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Nickelsilver vs Brass Bolsters
- Thread starter Dalerich
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
I don't know what the advantages are regarding durability, I'll leave that up to someone else.
for me, the choice is usually one of aesthetics. Some handle choices look much nicer to me with nickel silver, others with brass. That's how I choose between the two.
Joe
for me, the choice is usually one of aesthetics. Some handle choices look much nicer to me with nickel silver, others with brass. That's how I choose between the two.
Joe
Dalerich,
I recall mention here (if my memory is up to par
)on the Buck Forum something about slightly increased fabrication difficulties or proper fitting of handles with nickel-silver over brass. But I think in the final analysis the two materials are comparable in durability. I simply feel that brass tarnishes faster than nickel-silver plus as it's more commonly found on production knives it seems cheaper to me. Anytime I have a choice I opt for nickel-silver as a result. Just my two centavos
.
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-=[Bob]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since 3 Oct 98
AKTI membership pending
VHA and NRA member
[This message has been edited by bald1 (edited 12 September 1999).]
I recall mention here (if my memory is up to par
------------------
-=[Bob]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since 3 Oct 98
AKTI membership pending
VHA and NRA member
[This message has been edited by bald1 (edited 12 September 1999).]
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
Bob --
You'd choose nickel silver regardless of handle material? For me, I find some handle materials look a bit odd with nickel silver, especially those that have a bit of orangeish color to them. Greys and blacks, on the other hand, look much better with nickel silver. Once the Knife Labs forum gets started, I'd love to have an in-depth discussion of aesthetics!
Joe
You'd choose nickel silver regardless of handle material? For me, I find some handle materials look a bit odd with nickel silver, especially those that have a bit of orangeish color to them. Greys and blacks, on the other hand, look much better with nickel silver. Once the Knife Labs forum gets started, I'd love to have an in-depth discussion of aesthetics!
Joe
Dear Dalerich,
Brass versus Nickel Silver is purely a personal preference. As far as strength properties, Brass and Nickel Silver are very similar - in fact, most people consider Nickel Silver to be simply a 'white brass'.
One thing that I found, is not all combinations of blade finishes, inlays and handles quite work together aestetically. I'm no Mr. Blackwell, but I find that Gold BuckCote and Nickel Silver clashes, whereas Black BuckCote, Black Oxide, gray matte finish looks great with Nickel Silver.
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pete quintanilla
Buck Knives, Inc.
Brass versus Nickel Silver is purely a personal preference. As far as strength properties, Brass and Nickel Silver are very similar - in fact, most people consider Nickel Silver to be simply a 'white brass'.
One thing that I found, is not all combinations of blade finishes, inlays and handles quite work together aestetically. I'm no Mr. Blackwell, but I find that Gold BuckCote and Nickel Silver clashes, whereas Black BuckCote, Black Oxide, gray matte finish looks great with Nickel Silver.
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pete quintanilla
Buck Knives, Inc.
Joe,
Both you and Pete are right about the aesthetics of some combinations. Being bald and sporting a salt and pepper beard (mostly salt
), I gravitate towards the blacks, grays and silvers. So nickel-silver bolsters are my favorite and I make sure it goes well with other aspects of the knives I choose.
I should have been a bit more specific.
BTW I've had brass pit on me but never have experienced that with nickel-silver.
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-=[Bob Allman]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since 3 Oct 98
AKTI membership pending
VHA and NRA member
Both you and Pete are right about the aesthetics of some combinations. Being bald and sporting a salt and pepper beard (mostly salt
I should have been a bit more specific.
BTW I've had brass pit on me but never have experienced that with nickel-silver.
------------------
-=[Bob Allman]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since 3 Oct 98
AKTI membership pending
VHA and NRA member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 1998
- Messages
- 440
Dalerich,
Handle material is usually the judge for me in determining either brass or nickel silver. Brass does tarnish quickly, but a little elbow grease with simichrome polish will make the brass shine. When I polish my collection, I am always glad to see that the next knife has nickel silver bolsters because it's a breeze to polish.
John
Handle material is usually the judge for me in determining either brass or nickel silver. Brass does tarnish quickly, but a little elbow grease with simichrome polish will make the brass shine. When I polish my collection, I am always glad to see that the next knife has nickel silver bolsters because it's a breeze to polish.
John
I enjoy discussing the aesthetics and would like some more discussion of the aesthetics. But, in addition to the aesthetics, I would like some discussion of care and maintenance of both brass and nickel-silver. I know about Semichrome, Brasso, Flitz and half a dozen other polishing/cleaning products. What I'd really like to find out is what I should put on the brass or nickel-silver to keep it from tarnishing (or at least prevent tarnishing as long as possible). My selection is at least partly based on what kind of maintenance is required. I consider ease of maintenance a definite advantage.
My general approach right now is to lightly rub everything down with Tuf-Cloth after doing any cleaning or polishing needed to restore appearance. Is this the best I can do? This is an area of discussion I look forward to. Any tips or tricks or hard won knowledge is appreciated.
Aesthetics is about the appearance. Maintenance is about keeping the appearance as the knives age. I suppose the maintenance might belong in the shop talk, but thought I'd at least mention it here. Where it really belongs is in the collectors forum, but that's going away.
My general approach right now is to lightly rub everything down with Tuf-Cloth after doing any cleaning or polishing needed to restore appearance. Is this the best I can do? This is an area of discussion I look forward to. Any tips or tricks or hard won knowledge is appreciated.
Aesthetics is about the appearance. Maintenance is about keeping the appearance as the knives age. I suppose the maintenance might belong in the shop talk, but thought I'd at least mention it here. Where it really belongs is in the collectors forum, but that's going away.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
Bob,
I had been using flitz for my brass bolsters for a while, but was unhappy with the corrosion protection, or lack thereof. I then put something on the bolsters of one of my knives -- dang if I can remember what -- which has really worked great. I think it might've been a swipe of Tuff Cloth, rather than something that comes from a tube.
Joe
I had been using flitz for my brass bolsters for a while, but was unhappy with the corrosion protection, or lack thereof. I then put something on the bolsters of one of my knives -- dang if I can remember what -- which has really worked great. I think it might've been a swipe of Tuff Cloth, rather than something that comes from a tube.
Joe
- Joined
- Jan 14, 1999
- Messages
- 958
All,
I recently started using Rennaisance Wax (this may not be spelled correctly) and I
am encouraged with how it has protected the
brass on knives so far. Brass, being very
susceptible to tarnishing, will probably still show some tarnish before long, but this
stuff seems to help. Anyone out there with
a longer track record than 4-5 mos. with
Rennaisance Wax?
I recently started using Rennaisance Wax (this may not be spelled correctly) and I
am encouraged with how it has protected the
brass on knives so far. Brass, being very
susceptible to tarnishing, will probably still show some tarnish before long, but this
stuff seems to help. Anyone out there with
a longer track record than 4-5 mos. with
Rennaisance Wax?
- Joined
- Nov 15, 1998
- Messages
- 440
I have used Rennaisance wax for about a year but mostly on my Damascus blades. It has protected these blades extremely well. The knives with brass bolsters that I have used rennaisance on have lasted about 6 months without needing polishing. These knives were in a display case though and not handled.
John
John