Roger, I guess you never read Tom Sawyer. First time I heard of the Barlow was when Tom was given one as a reward for learning the Sermon on the Mount. He was given a "sure 'nough Barlow," and, if I remember correctly, "there was ineffable grandeur in that."

That stuck with me over the years, and when I was visiting my sister up in Freeport, Maine, I visited the L.L. Bean store and actually found a Barlow knife for sale. I bought it, of course; and I don't know whether it's the best old knife that ever was made, but it's a wicked good one.