Note: Not a Vine Voice related review. Keeping in mind that this knife is not the only Chinese version of the Barlow knife out there, it has a few features that make it work well for many purposes. The working parts are all stainless steel, including the bolsters, liners, blades, blade pivot pin and springs. The handle pins are brass and the handle scales are tapered wood (wider at the end than near the bolster). When I carve, my hands tend to get sweaty and plain unpolished wood is less slick than plastic or laminated wood. The handle has a brass lined lanyard hole. When closed, the ends of the blades are sunk below the bolsters (if you carve for any length of time this is a plus, since many makers leave the ends of the closed blade well above the handle to dig into your hand and cause blisters). The stainless liners are thicker than most of the other Chinese versions of this pattern. The blade pivot pin is stainless steel of a larger diameter than most versions of this design. Both of these details make for a sturdy knife. The blades come fairly sharp but will need to be honed for carving. The longer blade is good for roughing out a piece, while the small blade works well for details. The springs on my particular knife were good and the blades had no play. I would have the longer blade made a bit thicker, for greater comfort in resting the thumb on the spine, but for under ten bucks it makes a good knock around carver. The one I received has reddish brown wood, my friend ordered one and it has blonde wood handle scales. Update 2017: I have used this knife for three years now, and it still functions very well, just as it did when new. I have given several as gifts, and all have been great users. The model number for this knife is 210601. I have seen one of the Pakistan made knock offs, and they should indeed be avoided, as other reviewers have pointed out. Update 8/1/19: After four and a half years of daily work, one of the backsprings snapped on my little EDC Barlow. I am impressed that it made it so long, getting used nearly every day in some way. Update 2/10/21 Second knife has made it for a year and a half of daily use, so far without issues. Update 9/6/22 Second knife now on its third year, discovered the blades hold up to box cutting the recycling longer than I would have thought. It works better than most thicker bladed knives for this, which was a pleasant surprise. Update 12/7/22 Purchased a few for stocking stuffers again this year, I notice that profile the small blade has been modified to be a bit wider and is more of a Wharncliffe shape than a pen blade, the top curving down to a straight edge. Both are improvements for carving details.
