Bolster Discoloration?

5K Qs

5K Qs

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Jul 20, 2014
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It seems to me that the nickel silver bolsters on several of my traditional folders are changing from a bright silver color to a more muted yellowish gold. Am I just imagining things, or is this a common occurrence? And if it's real, is there a process to restore them to their original condition?

-GT
 
Common, a little Flitz will polish them back to the original finish. Nickel silver is 60% copper.
 
5K Qs said:
It seems to me that the nickel silver bolsters on several of my traditional folders are changing from a bright silver color to a more muted yellowish gold. Am I just imagining things, or is this a common occurrence? And if it's real, is there a process to restore them to their original condition?

-GT
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Flitz metal polish will do it - keep off any stag though - it will blacken it. I suppose the bolsters you are speaking of have a little higher nickel content.

Oops - I guess we posted about the same time JB.
 
Thanks for the prompt and helpful replies, JB and Primble. Although my eyes seem to be gradually failing me, it's good to know that at least this phenomenon isn't another symptom!

-GT
 
On a hot day my bolsters will look like this due to perspiration in the pocket. It brightens up by just sort of polishing it for a few seconds with the pad of your finger actually. It's a non-issue, it brightens up to normal, no worries. As said there's copper content in the nickel silver bolsters so it's a reaction to perspiration, but it's not permanent.
 
I actually like the color and will leave it in some cases. I have found that Renaissance Wax will induce this patina when applied to nickle silver.
 
Some 'nickel' bolsters are much yellower than others. I've noticed this on many German-made traditionals, like Hen & Rooster or Carl Schlieper (German Eye Brand) knives. I've also got a 'German Bull' (Solingen) branded stockman, in brand new condition in the box, and it's still-shiny bolsters have taken on a beautiful golden tone. I haven't had the will to polish it off.


David
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Some 'nickel' bolsters are much yellower than others. I've noticed this on many German-made traditionals, like Hen & Rooster or Carl Schlieper (German Eye Brand) knives. I've also got a 'German Bull' (Solingen) branded stockman, in brand new condition in the box, and it's still-shiny bolsters have taken on a beautiful golden tone. I haven't had the will to polish it off.


David
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This.
Polishing bolsters can be bad in my opinion because the nail can be a different hardness than the bolser resulting in a prominent or concave pin(nail).
 
navihawk said:
This.
Polishing bolsters can be bad in my opinion because the nail can be a different hardness than the bolser resulting in a prominent or concave pin(nail).
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I might agree with you, but, only if you were rubbing hard all the time on it - but - a light rub and polish off every now and then, I don't think would cause that, IMO. :)
 
Yes, I agree. I have a Bulldog knife that the bolsters have a shiney golden Hugh.
 
Most of my Nickel silver bolsters tend to discolorate. Not the stainless steel bolsters ;)

It doesn´t bother me in any way. It gives the knive an individual character, as well as scratches or wornout bone scales or patina on the blade.

I hope it is visible on my most carried knife

 
navihawk said:
This.
Polishing bolsters can be bad in my opinion because the nail can be a different hardness than the bolser resulting in a prominent or concave pin(nail).
Click to expand...

That's easy to fix, if it happens. Some wet/dry sandpaper in fairly fine grit (600-800+), and wrapped around a firm/hard block will file everything flush again. Then sand up through maybe 1000-2000+ grit and re-polish. The sandpaper in SiC or AlOx is WAY HARDER than either the pin or the bolster, so both are easily smoothed out to flush. The firmer or harder the block is for the paper, the cleaner it'll be.

Having said that, it'd take an awful lot of polishing with pastes to create a noticeable discrepancy in height between the two. An occasional polish with a soft rag and smudge of paste, maybe 2 or 3 times a year, wouldn't faze it at all. Nickel or brass polishes very easily, with little pressure or abrasive. I'd bet many knives that've been polished enough to see it, have likely been buffed with powered wheels, which obviously will take off a lot more metal, and faster.


David
 
Primble said:
I might agree with you, but, only if you were rubbing hard all the time on it - but - a light rub and polish off every now and then, I don't think would cause that, IMO. :)
Click to expand...

I agree. Taking it to a buffing wheel is the worst.
 
Thanks for all the advice, everybody! As usual around this subforum, I learned a lot more than I expected to. Lots of generosity around here, including generous sharing of information!

-GT
 
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