Noob-to-slip joints question -- please be gentle...

Professor

Professor

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Ladies and Gentlemen, I blame you and your pictures on this SF of beautiful traditional slip joints for what's looking to become my new addiction. Thanks in advance:).

I wanted to know if there are production slip joint companies that make a regular or limited production model I can acquire with integral bolsters/liners? Or do I need to suck it up and buy one of the gorgeous customs in this config off the makers' for sale forum?

Incidentally, my dream slip joint: Bose Saddlehorn with red jigged bone.

Thanks all.

Prof.
 
Integral bolsters on a production slipjoint? None that I'm aware of. Even the Case/Bose annual knives, which feature stainless steel hardware (liners, bolsters, shields) don't have integrated bolsters. SS bolsters are pretty uncommon themselves. Even among customs, integral bolsters seem to be exception rather than the norm.

Check out Enrique Pena.
 
Fantoni knives www.fantoniknife.com are the only ones I know. They still make under their own mark, some a Loveless pattern that used to be in the Lone Wolf line up, a small slipjoint known as the City Knife with integral bolsters. Other than that, I am not aware of any current production with integral bolsters and not many custom makers. Enrique Pena is a custom maker that does integral bolsters and IIRC he does Bose patterns. Some of the older Pumas that look a little like Buck 110 have integral bolsters, they come in different sizes and have military officer names.
 
Hi, and welcome to the club. Yes you can blame us, and this subforum, for your addiction. That's what we do :D
The short answer is, none. And integral bolsters are not even too common among custom slipjoints, although you can obviously get a custom with integral bolsters.
One thing I'm curious about, and I'm not questioning anything, just willing to understand, is why you're looking for integral bolsters on a slipjoint...if you want to share your thoughts on this thread.
Stay around...you might get your hands on one of those saddlehorn knives, if you stay here long enough :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
The Consigli Zuava is an interesting knife. I've included a description of one below.

Traditional Scarperia knife used all over Tuscany until the beginning of the Nineteenth century. It had a novel element for its time, in that the metal structure was inside the handle. This model is a development of the traditional steel Zuava, with finishing touches in brass, with the two "sodo" pressed onto the plates rather than welded, and finished with the pin level rather than exposed as in the old model. A hunting knife also supplied with extractors for cartridges and presented, especially in the past, in various forms. In Scarperia, the most common version, already in use at the beginning of the Eighteenth century, has a wide blade and is probably derived from older models. Equipped with a spring, with a handle in metal structure, it is particularly strong and appreciated for purposes other than hunting. Regional knives follow the noblest Italian knife tradition, a tradition that Consigli adopted as its own many-year ago, due to the fact that from time immemorial, in Scarperia, Tuscan knives were produced alongside knives linked to the usages and customs of numerous Italian regions. What has always made Consigli stand out from others, however, is their attention to detail, the fact that they have kept a production process that is still manual and faithful to the production canons of tradition, the selection of the best raw materials and, above all, the passion for a craft that has almost disappeared, leaving it up to just a few companies to keep intact a precious patrimony like the land from which it comes. This is why the knives produced by the Scarperia company are unanimously recognized as products of the highest quality.
 
quattromori said:
One thing I'm curious about, and I'm not questioning anything, just willing to understand, is why you're looking for integral bolsters on a slipjoint...if you want to share your thoughts on this thread.
Stay around...you might get your hands on one of those saddlehorn knives, if you stay here long enough :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

Glad to be here, thank you! To answer your question, I guess the CRK Sebenza spoiled me years ago in regard to integral, simple yet complex and stout construction in a folder. As an everyday user of folders, I've come to appreciate this type of construction, as well as the strength of composites such as carbon fiber, G10, etc. That said, I love traditional slip joints with natural materials also.

I love seeing TA Davison's and others modern pieces with carbon fiber scales and integral bolsters/liners, and some with pivot bushings, as to me it combines the best of two worlds in a rugged, everyday user in traditional patterns. Pena's work I regard the same.

I'm sure non-integral bolsters and liners are plenty rugged in their own right. There's just something about that seamless, integral design to my eye, however.

Thanks, guys, I look forward to learning more from you all.

Prof.
 
If integral bolsters are what you seek...you're really going to be mad when this quest leads you to wonderful world of CUSTOM slip joints. :)
 
If you like the clean, seamless look check out Jared Oeser. He can make you a shadow pattern (i.e., no bolsters) with carbon fiber or micarta covers that will be stronger than any knife made with integral bolsters.

- Christian
 
Prof,
thank you for your answer; I always enjoy seeing things from other points of view.
As for the aesthetic factor, taste is taste of course; as for strength, I bet there is no real difference, but I respect your opinion.
Honestly, I would follow Christian's advice: if you come (cutlery-wise) from the world of modern folders, you shouldn't be too obsessed about bolsters (like some Barlow fans around here :P), and maybe the simple yet strong essence of a quality shadow pattern can make you happy.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Here are photos of the Zuava that I mentioned above. I hope you enjoy them.

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That is a beauty, Mossy, I will definitely check into those and their interesting construction. Somewhat reminiscent of lever-opening Italian springers, another favorite of mine.

Prof.
 
kamagong said:
If you like the clean, seamless look check out Jared Oeser. He can make you a shadow pattern (i.e., no bolsters) with carbon fiber or micarta covers that will be stronger than any knife made with integral bolsters.

- Christian
Click to expand...
J. Oeser also makes integral bolster slip joints too! They are snazzy. I have one of his shadow pattern Large gunstocks that knocked my socks off.

But, many custom makers make integral bolsters. I like them, but honestly, try out a GEC and you will like it!

Even minus the integral bolster construction.
 
I will also jump to recommend Oeser. The guy is a gentleman and a wonderful knife maker. His work is very clean. Some of the stiff he is doing with shadow patterns is, I feel, really pushing the boundaries of traditional slip joints in a good way.
 
Also, if you want your socks knocked off, ask him to show you pictures of his integral Norfolk pattern. Amazing.
 
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