The Barlow Pocketknife

 

  From the farm to the field this is probably the one of the most iconic (and my favorite) pocketknife patterns to have been carried through history. Even making its name into a song and literature most notably Mark Twains Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Hucklberry Finn.

  “There was empty dry-goods boxes under the awnings, and loafers roosting on them all day long, whittling them with their Barlow knives; and chawing tobacco, and gaping and yawning and stretching - a mighty ornery lot.”

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  The pattern is recognized by a heavy bolster and slight tear drop handle, the heavy bolster adds to its strength and was designed to be an affordable knife built hardy enough for everyday tasks.

  The design first appeared in the late 17th century in England and attributes it’s name to its original designer. In the 19th century the John Russel Company started marketing their own version in this country.

  There was a time in this country when a man woke in the morning and along with his wristwatch, handkerchief and wallet would slip his favorite knife into his pocket to be ready for whatever came his way during the day.

Times have changed.

Stay Safe

Bob

History Around Us: Fort Loudoun revisited The Black Boys Rebellion

  The fort itself was built around December 22nd 1756 as a British supply outpost and was described by by Rev. Thomas Barton who was General Forbes chaplain. "...The fort is a poor piece of work,irregularly built & badley situated at the bottom of a hill subject to damps & noxious vapors..." (Fort Loudon on the Frontier by Gary Hawbaker) 

 November 16th 1765 a little know event occurred on the Pennsylvania frontier at a remote outpost just below Parnell’s knob along Conocochegue Creek. 

  The Western tribes (Shawnee and Delaware) would cross the mountains on a frequent basis conducting raids and killing the inhabitants of the fledgling settlements instilling fear and terror in the local population... and anger!!

  On March 21rst 1765 it was reported in the Pennsylvania Journal “...Sometime ago Capt.Calender employed several waggons to carry Indian goods to Mr. Pollan’s (Possibly Pawlings Tavern)in Conogochieg, to be carried thence by packhorses to Fort Pitt. Unhappily the head came out of one of the barrels which was full of scalping knives.....The news of this alarmed the upper end of the county, and the neighboring parts of Maryland and Virginia...”(The Black Boys Uprising of 1765 by Dan Guzy)

  In the spring of 1765 the king issued a proclamation prohibiting from anyone trading with the Indians. 

Around March 1765 eighty one pack horses arrived in present day Mercersburg and the report was not only trading supplies but scalping knive,ammunition and other implements that could’ve used against the settlers.

Some fifty armed citizens met them and implored them them not to continue but the traders made game of what they said and continued. 

   James Smith along with around ten of his Black Boys headed for Sideling Hill to intercept and stop the supplies, out of eighty one loads sixty three were destroyed, 

   After several members of the Black Boys were captured and some guns confiscated it culminated in a standoff where the armed settlers procured thier comrades back from the British but not the guns.

  Hence on November 16th 1765 James Smith and the Black Boys surrounded the fort and fired upon it as a show of force but were not trying to inflict any casualties amongst the British.

  The guns were returned and the fort abandoned to the settlers, the British left and went further west to Fort Pitt.James Smith and the Black Boys 

 

Stay Safe

Bob

Fatwood Sources from Stumps

Made it to the woods today to finish what I wanted to write about sourcing your own supply of fatwood. If you havn't already, you can find some detail in my previous thoughts on fatwood from branches and trunks https://backcreekbushcraft.blogspot.com/2020/11/fat-wood-revisited.html

Some examples of some sumps I located in my area

  

Not having an ax along in my kit as it was a short outing I used my Izula to cleave a peice off the stump. While I don’t recommend beating on your knife this way I was using moderate hits and worked my way down the ridge sticking out.

After pulling the section free I was able to shine my light through a quarter inch of it where it was highly saturated with terpenes.

Now the test

Remember the old adage pencil lead, pencil and thumbs when gathering your kindling to progressively add to get your fire going.

Stay safe

Bob

Fat Wood Revisited

    

   A recent online conversation on the topic of fat wood and bush crafting in general has brought me back to blogging and hopefully helping people identify and harvest their own but first a description.

  Typically fat wood is produced when the sap settles in cut stumps, roots and branch junctions after a tree dies some unnatural death with the root system still producing sap . The lighter volatile fractions(my conjecture) evaporate over time along with moisture and leave behind the Terpene rich resin impregnated wood which is highly flammable when shaved off.  This process could take upwards of a decade or more to happen.

  For the longest time I had trouble finding sources or identifying fat wood not knowing what to look for(expecting to find entire stumps like down south with the Long Leaf)so I hope this helps.

 Location is important, first you need to find an area where pines are are growing or where they have grown. Once you identify your source a pine sol smell of the shavings will confirm it. Old cedar to me looks almost identical either but you will not have the turpentine/pine sol smell and will not yield any.

One of the easiest sources to find get it from at least in my location in South Central Pa. is old downed trunks at the branch junctions.   

Once you think you have found a suitable downed pine start by checking by making a cut along the base of a branch. It should feel waxy and have a strong turpentine oder.

Use whatever cutting implement you have(in this case an ancient Gerber saw) and cut the branch as close to the trunk as possible.

Split it down with an ax or batoning with your knife and there you go, one of the best backwoods fire starters you can carry along with you.

Have fun finding your own source, Soon I hope to do one on using fatwood and fire steel use to start your fires.

Stay safe!

Bob