Is This York Barbell Worth $25?

[Ben Shugart]

Straight as an arrow. A bit of rust here and there. Sleeves turn on the bar smoothly, but don't spin freely for any length of time. IMG_1916.jpgIMG_1915.jpg

Thanks,
Ben Shugart

[Mark Rippetoe]

Sure. Buy it.

[Matt Reynolds]

Straight as an arrow. A bit of rust here and there. Sleeves turn on the bar smoothly, but don't spin freely for any length of time. IMG_1916.jpgIMG_1915.jpg

Thanks,
Ben Shugart

Ben. I'll pay you $100 for this barbell. Quadruple your money. Email me if interested. I just love these old York split sleeve barbells.

[Ben Shugart]

Thanks, Matt. I appreciate the offer, but I think I'm gonna hang onto it. You clearly have a trained eye, so I'd love some education if you're willing...how do you identify an old split sleeve bar that is worth keeping from a crap bar (assuming both are straight). Next question: have you ever put any effort/time into restoring one of these?

[Nick Delgadillo]

I don't think that's an old York bar. It's one of their current 30mm ones. The sleeve is not split. Possibly this one: YORK 7′ International Black Oxide Bar - 30mm - York Barbell

Matches the number stamped on the end of the sleeve.

[Ben Shugart]

Thank you, Nick. I just finished doing more internet searching on my own and came to the same conclusion; however, the one thing about my bar that is different from the one listed is that mine has center knurling. I wonder if York ever manufactured this bar with a center knurl. I suppose it's also possible that someone pieced this one together from different bars.

[Mark Rippetoe]

If you look closely, this is not a split sleeve. It's a score mark in a solid sleeve. Why, I have no idea.

[Matt Reynolds]

If you look closely, this is not a split sleeve. It's a score mark in a solid sleeve. Why, I have no idea.

Ah. Good catch!

[Ben Shugart]

Mark, Matt, Nick: Thanks for the info. If nothing else, I got a workable bar at a good price (and some education).