Brass bolsters on kitchen cutlery

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DukeHarley

Joined
Apr 11, 2014
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is there a reason I don’t see more metal bolsters on kitchen knives particularly brass? I personally don’t like the looks of brass myself but I have a customer considering brass bolsters. I was wondering why you don’t see more. Is corrosion or tarnishing an issue with brass? Just looking for some insight. Thanks guys!

Jay
 
i also have an order for brass buyer gets the combo thy want way i see it. its dirty to buff out but using a dark wood and a fine hand sand can help keep the wood clean
 
Some folks like brass - my wife LOVES brass...... then found copper and likes that better. Customer is always right........ most of time;)
 
DukeHarley said:
is there a reason I don’t see more metal bolsters on kitchen knives particularly brass? I personally don’t like the looks of brass myself but I have a customer considering brass bolsters. I was wondering why you don’t see more. Is corrosion or tarnishing an issue with brass? Just looking for some insight. Thanks guys!

Jay
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I would ask him again if he's sure he wants a bras.Many do not know the difference between brass and bronze ................
 
Honestly I think its a matter of style. Brass looks fine, but it seems to not be in fashion at the moment.

My background is in high end woodwork "Shocking I know" and I see it there too. One week you HAVE to have a bubinga conference table or you are a hack. The next week its about rustic barnwood (Side note, if they call it barnwood theres a 99& chance it came from pallets) Next week its ancent Kuri or redwood, and then hey, what do you know bubinga is back in style.

I think knifemaking has a slower fashion cycle, but I think brass is on a downswing these days.
 
Brass has never been particularly popular with knife manufacturers (except as folder liners.) Nickel silver was the preferred bolster material. There were thin brass guards on some hunters.
 
I like brass for smaller accents.
I do have an old self made kitchenknife with a large brass bolster. It patina'ed darker over the years and I actualy like it like that
 
There are many colors in the brasses and bronzes so you can choose that way. They also can be colored as the Japanese have developed many solutions for that. ..Or you can use gold alloys if you're not cheap. They come in colors too .
 
Here's a quick pic of my knife. It didn't turn out as planned and is now spending it's days as a kitchen knife here.
I don't know what kind of brass it is but I like this patina'ed colour

IMG_20180207_145658_1.jpg
 
I think its more of an aesthetic thing. Some folks like brass some don't. I recently made some kitchen knives handled in bocote. They looked better because of the woods coloring with brass. Nickel silver not so much. Made an entire kitchen set a few years ago for a customer in Norway. Used nickel silver on those and with the deep red of the cocobolo handles the nickel looked good. In our own home we have kitchen knives with both. On the counter is a set of eight steak knives handled in elk. The wife came out to the shop while I was working on them and changed my mind for me. Couldn't use the brass I'd already cut for them. Had to order up some more nickel silver.
 
Fwiw, ”bronze” & ”brass” covers a wide range of alloys. Their colours can vary alot.

How about Beryllium Copper?
Its dangerous as hell to work with, so its suitable for kitchen knives used to prepare Puffer Fish.
 
Lieblad said:
Fwiw, ”bronze” & ”brass” covers a wide range of alloys. Their colours can vary alot.

How about Beryllium Copper?
Its dangerous as hell to work with, so its suitable for kitchen knives used to prepare Puffer Fish.
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Why it is dangerous as hell to work with Beryllium Cooper ?
 
Natlek said:
Why it is dangerous as hell to work with Beryllium Cooper ?
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Because the dust is incredibly toxic. When finished it is perfectly safe, but the dust is a potent carcinogin as well as long term toxic as it interferes with oxygen uptake in the lungs can cause beryllium lung.

Its also rather acutely toxic and causes nerve damage and potential paralysis.
 
the alloys do bad things to your body if you get it in your lungs (cant remember if its just tyhe dust or if you have to catch vapors )
 
Don Hanson III said:
I would never use brass on a knife. Bronze is a much better looking material.
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You're the second maker I really admire that I've heard say this and I still don't get it. They look the same to me when freshly sanded. Brass maybe a touch lighter than most bronze. Maybe I'm brass-bronze color blind :D
 
kuraki said:
You're the second maker I really admire that I've heard say this and I still don't get it. They look the same to me when freshly sanded. Brass maybe a touch lighter than most bronze. Maybe I'm brass-bronze color blind :D
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Bronze has a more organic look & ages much better, while brass looks cheap. I make a living making knives and no customer of mine has ever asked for brass fittings. :)
 
kuraki said:
You're the second maker I really admire that I've heard say this and I still don't get it. They look the same to me when freshly sanded. Brass maybe a touch lighter than most bronze. Maybe I'm brass-bronze color blind :D
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the bronze or silicon bronze that I use patinas to a nice warm look.
looks much better than bronze over time

but they do look similar when freshly sanded
 
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