Please Help: Laguiole, Brass Bolster Question

[Dextar]

Hi there,

I just get my 2nd Laguiole from Forge De Laguiole, the 1st one returned due to unfinished point (tip).
But to this one, after open the box, I found a lot of "scratches" on the brass bolster, and there is already oil fallen into the pivot.

May I know:

- What could cause the so many "scratches" on the bolster? (Pictures 1-4)
as far as I can remember, on my 1st (returned) one, there is none, very shinny polished. (Picture 6)
Did your Laguiole has these "scratches" at the time out of box?
Or this is only caused a not very fine polish?


- is it common the oil in a brand new Laguiole?
've never seen this before (in Victorinox yes, but not in Laguiole). (Picture 5)

This is the 1st (returned) one, the brass bolster is high polished, no "scratches".

In the last:

Thanks.
D

 

[kamagong]

Brass is a soft metal, and gets marked up easily. Those microscratches are par for the course and nothing to worry about.

 

[Dextar]

Brass is a soft metal, and gets marked up easily. Those microscratches are par for the course and nothing to worry about.

Thanks for reply, I just attach another picture which took at the time the 1st knife out of box.
As seen, there is no microscratches at all.

I also don't think it's caused by someone has already used the knife, coz the microscratches are so many and they almost on same direction, round along to the pin, if it's caused by daily usage, the scratches won't be like this.
So I just wondering what can be the reason causes the so different look & feel.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

On brass, those scratches will always come back eventually, after polishing. As mentioned previously, brass is a very soft metal and will be scratched even by simple handling, if the hands are even a bit dirty. And any dust, sand, dirt, etc., embedded in something like a leather sheath or even in a polishing cloth will scratch brass in the same manner. From the factory, I'd not be surprised if the scratches seen were the result of buffing with a dirty wheel. It happens, and buffers have to be kept pretty clean to avoid the sort of contamination that results in scratching like this.

Some items in brass might occasionally be hard-coated with clear protective finishes, which can minimize oxidation and some scratching. But that's about the only way to prevent or minimize it, short of not handling it at all.

 

[birdsbeaks]

I don't think you'd be pleased with even a single one of my knives.

 

[Will Power]

Indeed brass is soft as and one reason I dislike it on bolsters. But get a leather strop with compound and polish them, scratches will disappear until the bolster again comes into contact with something abrasive. Oil fallen on the pivot?? it's a lubricant, it moves but a rag or paper will fix this....

I'm beginning to think that your exacting / microscopic demands might be best satisfied by a custom maker, perhaps.

 

[Dextar]

On brass, those scratches will always come back eventually, after polishing. As mentioned previously, brass is a very soft metal and will be scratched even by simple handling, if the hands are even a bit dirty. And any dust, sand, dirt, etc., embedded in something like a leather sheath or even in a polishing cloth will scratch brass in the same manner. From the factory, I'd not be surprised if the scratches seen were the result of buffing with a dirty wheel. It happens, and buffers have to be kept pretty clean to avoid the sort of contamination that results in scratching like this.

Some items in brass might occasionally be hard-coated with clear protective finishes, which can minimize oxidation and some scratching. But that's about the only way to prevent or minimize it, short of not handling it at all.

Thank you, very detail and clear explanation!
Appreciate!

 

[Dextar]

Indeed brass is soft as and one reason I dislike it on bolsters. But get a leather strop with compound and polish them, scratches will disappear until the bolster again comes into contact with something abrasive. Oil fallen on the pivot?? it's a lubricant, it moves but a rag or paper will fix this....

I'm beginning to think that your exacting / microscopic demands might be best satisfied by a custom maker, perhaps.

Thanks for reply, in fact I was fairly satisfied with this (2nd) knife, but just noticed the microscratches and remember they were not in the 1st one, and I didn't see on one photos when I do search in Google.
Also the lubricant (thanks for letting me know this word) was not in the 1st knife as well.
Plus, the online dealer providers 7-day return, so I asked here to try to see if it's a used knife.

After learning from all of the replies, I understand the above 2 points are not problem at all.

 

[birdsbeaks]

Thanks for reply, in fact I was fairly satisfied with this (2nd) knife, but just noticed the microscratches and remember they were not in the 1st one, and I didn't see on one photos when I do search in Google.
Also the lubricant (thanks for letting me know this word) was not in the 1st knife as well.
Plus, the online dealer providers 7-day return, so I asked here to try to see if it's a used knife.

After learning from all of the replies, I understand the above 2 points are not problem at all.

I'd be more concerned about a knife without any lubrication than one with a little extra.

I don't think your expectations are unreasonable necessarily, but they may be considered very high in the production knife realm. I'd say that if you decided to go with a custom, and spoke to your chosen maker, prior to them beginning the work, about what you expect to receive in terms of fit and finish - and they agree to that standard and don't meet it; then I think you'd have cause to be upset.

What I can see of the knife looks very nice. The cover-to-bolster fit looks good. Maybe post a few more general pics of the knife - not just ones focusing on the perceived "flaws" - you know we like lots of photos around here!

 

[Dextar]

I'd be more concerned about a knife without any lubrication than one with a little extra.

I don't think your expectations are unreasonable necessarily, but they may be considered very high in the production knife realm. I'd say that if you decided to go with a custom, and spoke to your chosen maker, prior to them beginning the work, about what you expect to receive in terms of fit and finish - and they agree to that standard and don't meet it; then I think you'd have cause to be upset.

What I can see of the knife looks very nice. The cover-to-bolster fit looks good. Maybe post a few more general pics of the knife - not just ones focusing on the perceived "flaws" - you know we like lots of photos around here!

Thanks for reply, as in some of my previous posts, yes, I always concentrate in exacting / microscopic details (as Will Power said). So I choose Forge De Laguiole and Fontenille Pataud.
But because I haven't owned a handmade, traditional knife before having them, every one is brand new to me, and I may have little knowledge about knife making, so I always find some "flaw" which was considered as quality issue or problem in my mind.
Just like this one, my 1st high polished knife, my 1st brass bolster knife, and as said in this thread some times, in the 1st one I received, there was no lubrication, no microscratches, so I concerned this one.

I sincerely appreciate you and Will Power, kamagong, Obsessed with Edges and everyone's post in this, past posts, I learnt a lot.

Sure thing, as replied in other posts, e.g. Traditional Hunting Knives, Blades and Hikes, I will keep posting photos, and sure keep posting questions and concerns.