Keeping brass bolsters shiny?

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
2,194
I got a 112 with brass bolsters that were tarnished. I got them looking good, but is there any product that will protect them? It's a great knife-- solid and sharp!

buck112a.jpg


buck112b.jpg
 
You asked about protecting and the reference thread pretty much refers to polishing which is not exactly the same thing. The only thing of which I am aware that might offer some protection is a thin coat of clear lacquer applied over the brass finish. I have tried this, using a small camel's hair brush, after masking off the handle scales, and it does indeed appear to offer some protection from tarnish to those closet queens that are not carried; however, I would guess that would wear off very quickly from a carry knife.
 
I keep a can of Nevr-Dull wadding polish on the knife shelf. It does a great job at keeping my knives clean and shiny. Its real easy to use with very little effort.
 
Sorry, I thought he was asking about polishing. I don't see any reason to 'protect' the bolsters. I've pulled 35 year old 110's out of a gun safe, that had not seen the light of day for 20 years, and even though the bolsters were tarnished, some denim and elbow grease took 90% of it away in about 3 minutes. I'll have my kids try the tabasco when they pull mine out of the safe in 20 years. :)

schiesz
 
Any metal is going to oxidize, in this world with the O content of 21%. Part of the enjoyment out of my brass or aluminum or nickle silver fixtures is the ocassional TLC (not Jeff ;) ) that the knife requires. I was in a room on several visits that had 35 Model 21 Winchester side-by-sides and another which housed serial #92 Colt S.A.A among other specimens from Hartford and the owner's pride was to go through the collections and wipe each off a couple of times a year. What is wrong with tending your knife from time to time? No grueling task to Flitz my EDC Custom Design 110 once a month or so and I enjoy setting time aside to do so. Fine mechanical devices built by artisans demand such attentions, to my way of thinking. In a word...."take care of what takes care of you". Museums all full of tarnished artifacts from historical figures' accoutrements; guns and knives and what have you. They call it "patina". Use and enjoy....let the progeny call the "character lines and patina" what they will.

Dave
 
gd526 said:
Any metal is going to oxidize, in this world with the O content of 21%. Part of the enjoyment out of my brass or aluminum or nickle silver fixtures is the ocassional TLC (not Jeff ;) ) that the knife requires. I was in a room on several visits that had 35 Model 21 Winchester side-by-sides and another which housed serial #92 Colt S.A.A among other specimens from Hartford and the owner's pride was to go through the collections and wipe each off a couple of times a year. What is wrong with tending your knife from time to time? No grueling task to Flitz my EDC Custom Design 110 once a month or so and I enjoy setting time aside to do so. Fine mechanical devices built by artisans demand such attentions, to my way of thinking. In a word...."take care of what takes care of you". Museums all full of tarnished artifacts from historical figures' accoutrements; guns and knives and what have you. They call it "patina". Use and enjoy....let the progeny call the "character lines and patina" what they will.

Dave
Click to expand...


:thumbup: Perfect!!!
 
Mothers Mag and Allumin Polish and some TP will remove the fine scratches and act as a protecent... I love the stuff!
 
I avoided buying a buck 110 for years because of the green tarnishing problems i had with the brass guards on my Western Bowies.
But back in December i finally bought a 110 and i love it.
Its been Daily carried and daily handled without any sign of green.
Green tarnish doesn't seem to be a problem with my 110!
The brass did develop a nice matte patina though.
I decided to polish it with nevr-dull last week, polished up great.
It looks nice but i'm lazy (lol) and i think i prefer the patina look so i'm not going to bother polishing it anymore.
I will of course still do regular cleaning, just won't be looking for that "golden shine".

Has anybody here ever see a brass Buck go "Green"?

Maybe there is a chemical in the Western leather sheaths that reacts with and causes the brass to tarnish.
But strangely the westerns are carbon steel and there has been no rusting/tarnishing of the blades.
One of them has hardly been used and is well over 20 years old and still has a mirror shine!
Or maybe its just the type of brass that Western used?
Any brass experts here with relevant info?

Anyway its worked out well as i have now, in addition to my love of nickled bolsters and guards, developed a lust for brass bolstered and guarded knives!
lol!
 
Yes, I had one that was left in a sheath for several years. When I acquired it there was green tarnish several places were the leather was touching it. 2 minutes with nevr-dull and it was all gone.
 
tholiver said:
I avoided buying a buck 110 for years because of the green tarnishing problems i had with the brass guards on my Western Bowies.
But back in December i finally bought a 110 and i love it.
Its been Daily carried and daily handled without any sign of green.
Green tarnish doesn't seem to be a problem with my 110!
The brass did develop a nice matte patina though.
I decided to polish it with nevr-dull last week, polished up great.
It looks nice but i'm lazy (lol) and i think i prefer the patina look so i'm not going to bother polishing it anymore.
I will of course still do regular cleaning, just won't be looking for that "golden shine".

Has anybody here ever see a brass Buck go "Green"?

Maybe there is a chemical in the Western leather sheaths that reacts with and causes the brass to tarnish.
But strangely the westerns are carbon steel and there has been no rusting/tarnishing of the blades.
One of them has hardly been used and is well over 20 years old and still has a mirror shine!
Or maybe its just the type of brass that Western used?
Any brass experts here with relevant info?

Anyway its worked out well as i have now, in addition to my love of nickled bolsters and guards, developed a lust for brass bolstered and guarded knives!
lol!
Click to expand...

That green material is termed "verdigris." As I recall, it results from a chemical reaction between the brass and the acetic acid in the leather. Fortunately, it cleans off readily and is not destructive to the brass, as for example rust is to steel. If you do not STORE the knife in or next to the leather sheath, it should not be a problem, and it usually is not a problem for user knives that are carried in leather sheaths becaise they are used/handled frequently.
 
Tin Sue said:
This green material is termed "verdigris." As I recall, it results from a chemical reaction between the brass and the acetic acid in the leather. Fortunately, it cleans off readily and is not destructive to the brass, as for example rust is to steel. If you do not STORE the knife in or next to the leather sheath, it should not be a problem, and it usually is not a problem for user knives that are carried in leather sheaths becaise they are handled frequently.
Click to expand...
The strange thing is the part of the guard on my western bowie that does not touch the leather would also get green verdigris. Perhaps the leather off-gasses these acids and in a confined space (over time) it will affect areas not in direct contact with the leather.
This also has me curious about formulation/ratios used in brass manufacture.
Brass is an alloy of Copper and Zinc maybe there are slightly different recipes used and different types.
Hmmm i'll have to wiki this at least, lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass
Wow lots of different ratios!
 
Tin Sue said:
That green material is termed "verdigris." As I recall, it results from a chemical reaction between the brass and the acetic acid in the leather. Fortunately, it cleans off readily and is not destructive to the brass, as for example rust is to steel. If you do not STORE the knife in or next to the leather sheath, it should not be a problem, and it usually is not a problem for user knives that are carried in leather sheaths becaise they are used/handled frequently.
Click to expand...

My dad has a Schrade folder that eventually developed verdigris from being kept in it's factory leather case. A little brasso and it was taken care of in no time.

Personally, with my users (such as my Buck 110), I don't mind a nice even, dull tarnish. I just let it be as it is. I could always polish it up later if I change my ways:cool:
 
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