Poll on Shadow pattern slipjoints

[kamagong]

I'd be interested in seeing the tests done with traditional handle materials like bone and mother-of-pearl. Seems to me the bolsters would protect the handles from chipping or shattering if the knife were dropped, especially if it landed on either end.

You don't want to see that, it'll make you cry. A month after I received my antique bone KHnutbuster I dropped it straight onto asphalt, and one of the scales chipped on the pivot end. I was able to repair it, but I'm not gonna lie, I was dumbstruck for a few moments there.

 

[Bob W]

You don't want to see that, it'll make you cry.

I didn't say I would do it with my pocketknives.

A month after I received my antique bone KHnutbuster I dropped it straight onto asphalt, and one of the scales chipped on the pivot end. I was able to repair it, but I'm not gonna lie, I was dumbstruck for a few moments there.

So did it have a bolster or not? And if not, would a bolster have protected it?

 

[kamagong]

The KHnutbuster is a custom sodbuster made by Kerry Hampton, so my knife doesn't have a bolster. Of course I can never know, but if that knife had a bolster I'm sure the bone would not have chipped, though the bolster would likely have been dinged.

 

[Tony Bose]

Shadow patterns are no stronger than the handle material used to make them. If you use micarta or similar material they are stronger than a bolstered knife. Shadows were made in the past with just a pin going through the pivot and spun or lightly peened and they were weak. I started making them in the 70's so someone could have a custom knife to use at a practical price and not have to worry about dinging it up. If you get away from micarta or the like they won't hold up as well.

 

[KnifeHead]

I didn't say I would do it with my pocketknives.


So did it have a bolster or not? And if not, would a bolster have protected it?

Bolsters and caps protect the ends of handle material and give pivot pins something to hold on to. That's pretty much a no brainer.

 

[kc custom]

I said this in a different thread about a week ago, I charge like $100 less for a
shadow. While there isn't anything that says what we can charge for our knives
I do not see it taking as long to make a shadow as a bolstered knife. It should not take as long to glue a piece of micarta or similar to a piece of 410ss and mill releive it as it does to either mill a frame or tin and solder the bolsters and liners.
Ken.