Bolster question...

G

ggoose

Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Messages
139
Hello All,

For those of you who put bolsters on your knives, is it critical (or even desirable or a consideration) to make the knife, bolsters, and pins out of the same material? I have only seen pins in certain metals so this would seem to limit the potential steels. I see that many do use brass, so that partially answers my question, but what about a 1095 knife and bolsters (full tang) and stainless steel pins...eventually wouldn't the pins differentiate themselves as the bolsters/tang oxidized, even a little? I apologize if I am overthinking this, but I wanted to give this a try without reinventing the wheel.

As ever, thank you in advance...

gene
 
I think you're getting the picture. There isn't a big selection, and you should use the same material for bolsters and pins.

The traditional choices of metal for hardware are 303-416 stainless, sterling silver or brass.

Most knife supply distributors carry fitting metals.
 
I have seen some designs where the pins were set to contrast with the bolster. They need to be well positioned and perfectly set to meld with the design. I have no idea about other considerations (ie the galvanic response of dissimilar metals). It is impossible to see, with the naked eye, the brass pins that I set, correctly, in a brass guard.
 
Thanks Bo T...I was curious about the reaction of dissimilar metals (as well as differential rates of oxidation), but I am no chemist; hadn't thought about making the contrast part of the esthetic though. That could look good if, as you say, it's done correctly.
 
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