Anybody else not like the fake “bolsters” on flipper knives?

K

KVT

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Feb 17, 2019
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I gotta get this out. I cannot stand the fake bolster look on modern flipper knives.

I know the designers want to break up the slab-side look of a modern Ti folder or whatever, but I just won’t buy and can’t stand the look.

Give me a smooth, slab-side Ti, Micarta etc XM-18 or WE / CIVIVI etc all day.

There’s other, better ways to bring variety to scales than making fake bolsters.
 
It depends. I'm okay with using a different material as a faux bolster, such as on the Civivi Appalachian Drifter 2. However, cutting a line to imply a bolster looks dumb to me. The Civivi Imperium is probably the worst offender. The texture change helps on some of the simpler Dogma models but not by enough.

Appalachian Drifter 2 (mine)

V75VS1T.jpg



Imperium (KnifeCenter)

CIVC2107DS1_1.jpg



Dogma (KnifeCenter)
CIVC2005A_1.jpg
 
Nope, nope, nope.
As bad as it is on flippers, it's worse on fixed blades...no matter what fancy name is used (started with a G...). The fan boys love 'em, I hate 'em
 
I personally don’t love the look of faux bolsters. My Dad always said, “Do it right, or don’t do it at all.”
Just my opinion, to each their own. 😁
 
I like them on modernized Barlows or other updated traditional knives. Otherwise, no.
 
What's a fake bolster?
I assume bolsters are mostly for balance, and looks?
At least on a fixed blade
 
KVT said:
I gotta get this out. I cannot stand the fake bolster look on modern flipper knives.

I know the designers want to break up the slab-side look of a modern Ti folder or whatever, but I just won’t buy and can’t stand the look.

Give me a smooth, slab-side Ti, Micarta etc XM-18 or WE / CIVIVI etc all day.

There’s other, better ways to bring variety to scales than making fake bolsters.
Click to expand...
I don't like them either. Some exceptions though, like the BM Crooked River (I know, not ti and not a flipper). It sort of has a traditional 110 look to it so I think it goes.

Chronovore said:
It depends. I'm okay with using a different material as a faux bolster, such as on the Civivi Appalachian Drifter 2.

Appalachian Drifter 2 (mine)

V75VS1T.jpg
Click to expand...
That looks terrible, IMO of course.

Random Dan said:
Hard disagree. I love the bolsters Pena uses.

50646418931_1e7ded5975_b.jpg


52393933230_91e27ba1d0_b.jpg


52310223353_47bfb5c422_b.jpg


51946986707_a572c2af7c_b.jpg
Click to expand...
I would not consider those modern ti flippers. Bolsters on traditionals is where they belong IMO.
 
So a bolster knife can be fixed blade or folding? On a folding knife, is it a decorative thing or does it add strength? Trying to learn, I do like the look of it.
 
Chronovore said:
It depends. I'm okay with using a different material as a faux bolster, such as on the Civivi Appalachian Drifter 2. However, cutting a line to imply a bolster looks dumb to me. The Civivi Imperium is probably the worst offender. The texture change helps on some of the simpler Dogma models but not by enough.

Appalachian Drifter 2 (mine)

V75VS1T.jpg



Imperium (KnifeCenter)

CIVC2107DS1_1.jpg



Dogma (KnifeCenter)
CIVC2005A_1.jpg
Click to expand...
I had the Appalachian drifter 2. I think if the "faux" bolster were metal and not CF I would have liked it better. I also couldn't get it to flip worth a damn, so I returned it.

CF and light colored micarta was garish in person. I think it was just that it was a stark contrast in not only color, but design and texture.

The fake bolsters  can look nice, but often not IMO.
 
K.O.D. said:
I had the Appalachian drifter 2. I think if the "faux" bolster were metal and not CF I would have liked it better. I also couldn't get it to flip worth a damn, so I returned it.

CF and light colored micarta was garish in person. I think it was just that it was a stark contrast in not only color, but design and texture.

The fake bolsters  can look nice, but often not IMO.
Click to expand...

The action on mine was okay out of the box. It improved after a casual clean, lube, and tune. Now it's one of my better top flippers. I didn't try Skiff bearings. I think it was a smaller size than usual, like the Civivi Bo.

I agree about the color difference. This one will be getting a dye job at some point.

I decided to give Artisan/CJRB another chance, specifically to check out their button lock. It has some kind of metal bolster and I'm curious to see if it is structurally relevant or not. After it shows up and I get it apart, I'll post a pic.
 
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