Bolsters versus no bolster

A

arty

Joined
Oct 18, 2003
Messages
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I am curious about this. Traditional knives are made with bolsters, and some Spyderco models come with or without bolsters. If we ignore the scale
material on the version with a bolster (like the Delica), would you expect one form of the knife to be "stronger" than the other version?
I suspect that this is model specific, and some strong knives suitable for relatively heavy use come without bolsters.
Is the addition of the bolster worth the increase in weight? Some other manufacturers have identical models with or without the bolster and identical
scales, and so this is a pretty general question.
 
The bolsters protect the bone and other materials often used on tradional knives, and are also for looks.

It does not make the knife one bit stronger(unless your having to protect bone, pearl, or materials that can break if dropped)
If fact Tony Bose said a slip joint without bolsters(a shadow pattern) was stronger than one with bolsters.
 
Ken44 said:
The bolsters protect the bone and other materials often used on tradional knives, and are also for looks.

It does not make the knife one bit stronger(unless your having to protect bone, pearl, or materials that can break if dropped)
If fact Tony Bose said a slip joint without bolsters(a shadow pattern) was stronger than one with bolsters.
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^^^This.
 
I would say that bolsters made of stainless/titanium or nickel silver/brass would make for a stronger pivot area than lesser materials because of the stresses in this area.
 
Bolsters aren't really necessary with modern materials and modern manufacturing methods. They're more aesthetic than anything on modern knives. They still serve a purpose with knives with natural materials like bone or wood or nacre (mother of pearl, abalone, etc). Besides protecting from drops as Ken44 said, side-to-side flexing at the joint could easily crack natural handles. But if it was a shadow pattern traditional knife in G10 or micarta, or a modern knife like the UKPK or a Strider or something, you're better off with a single, one piece slab of material (with or without a metal liner) than a multi-piece assembly.
 
I cannot add anything about bolsters, to what was said above, except that I love them.
 
bh49 said:
I cannot add anything about bolsters, to what was said above, except that I love them.
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Me too Roman. :) Seriously hoping this one makes it to production...

bolstered_stretch_04wp.jpg
 
ibute21 said:
This ^ I love bolsters. Pity not too many (mainly modern) knives I like have them.
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+1
Still I have about 30 bolstered Spydies: Persians, Kopas, Navaja, M-Dyads, Damascus Delicas. Will buy more :). I think that Caly3.5 with bolsters will look fantastic

The Deacon said:
Me too Roman. :) Seriously hoping this one makes it to production...

bolstered_stretch_04wp.jpg
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Paul,
I would take even limited run. I need just one. :)
 
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