Allis Buckthorn Flat Ribbon Barbed Wire, 1881 Pattern
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An 1880s flat ribbon fence wire from the barbed wire boom
This is antique Allis Buckthorn barbed wire, a flat "ribbon" style fence wire. Instead of round wire with wrapped barbs, Buckthorn is a flat iron strip with points cut right into its edges, then twisted so the points face every direction. Thomas V. Allis of New York patented the design in 1881, and The Henry Ford museum dates its own example to 1881 through 1900.
Buckthorn came out at the height of the barbed wire boom. Patents for barbed fencing began in 1868, and Joseph Glidden's two-point wire followed in 1874. Within a few years hundreds of competing designs were on the market, and fencing like this helped close the open range across Texas and the West.
Collectors know Buckthorn as one of the ribbon wires. It was made in narrow, medium and wide versions, so the width of the strip is the first thing to check when matching a piece to a catalog.
Patent number and date from an eBay listing for an Allis Buckthorn sample. Inventor, date range and material from The Henry Ford's collection record. Barbed wire timeline from the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Narrow, medium and wide versions from At The Farm. The pattern match is made by sight from the owner's photos.
A rusty twisted flat strip with star-like points along its edges
This antique Allis Buckthorn ribbon barbed wire is a flat iron band, roughly finger width, twisted into a long loose spiral. Sharp triangular points stick out from the edges every few inches, and because the band twists, the points face up, down and sideways along the run. It looks more like a twisted ribbon with thorns than like ordinary barbed wire.
A flat, twisted, rusty metal strip with spikes on its edges, found on an old farm, is very likely one of the 1880s ribbon wires. Buckthorn is the best-known flat ribbon pattern with points cut from the strip itself.
- Strip: flat band, roughly finger width (not measured), with a slight raised ridge down the middle.
- Twist: the band is twisted along its whole length, so it reads as a loose spiral.
- Points: triangular points cut from both edges at intervals of a few inches. Some show two small tips, giving a star-like look.
- Color: dark brown (a rust brown), with patches of bright orange surface rust.
- This copy: one long length looped into a coil of several feet and held with a black zip tie. Cobwebs and dust on the surface.
- Condition: heavy, even rust with some flaking along parts of one run. The points are still sharp and intact.
(no marks)Barbed wire carries no maker's marks. Patterns are identified by shape, width and barb spacing.
- Buckthorn barbed wire
- Allis ribbon wire
- Buck Thorn flat ribbon wire
- Antique ribbon barbed wire
- 1881 Allis Buckthorn
Every listing we've found, ranked by delivered price
One live listing on eBay, checked October 2026. Collectors sell short samples as well as long lengths.
| Seller | Condition | Price | Shipping | Delivered | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay seller eBay | Allis Buckthorn flat ribbon sample, 13.5 inches | $39.50 | $9.50 | $49.00 | Live Seen Oct 2026 | View ↗ |
| Owner's copy | Rusted overall with some flaking. Points intact. One long coiled length. | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not for sale yet |
About Allis Buckthorn ribbon wire
How old is Allis Buckthorn barbed wire?
Thomas V. Allis patented it on July 26, 1881. The Henry Ford museum dates its example to 1881 through 1900, so a piece like this was most likely made in the 1880s or 1890s.
Who made Buckthorn wire?
It's credited to Thomas V. Allis of New York, who held the 1881 patent. Collectors call it Allis Buckthorn or Allis ribbon wire.
How do you know this is Buckthorn?
By shape. It's a flat strip with the points cut from its own edges and twisted along its length, which is how Buckthorn is built. Several other ribbon wires exist, so measure the strip width and the distance between points and compare them with a barbed wire reference to be sure.
Is it worth anything?
Yes. Collectors buy antique barbed wire by the pattern. One Buckthorn sample of 13.5 inches was listed on eBay for $39.50 plus $9.50 shipping in October 2026. Longer runs in good shape sell too.
Should I clean the rust off?
Most collectors leave old wire as found. Brushing off loose flakes is fine, but grinding or painting it lowers its appeal.