Up for discussion for this weeks TOTW is Barlow Knife, which in my opinion has one of the most beautiful melodies. I never get tired of playing the "A" part especially.
Chances are most of you know the song already and play it on a regular basis. Before joining the Hangout a little over a year ago, I had never heard of the song and also did not know what a Barlow Knife was.
What is a barlow knife? In case you didn't know, here's a brief history on the knife itself from http://www.barlow-knives.com/history.htm
A barlow style knife has one or two blades, a huge metal bolster, and a comfortable tear-drop shaped handle. The blade or blades are attached at the small end of the handle. Even though the first barlow knife was made in Sheffield England in the 1600's, it was made by several American shops soon after, and has become just as American as "apple pie". George Washington was known to have a barlow knife. Mark Twain referred to a "real Barlow" in his Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in 1876. Barlows have long been gifts, treasured by young American boys.
Do yourself a favor and check out this article. It's taken from "Popular Science" magazine in December 1920 where they had an ad for a barlow knife. Really neat story. http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/03/every-boy-around-practically-carried.html
As far as the song Barlow Knife, it seems to be traditionally played out of the key of G although I did find one on the hangout in the key of C.
I have attached my take on Barlow Knife that I recorded a few months ago. It includes clawhammer banjo and a Larrivee parlor guitar that is "high-strung."
From the fiddler's companion:
Glen Lyn, Virginia, fiddler Henry Reed called the tune “Cabin Creek,” and fiddle players have tended to use that title (banjo players more frequently refer to it as “Barlow Knife”). Jeff Titon (2001) says a variant of the tune is “I’ve Got a Grandpa,” and Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas played another variant under the title “Blue Goose.” Mark Wilson reports that it was called “Boatin’ Up Sandy” (somewhat of a floating title—it has been attached to several tunes) in the Portsmouth, Ohio, region. Titon concludes that the tune was fairly widespread in the South under the “Barlow” title and variants.
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Nigel Gatherer has found melodic strains similar to “Barlow Knife” in two old Scottish manuscripts. The earliest, the Straloch MS. (1627) contains a tune called “The Old Man,” while the second, the Skene MS (c. 1640) has a more developed version under the title “Long Er Onie Old Man.”
Here are a few versions that I enjoy:
Fuzzy Mountain String Band -
blanham's version from Miles Krassen's book
Don Borchelt from Clifftop 2009
Here is some sheet music if you like that kind of thing 
Finally, here are some lyrics:
I been livin' here all my life,
All I got is a Barlow Knife;
Buck horn handle and a Barlow blade,
Best dang knife that ever was made.
***
I’ve been married all my life,
And all I’ve got is a Barlow knife.
Looking forward to hearing some more versions posted on the Hangout this week. Record something and share it with us!!!