butt and long, well-defined bolster.
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The James Brand The Wayland
But there are contemporary changes that bring it into the modern era. While most (but not all) Barlow knives have a clip-point blade, the Wayland has a sheepsfoot, a shape that doesn’t have as much of a piercing point.
