BEAR & SON 2281R Two-Blade Barlow Pocket Knife – Traditional Manual Folding EDC, High-Carbon Stainless Hollow-Ground Edge Master & Pen Blades, Nickel Silver Bolsters, USA Made – Rosewood Handle

Arrived on time. This is a good looking pocket knife. Quality exceeds price point. For a USA made knife, this is a bargain.

So when I saw this knife offered I got really excited. The Barlow is the quintessential working man's knife. It came into being in the 1700s. I wanted a true to form Barlow knife reminiscent of the originals, the same spirit. There are so many cheap Chinese imports which I didn't want. As for Bear and Son I'd heard mixed reviews on their knives, some inconsistent QC and the like. However, they are a US based company and I gave them a shot. I am an avid knife collector, from Victorinox to Reeve and Hinderer customs. I know knives and I was blown away. The knife is very well made with no blade play and good snap on both blades. No gaps or obvious flaws. The rosewood is smooth and fits well. It should be noted that a true Barlow is a working knife so it doesn't have that Case polished collector's feel on it like a stockman with true sharp. That being said, it is pretty in the utilitarian context (as it shouldbe). It feels genuine. Like it wouldn't be out of place in a soldier's pocket at Gettysburg. It's perfect for what I wanted, a quality knife at a great price, made in the USA. Some may have gotten lemons and I can't speak to that, but will say the quality fit and finish are spot on with my knife. And it's NOT from China!! Great job Bear and Son, I'll be back for more. Thanks for reading Best wishes

I love the way this knife looks, and it's sized about like a paring knife when open. It takes and holds a good edge. The back of the large blade on mine is squared really nicely so it's a passable striker for a firesteel. The smaller blade is great for whittling, and there's a bit of a flare at the bottom of the handle that makes it very comfortable to use. Out of the box, the slipjoint spring is VERY tight. It took some oil and some working it to get it to loosen up. It needs to be washed after every time I cut fruit because if I don't it'll break my thumbnail next time I try to open it. If you use your knife for food frequently, maybe think about another knife... This one seems highly sensitive to food gunk.

It came razor sharp out of the box. Fits nicely in your pocket and rides deep. The weight is just right, neither too heavy nor too light. It has a 2 and 5/8 inch master clip point blade and a slightly smaller pen blade. It is made of 440 steel so it will be pretty stain resistant yet will be able to take and maintain a good edge like other high carbon steels making it a long lasting and durable product. The fit and finish is pretty good, but the bolsters, springs, and pins could be a little more flush. No edge is sharp on them, but you can feel it catch on a fingernail. There are no visible gaps and the blades are good and centered. The rosewood looks great. To top it all off it is American made and half the price of comparable American made knives. I'll honestly be looking to pick up more knife patterns from Bear and Sons after seeing the quality of this knife. You just can't beat this knife at this price point. I suppose you could collect it, but I will definitely be using this as an everyday carry.

Having owned a couple of other Bear & Son knives I purchased this without any hesitation because the other knives are superbly crafted and sharp as a razor. I don’t know what happened with this one it’s like they didn’t even bother to put the blades on the grinder. The slip joint are gritty and rough. The Rosewood does look beautiful but I will not be carrying this and would not recommend this to anybody else.

I am a Pocketknife reviewer, this is a great knife. USA made Barlow.

The knife itself is good looking, well made and seems nice enough. But for this price it ought to be sharp when it arrives. A $10 knife from a big box store is sharp. But like others have said, this knife was unsharpened when it arrived. I don't understand why the seller doesn't have someone spend 10 minutes sharpening a knife instead of sending a dull knife out and expecting the customer to do the job.

I am totally pleased with this knife. It walks, it talks and sliced through paper right out of the box! It's American made and the price is right! The blades are tight, they open easily and they are well centered. The Barlow design is a classic over 300 hundred years old! You can't go wrong with a pocket knife George Washington carried!