Ring around the Bolster?

[wardcleaver]

I notice in some sale pics you can see the faintly see the end of the pivot pin showing through the bolster.
I'm guessing this might mean one or more problems:
1. The pivot metal is different than the bolster metal.
2. The pivot pin is barely not flush w/ bolster.
3. Pivot pin is loose (possible now or future blade wobble)
4. Bolster not polished optimally.

Please School me on any/everything this could mean.
I guess I'm mostly concerned with blade wobble.
TIA

 

[Jack Black]

Generally, it will just mean 1 and 4

 

[kvaughn]

Generally, it will just mean 1 and 4

What Jack said.--KV

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Pivot pins are usually a different metal than the bolster. On nickel-bolstered knives, they're often made of stainless steel. The two metals will be a little different in color (nickel a little more 'yellow' and the stainless looking brighter and more silvery), and the stainless is generally stronger/harder and more wear-resistant as well. That means the harder stainless pin won't buff or polish at the same rate (sometimes leaves it a little 'proud', or not flush) and the finish produced on the stainless will be a bit finer than on the nickel, because the polishing scratches will be finer on the harder metal, for a given grit doing the polishing.

When I can see that a pivot pin is clearly stainless steel, I view that as a good thing, because it means it's a stronger pin.

Sometimes you can make the stainless pin a little less visible by changing the finish to something coarser and less polished, like a 320-600 grit satin. If you do the sanding with a suitable abrasive, like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide, it'll also do a better job keeping everything flush, especially if you use a firm backing for the sandpaper, like a hardwood block.

 

[Horsewright]

It can be even nastier that that. Ya can have the same materials and if not exactly the same alloy or even the same melt ya can sometimes still see the pin. No matter how good the maker might be. Thats why on my bolstered knives I've gone with mosaic pins. I was very good at blending pins in to a bolster. But sometimes I still couldn't. Mosaic pins kinda a can't beat em join em kinda of a deal.

 

[wardcleaver]

Generally, it will just mean 1 and 4

Thanks. I guess seeing the pivot in itself is not necessarily indicative of present/future blade wobble.

Pivot pins are usually a different metal than the bolster. On nickel-bolstered knives, they're often made of stainless steel. The two metals will be a little different in color (nickel a little more 'yellow' and the stainless looking brighter and more silvery), and the stainless is generally stronger/harder and more wear-resistant as well. That means the harder stainless pin won't buff or polish at the same rate (sometimes leaves it a little 'proud', or not flush) and the finish produced on the stainless will be a bit finer than on the nickel, because the polishing scratches will be finer on the harder metal, for a given grit doing the polishing.

When I can see that a pivot pin is clearly stainless steel, I view that as a good thing, because it means it's a stronger pin.

Sometimes you can make the stainless pin a little less visible by changing the finish to something coarser and less polished, like a 320-600 grit satin. If you do the sanding with a suitable abrasive, like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide, it'll also do a better job keeping everything flush, especially if you use a firm backing for the sandpaper, like a hardwood block.

Thanks for the detailed (as always) explanation and solution.
I'm a little surprised that you can't spot them more often, being 2 different "shades" of metal. May have to break out the magnifying glass and good light when I get home.

It can be even nastier that that. Ya can have the same materials and if not exactly the same alloy or even the same melt ya can sometimes still see the pin. No matter how good the maker might be. Thats why on my bolstered knives I've gone with mosaic pins. I was very good at blending pins in to a bolster. But sometimes I still couldn't. Mosaic pins kinda a can't beat em join em kinda of a deal.

Thanks for the info. The last line of your post sounds like good thinkin'.
Now I'm off to check out some of your sweeet leather!