Jigged bolsters - Would you be able to ignore this?

I was told by a case expert and former employee that the bolsters are actually pinched (when needed) where the bone is jigged a little deep at the bolster edge so it doesn't get caught up in your material in your pocket and so it doesn't (the bolsters) have a gap between the bolster and the handles etc etc.

I have a few Case knives and G.E.C. knives like that. The bolsters are installed after the handle is jigged.
 
Neal your concerns were totally warranted, had they actually been dings in the bolster and it were my knife, I'd have been upset too. You definitely don't want to see that on a smooth handled knife, such as wood, micarta, or smooth bone.

Merciful I doubt they actually pinch them, they'd surely wind up damaging the covers. Sounds like a reach for an excuse by someone who was covering up the buffing results. Better to state the facts.

Eric
 
If this were a safe queen, I'd send it back.

But for me, all my knives are users so I won't let it bother it. Better a slight ding than a sharp edge every time I run my fingers over the bolster.

Linus
 
ea42 said:
Neal your concerns were totally warranted, had they actually been dings in the bolster and it were my knife, I'd have been upset too. You definitely don't want to see that on a smooth handled knife, such as wood, micarta, or smooth bone.

Eric
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you wouldn't see that on those handle materials.
 
Here's the new Stockman in all its glory. I had to have a red shield one. You can see the usual (for Case) scuffs from blade rub but it's still a beauty.

The close-ups in my OP were from the mark side under the pen blade. As you can see, it doesn't even show in the photo.

Eric's post made me realize that the last 1/4" of bone is smooth on the other three spots where it joins the bolster. Only that one joint is jigged all the way to the bolster. Had it been smooth like the other three there would be no buffer issue. Either way, it's a keeper and a user.

i-XrrVW7j-XL.jpg
 
The way my eyesight is going lately, I'm not sure I'd have spotted this :o
 
I wouldn't mind at all. And if I do I would polish it away with high grit sand paper, I've done that before with no problems at all.

Mike
 
I'm betting that I never would have noticed it. I would notice a sharp edge though.
 
addylo said:
Here's the new Stockman in all its glory. I had to have a red shield one. You can see the usual (for Case) scuffs from blade rub but it's still a beauty.

The close-ups in my OP were from the mark side under the pen blade. As you can see, it doesn't even show in the photo.

Eric's post made me realize that the last 1/4" of bone is smooth on the other three spots where it joins the bolster. Only that one joint is jigged all the way to the bolster. Had it been smooth like the other three there would be no buffer issue. Either way, it's a keeper and a user.

i-XrrVW7j-XL.jpg
Click to expand...

I think it looks great and that little "defect" surely wouldn't affect my appreciation of it. I love that blue bone and red shield.

Ed J
 
I have a number of knives from Case and others, where if the jigging goes all the way to the bolsters, the bolster seems to be mated perfectly to the jigging including some small polished indentations like that. I always just assumed it was supposed to be like that and viewed it as a sign of being a well-made, hand finished product.

Otherwise you'd end up with a sharp edge where the bolster abruptly stopped next to a valley of the jigging.
 
I had not seen this until I got my new CV peanut last week. It has it on both sides, but for me it's no big deal. I will take this over blade rub or blade wobble any day.
 
I've a couple knives this way of different brands. Not an issue unless as others mentioned there were some type of functional issues as well.

If it were a pretty expensive knife or meant as a collector, they yeah. But otherwise, use it and enjoy!
 
Interesting, I had noticed this on a couple GEC knives as well and was wondering how it happened and if it was normal. Sounds like it is normal and just something that happens during buffing when you have the jigging go all the way to the bolsters...cool. I agree that if they didn't do that you probably would end up with some sharp edges so it is kinda nice in that regard, especially for an actual user.
 
If the only "flaw" on a $45 knife does not affect its function and needs that kind of magnification to be clearly seen...there is no problem.
 
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