Iron bolsters?

[SCWillson]

I was reading an article about nickel silver and it stated that up until around 1920 the most common material for knife bolsters was iron. I have never even heard of an iron-bolstered knife. Do any of our experts know anything about this?

 

[navihawk]

There's pictures of them all over the place in here.

 

[waynorth]

The TC Barlows have iron bolsters!!

 

[kamagong]

So do the Schatt & Morgan Heritage Series.

- Christian

 

[Bigfattyt]

Quite a few patterns from GEC have them.

I have a steel toenail, #25 and TC Barlow with them.

 

[fatcorgi]

all this time I've been thinking that the bolsters on the TC Barlows were steel, I did not think that they were iron.

 

[Cory Hess]

I'm with you, corgi. I thought STL on a GEC knife meant all steel, not steel and iron.

 

[SCWillson]

I would like to point out that it is not all that easy to distinguish polished steel from nickel silver in a photograph.

 

[Primble]

I would like to point out that it is not all that easy to distinguish polished steel from nickel silver in a photograph.

You are correct about that - it is harder to tell in a photo. In person, the iron bolster will usually have a bluer cast/appearance than the NS bolster.

Here is one of my older Schrades with time worn iron bolsters:

 

[Markesharp]

You are correct about that - it is harder to tell in a photo. In person, the iron bolster will usually have a bluer cast/appearance than the NS bolster.

Here is one of my older Schrades with time worn iron bolsters:

Nice picture of a nice old knife Primble. Do you have a pic with the blade(s) open?

 

[dma1965]

From what I understand, it is not pure iron (which is an element) but more like wrought iron, which contains some minute amounts of carbon, essentially making it a very low carbon steel. The low carbon content gives it strength, but keeps it soft enough to easily polish.

Here are some examples of iron bolster knives:

The one on the top has nickel silver bolsters. The bottom one has iron bolsters.

In this picture I modded an old knife tha had badly pitted iron bolsters, and refinished them:

If you zoom in you can see the slightly different color of the nickel silver pivot pin. When highly polished they are virtually indistinguishable from nickel silver, however. Unlike nickel silver, they will patina and rust if not cared for.

 

[Primble]

Nice picture of a nice old knife Primble. Do you have a pic with the blade(s) open?

Yep.

I have owned this old Schrade Cut Co. knife for a while now and it is in as found condition. I liked the overall patina.

 

[JustinR]

all this time I've been thinking that the bolsters on the TC Barlows were steel, I did not think that they were iron.

I have no knowledge of GEC's materials but I would believe their bolsters on STL marked knives are a very low carbon steel alloy. Pure iron in its elemental form is very soft and malleable. A small amount of carbon must be added to make it harder.

All Iron and Steel is quite susceptible to oxidation until you start adding chromium to the mix to give it stainless properties.

I think the confusion comes in is that the nomenclature is not consistent. Some refer to what we are referencing as low carbon steel and others as low carbon iron. Neither are wrong.

 

[rma100]

GEC uses low carbon steel for the Liners and Bolsters on their STL knives.

 

[Markesharp]

Nice examples DMA :thumbup:

Thank you Primble, nice patina :thumbup:

 

[Markesharp]

The Schrade has low carbon steel bolsters and the GEC #55 which I took apart and removed the liner lock has nickel silver bolsters. I used nickel silver pins and you would see them if the bolsters where plain steel.

[/IMG]

 

[Primble]

Nice examples DMA :thumbup:

Thank you Primble, nice patina :thumbup:

Thank you Mark - the Schrade pictured above sits between the Hatch and Russell Barlow in my Boker cabinet, at the moment. Yes - very nice examples DMA. :thumbup:

The Schrade has low carbon steel bolsters and the GEC #55 which I took apart and removed the liner lock has nickel silver bolsters. I used nickel silver pins and you would see them if the bolsters where plain steel.

I like that old Schrade EO a lot Mark. Schrade seemed to like the iron/steel bolsters.

 

[Markesharp]

Here's a lesson learned. I used nickel silver when I changed the blade and put stag on this TC. You can see the pins.

[/IMG]

On this beerlow I used cold rolled steel pins and they are the same as the bolsters or close enough that you cannot see them

[/IMG]

 

[Primble]

Another example of Schrade iron/steel bolsters:

A lesson you will not forget Mark. I suppose you could try again if it bothers you much.? :thumbup:

 

[Markesharp]

A lesson you will not forget Mark. I suppose you could try again if it bothers you much.? :thumbup:

No it doesn't bother me, it just taught me that the TC bolsters are different steel than the #55 for example. I bet you would pull your hair out Primble :barf: