Bolster Removal

[P. McKinley]

A client has sent me two camp-kitchen knife blades for which he wants handles and "sheaths" made. I have been given "free reign" on design and materials. To my surprise, both knives arrived with bolsters attached, ground and polished.

While the bolsters wouldn't look to bad if done well, they are not in keeping with the design I had in mind for this project. Additionally, the front faces of these bolsters are quite sloppy with deep scratches and discoloration on both sets. To me, they look to be just soldered on without the use of pins.

I've never been faced with having to remove bolsters from a finished blade and I'm a bit apprehensive about tackling this without a bit of advice.

So.... how would this be done without over-heating(through grinding) or damaging these blades.

Thanks for the help.
Here the pics:

 

[J. Doyle]

I'd saw them off from the back with a bandsaw. You could go almost all the way through to the front then pop them off. You might be surprised and they might be pinned too.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

From the tang discoloration, my guess is they are spot welded or induction welded.
Sawing them off, and finishing them down with a belt sander would be my method.