Antique Russell 1880s Arrow Logo 2 Blade Barlow Ebony Wood Jack Pocket Knife For Sale

An exceptionally scarce, historical piece of 19th-century American pocket cutlery history is available: an original antique John Russell Cutlery Company 2-blade Barlow pocket knife, manufactured at the legendary Green River works in Turners Falls, Massachusetts between the 1880s and the 1920s. As the pioneer of the original American Barlow design, this heavy frame features the iconic elongated steel bolster cap spanning over one-third of the handle length, deeply struck with the factory arrow passing through the letter R trademark logo. The blade tangs carry clear factory-authentic RUSSELL and R.C. CO. stamp markings. The knife is built on a standard 3-1/2 inch Barlow configuration featuring traditional steel liners, flush steel handle pins, and iron backsprings. Both carbon steel blades fold cleanly out of the single bolstered pivot end. The handle scales are crafted from original genuine smooth black ebony wood which remains in solid shape. The versatile utility toolkit carries its original dual carbon steel configuration containing a full-profile master spear point blade equipped with a lower nail nick alongside a secondary pen blade. This is a premier opportunity for advanced collectors of early Green River Russell Barlow hardware variants.

Condition Notes

This antique pocket knife is in solid, highly functional original condition exactly as pictured. A major highlight is the internal mechanics; the carbon steel backsprings retain a highly aggressive, powerful walk-and-talk action with an excellent opening and closing spring snap across both tools and zero side-to-side blade wobble. The original carbon steel blades show an honest aged gray patina, uniform storage tarnish, and typical deep surface carbon pitting spots from a century of ownership, while retaining excellent full profiles. The genuine ebony wood handle scales are in great structural shape with no large chunks missing. Please review all high-resolution macro photos to closely verify dimensions, tool structures, and exact stamp configurations before purchasing. Thank you for looking.