do you guys prefer...

[kamkazmoto]

I prefer bolsters. I'm always afraid that I will chip the ends of the scales.

 

[cj65]

I love bolsters on stockmans, and would like to see a barlow with a shallower bolster than what is traditionally designed. Have yet to fall in love with a barlow. Just flirtin right now.

 

[BJE]

I tend to prefer patterns with bolsters but I like bolsterless also if is on an appropriate pattern. I really like the single bolstered knives like the remington pictures above as well.

 

[Ice Tigre]

I like a bolster over the blade pivot end...not at the other. Called barehead on trappers I think.. And a short bolster too, not like on barlows. The rear(to me, the non blade end is the rear) bolster just doesn't appeal to me, the more scale the better.. And in turn, I can't stand this 'end cap' look a rear bolster that is like hald or less the width of the front one.. On a double end, like my beloved moose, or stockmen, I like even bolsters at each end.

as to none like on a sodbuster... It doesn't apeal to me as much as with the one end bolsters.. but i live with it on soddies, cause IMO with a bolster it would cease to be a soddie.

But it is all astetic for me. I don't think there's much functional difference.. some, but not much... I figure the idea of no seam from bolster to scale is right, one piece is stronger, but IMO, as a cutting tool, it shouldn't(ideally, it won't) be stressed in that direction anyway.