This unusual item easily starts a conversation. Be confidently and urbanely equipped for any impromptu dining experience with the Real Steel Barlow and its stealthy stowaway fork. The dimensions and proportions of the trim little pocket knife itself are sensible for every day carry, the blade on my example is well centred, and all potentially sharp corners and edges have been thoughtfully smoothed, with the exception of the pristine edge of the perfectly symmetrical blade and its tip. The spine of the blade is substantial, considering the overall light weight, and lends to an impression of capability and strength in a fairly compact package. The pocket clip is reassuringly firm and secure. I’ve only tried it in a shirt pocket, where it simply wasn’t noticed as I went through the day. I would personally not clip it onto thick fabric or a belt. My Byrd Tern suffered a loosened pocket clip after much time spent carrying it inside my trousers waistband, in what is sometimes referred to as the appendix carry. Careful use of needle nose pliers corrected matters. Of course the bolsters are really one piece with the polymer scales of this Barlow, yet despite the lack of the characteristic weight of long metal bolsters the typical Barlow design embodies, this pocket tool still seems sturdy and willing. And in an advancement from the tried and true legacy of the historical Barlow lineage, the Real Steel model can easily be disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, reassembled, and suitably lubricated in a way that is impossible with the basic traditional design. Judicious use of Torx screws and a well - thought out approach has made this possible, and in my opinion, desirable. The essential form and functionality instantly seems familiar. In fact, I’m more reminded of the traits one would normally find on a traditional single bladed Doctor’s knife. I have an example of this in a Case Doctor’s knife, and while many pocket knives of the Doctor pattern feature a small secondary pen blade or else a functional narrow spatula, my Case as well as this Real Steel model possess simply one single blade. A Doctor’s pattern pocket knife, after all, was designed to halve tablets with firm precise pressure on the usually thick spine of the narrow knife blade, then crush the precise amount of medication with the reinforced base of the frame, and finally measure out the now powdered medication into a glass of water and administer it to the patient. A Doctor’s knife makes a fine slender gentleman’s folder. And I think that this Barlow would also qualify in this regard. The Real Steel Barlow, in this iteration, is like a shorter, chubbier sibling to the established Doctor pattern. With a clever trick up its sleeve. The slender, unobtrusive pocket clip removes with a deft pinch and pull to reveal a tiny but entirely serviceable fork! Alright, yes, the tip of the blade could easily convey morsels from plate to lips, but the cute factor of a hidden and elegant dining tool is simply off the charts! As one friend remarked, the pocket clip cum fork could easily serve as a tie clip. I had not thought of that, and was left with a renewed appreciation for the unending ingenuity and adaptability of human beings. You may be wondering, yes, very good, buy this and you will have a knife and a tiny fork, but what about a spoon? Well, actually, from previous experience with similarly hollow ground blades, a deep hollow grind makes for a surprisingly effective spoon of sorts, enough so that I would not hesitate to tuck into a bowl of soup or stew with this slim and trim Barlow. Don’t laugh. Try it sometime with a deep hollow ground blade, and see for yourself. Carefully at first, until the required techniques become familiar, and then… continue to be careful. Not a hollow ground straight razor! No, no, and, no! For the uninitiated, there is a chasm of difference between using and maintaining a pocket knife, and using and maintaining a razor! And never the twain shall meet. So by all means buy this wonderfully lightweight and well made pocket folder, rejoice in its novelty and usefulness, and like me, say thanks so much to HH for yet another inspiring purchase. Cheers!
