I grew up rummaging through my grandfather’s relics. I was constantly looking in the nooks and crannies where he may have tucked away a treasure. Being a curious little boy growing up watching MacGyver, Indiana Jones, and Rambo, I eventually found a knife. I didn’t know it then, but it marked a watershed moment that shaped me.
I would find other knives of his, but one of the first was an old jack knife. Over the years, I’ve become a devout fan of locking pocket knives that deploy quickly with one hand. But I will always have a place in my heart for the past, including those slow, two-hand-opening, slip joint jack knives.
Late last year, Case began reviving the iconic slip joint Barlow knife it first produced in the early 1900s. Known for its tapering shape and clip-point–style blades, the Barlow never really went away. But the introduction of the Case XR Barlow produced several very noteworthy updates: S35VN steel, Richlite handle scales, and G10 bolsters.
In short: By upgrading the frame, handle, and blade materials, Case took a 100-year-old knife and made it enough to last another century. The XR Barlow bakes modern knife materials and knowledge into a form that has been revered for generations.
- OAL: 5.8"
- Blade length: 2.5"
- Blade steel: S35VN
- Blade shape: Clip point
- Grind: Flat
- Hardness: 58-60
- Lock type: Slip joint
- Opening type: Nail nick
- Carry: Pocket
- Weight: 1.3 oz.
- Price: $100
Pros
- Excellent materials: S35VN, G10, and Richlite
- Minimal size and weight
- Slipjoint lock up is incredible
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than some more modern designs
Case Crossroads XR Barlow Knife Review
Design and Features
The Case XR Barlow is a two-handed pocket knife made popular in the course of the last 100 years due to its utilitarian size and form and widespread availability. Made in Bradford, Penn., it is shaped like a tapering tongue depressor. This style of knife has the ability to tuck into your palm while providing precision control.
At 5.8 inches in total length, the Barlow XR was designed to be carried in the fifth pocket of your jeans or any other pocket you’ve got available to you. It has a stonewashed 2.5-inch S35VN clip point blade, great for piercing and detail work, with minimal maintenance required in all conditions.
For structure, the XR Barlow utilizes two solid pieces of G10 for its bolsters and frame. This keeps the knife light but strong. Keeping to using modern materials, Case chose Richlite for its handle scales. Richlite is a strong, abrasion-resistant material that provides a substantial grip whether your hands are wet or not.
This knife is a slow-going knife. It has a nail nick for convenient two-hand opening and relies on a detent-style, slip-joint lock to hold open. Not only does the lack of an actual mechanism keep the overall build of the Barlow XR simple, but it also allows it to be legal in more places around the world.
First Impressions
Having owned (through finding, gifting, or buying them myself) a variety of Barlow knives over the years, I was intrigued by the materials upgrade Case gave the XR Barlow. Why would someone need a premium jack knife? Also, why wouldn’t they? It’s 2026, we should be able to have our cake and eat it too.
S35VN has risen to the top as the best choice for knife steel, even over MagnaCut. This is due, in fact, to its corrosion resistance, toughness, and prolonged edge retention. Where MagnaCut is a well-balanced knife steel that everyone, including myself, loves, S35VN is premium, and that comes through in extended use. To see it on a knife that has historically relied on carbon steel is a real treat.
Additionally, the form and function of the black G10 bolsters/frame paired with the natural Richlite handles is visually appealing. This is only amplified when paired with the stonewashed blade and black hardware.
Overall, I love how light the knife is and how it can easily disappear in my pocket until I need it. I am not an ounce counter by any means, but sometimes it’s nice to have something small, premium, and precision floating around in the bottom of your pocket. It lives there until you’re ready to whittle something or carve an apple from the comfort of your rocking chair. Front porch and sunset optional.
In the Field
There’s a whole generation of people who walked this Earth from the early 1900s up until the 1980s (when locking mechanisms became popular) who relied on jack knives. In fact, it’s the only type of pocket knife most people carried, along with Swiss Army knives, for nearly a century. So, for me, this was more of an exercise in nostalgia and sentimental value than it was anything else.
Over the course of 2 months, I found the value in having this knife, with these upgraded materials, with me in a pinch. Yes, I carved a bunch of apples with it. I think that goes without saying.
I also whittled sticks while walking trails, cut open Christmas gifts, and enjoyed the fact that this little knife was with me when needed. It reminded me of my grandad. It reminded me of our old farm. It was also wicked reliable.
In the end, I am impressed with how well the Barlow XR adapted to tedious tasks. Its slip-joint lock-up is impressive, if not intimidating at first. Though it’s not too strong to be manageable, it’s probably the strongest detent on a knife blade I’ve ever experienced. This comes in handy if you get a little overeager in twisting and turning when carving.
I’ve seen what a weak slip joint can do to a finger when the blade lets loose and closes on it. Thankfully, fingernails grow back.
Conclusion: Who’s It For?
In a time in our lives where we’re constantly moving or looking for instant gratification, it’s nice to use a knife that requires us to slow down. Does a knife like the Barlow XR replace a larger folding knife with a reliable lock mechanism in the great outdoors? Probably not. But not all of us need a knife like that.
Some of us just want a knife to have on us at work or when something random pops up where a knife is needed. A two-handed knife like this is ripe for those situations.
I do think, at $100, the XR Barlow will get passed over for less-expensive folding knives with lock mechanisms. That’s logical. However, that doesn’t pigeon-hole this knife. This is a knife for everyone and anyone.
It’s for the guy at the cubicle farm who cracks jokes at the water cooler just as much as it is for the farmer out in their field. It’s for the person who likes to clean the dirt out from under their nails, or the teenager whose parents force them to break down cardboard boxes for recycling on a weekly basis.
For me, it’s a knife that keeps me grounded. It forces me to slow down and appreciate the time I have. The only thing I would change, and am considering doing myself, would be to include a lanyard hole for easier pocket retrieval. Until that time, I’ll focus my energy on thinking about how impressed my grandfather would be with all the things he could do with a knife made from these incredible modern materials.
