How come bushcraft knives are boring and have no bolster?

U

ukknifer

Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
424
The boring bit is just to provoke you but seriously, why no bolster?
Why just slabs of macarta or g10 over steel?
Is there an obvious reason?

I used to like the plain look and could care the less about bolsters.

As I grow older, I find that I get more into the classic vintage kind of look.

Cheers
stag_integral_group.jpg
 
ukknifer said:
The boring bit is just to provoke you but seriously, why no bolster?
Why just slabs of macarta or g10 over steel?
Is there an obvious reason?

I used to like the plain look and could care the less about bolsters.

As I grow older, I find that I get more into the classic vintage kind of look.

Cheers
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Bolsters are reeeeally nice when done right...but they take more time and are more work and so therefor raise the price of the knife...at least all the ones I've seen that had then cost more. In this economy that could be a big factor.
 
Thanks

So is it only forged knives that can have Bolsters ? Its seems that everything know-days is done buy stock removal.
 
I used to like bolsters , but not anymore. To me , they're sort of a waste of "real estate." I just want a handle ( integral guard or finger notch is ok) and a blade. I suppose bolsters are used for aesthetics as well as to strengthen the handle/blade transition , but I like mine without it.:)
 
ukknifer, bolsters increase the work on a knife. Alot of custom bushcrafters are 150-200 range. Bolsters would increase the cost by at least 50 or more. Also a side note about the knife you pictured, its an integral. The blade, "bolsters" and tang are all one piece.
 
Bolsters also increase the weight of a knife (price and work were mentioned earlier) and some people prefer lighter, more affordable blades.
Knives done by stock removal can have bolsters, as well.
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
Less grip with bolsters. I like micarta front to back.
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If you are referring to the usable area of the handle, I beg to differ, it depends on the construction. A knife with bolsters can have the same amount of real estate on the handle as one without them.
If you are referring to the "grippiness" of the handle scales or panels, then your statement has some truth.
 
I like bolsters, and have them on a few of the knives I have purchased as well as on a number of the knives I have made. They are definitely labour-intensive from a knifemaking perspective (and, consequently, expensive), as they involve extra drilling, peening, and sanding, not to mention materials costs. Further, they add little in terms of functionality - at best, they can keep your softer handle material (like wood or bone) from getting scuffed up or covered in gunk during deep cuts. Plus they add weight. So, it comes down to aesthetics. And they do look pretty neat on some knives.

I wouldn't mind seeing more custom woods knives with bolster options.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Switchblade61 said:
If you are referring to the usable area of the handle, I beg to differ, it depends on the construction. A knife with bolsters can have the same amount of real estate on the handle as one without them.
If you are referring to the "grippiness" of the handle scales or panels, then your statement has some truth.
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"Grippiness" is what I meant. Below freezing temps, rain, snow, mud, blood, gloved hands might all decrease how secure it is in hand when cutting. Index finger and thumb guide many cuts.
 
This one has a bolster :D

TK21.jpg



This one doesn't :D

FallknivenH1.jpg


Not being a knife designer, I'm not in a position to say why more "Bushcraft knives" don't come with them :confused:



Kind regards
Mick
 
The general trend of "Bushcraft" and "Survival" knives to be guardless ("self guard") is because the guards and bolsters may become loose or break off under extreme use.
For example, look at the Busse's and Bark River Bravo 1, and Bark River Bushcraft series models.

- I'm not saying that I agree with this entirely, so please don't start firing rounds at me.
 
For me I prefer the simplicity of bolsterless knives. The only bolster I've ever liked is the one on Fiddleback's KPH.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Bolsters.

100_0188.jpg
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Aren't those ferrules?

The difference being that bolsters are usually thicker pieces of metal that in section go from the flat of the blade out to the plane of the handle, whereas ferrules are a thin sort of metal cap.

It's my understanding that bolsters are more decorative or to protect the hand, and ferrules are more for keeping the end of the handle from splitting in a stick tang knife. Most of the traditional stick tang Scandi production knives like those Bruslettos have ferrules, I think.

Maybe some folks call ferrules a kind of bolster or vice versa?


Either way, I tend to prefer my handles as all one material, usually wood, but I do like the synthetic handles on my Ritter minigrip, whatever they are.

I think "bushcraft" knives tend to not have bolsters, because of the woodlore and Scandi preferences of the folks who made "bushcraft" popular (though all of the traditional barrel handled moras have ferrules).



Then again, a Buck 110 has bolsters, and it's done more outdoor work than a number of other knives over the years. So I guess it just comes down to personal preference... :confused:
 
I like things to be as simple and reliable as possible. If bolsters added to the performance of my blade then I'd have them but as they are more of a cosmetic feature they have little value to me.
 
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