Should more GEC's have brass bolsters?

Modoc ED said:
I didn't know they put brass bolsters on any of their knives. If they have, I hope they stop.
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Quoted both because it made me smile and because I agree.
 
I'm not opposed to brass bolsters, but it would have to be on the right model and with wood handles (the redder the better, cherry looks good with brass) to look right. Most traditional knives would just look wrong with brass, one would expect SS or NS for the right look. So, brass is OK in my book (in fact, I have several Bucks that look right with brass) but it would be the exception to the rule.

JMO. :)
 
I have seen a lot, and have used myself quite a number of brass bolstered traditional European knives.
In my opinion nickel silver is a step up to brass, and steel would be even better.

Based on my experience with brass bolsters I can tell you that:
- Brass looks really pretty when it is pristine or freshly polished. Unfortunately this does not last too long if you plan to actually use or carry the knife.
- Brass tarnishes very quickly, unevenly, and verdigris can develop easily too. Brass patina is rarely pretty, especially if it is uneven. When it is pretty, it won’t last long either.
It changes all the time and unpredictably. Brass tarnish, and especially verdigris will color your skin, pockets and may even affect the scale material near the bolsters (e.g. stag scales).
- Brass needs regular polishing to remove the uneven tarnishing/patina.
- Brass is usually heavier than nickel silver. You can feel the difference!

Brass is OK for liners, but I don’t like it for bolsters.

I know there are different varieties of brass, and my experience is limited to a single one (or a few).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass

If GEC plans to use some unusual variety, who knows, it might be a good choice.
 
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littleknife said:
I have seen a lot, and have used myself quite a number of brass bolstered traditional European knives.
In my opinion nickel silver is a step up to brass, and steel would be even better.

Based on my experience with brass bolsters I can tell you that:
- Brass looks really pretty when it is pristine or freshly polished. Unfortunately this does not last too long if you plan to actually use or carry the knife.
- Brass tarnishes very quickly, unevenly, and verdigris can develop easily too. Brass patina is rarely pretty, especially if it is uneven. When it is pretty, it won’t last long either.
It changes all the time and unpredictably. Brass tarnish, and especially verdigris will color your skin, pockets and may even affect the scale material near the bolsters (e.g. stag scales).
- Brass needs regular polishing to remove the uneven tarnishing/patina.
- Brass is usually heavier than nickel silver. You can feel the difference!

Brass is OK for liners, but I don’t like it for bolsters.
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You took the words right out from under my fingers! :thumbup:
 
I'm certainly with the nay-sayers on this! :thumbup:
 
Technically speaking, nickel silver is brass. ;)
 
Nickel silver, also known as German silver, Argentan, new silver, nickel brass, albata, alpacca, or electrum, is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named for its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver unless plated.
The name "German silver" refers to its development by 19th-century German metalworkers in imitation of the Chinese alloy known as paktong (cupronickel). All modern, commercially important nickel silvers (such as those standardized under ASTM B122) contain significant amounts of zinc, and are sometimes considered a subset of brass.

DC
 
Brass stinks, it corrodes a lot-verdigris,read greenslime.:barf: It does stain the handle materials even on brass lined knives, it makes your hands reek, it spots oddly, it's very soft so bolsters get dinged with ease. Need any more?:D

I like NS bolsters & liners or stainless liners for the main.

GEC and Brass Bolsters? Hell no not the way to go.

How about lead bolsters anyone:eek::D
 
I play the trombone and so I know a little bit about brass, I have had and still own a few traditional knives which have brass bolsters, fixtures and fittings. I have not had the same amount of trouble as some of you by the sounds of it. I find I have more trouble dealing with the carbon steel (my preferred choice) than the brass it's held by.

Look at...

Wheer thiz muck, thiz brass! ;)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1096463

...which JackBlack posted recently, brass can look just fine!

Should GEC wish to put out a variety of products I think that's great. They already have a vast array of patterns and handle materials, blade shapes and three different blade steels, why not make it more varied? No-one is obliged to buy every single model. When the Farm and Tool range emerged there was a great cry of anguish by many about the Budget line from GEC and how they were bringing themselves down, but now they are loved by many.

I think diversity is good. Keep doing what you're doing GEC.

Paul
 
willgoy said:
Brass stinks, it corrodes a lot-verdigris,read greenslime.:barf: It does stain the handle materials even on brass lined knives, it makes your hands reek, it spots oddly, it's very soft so bolsters get dinged with ease. Need any more?:D
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Another vote for no from me. I was starting to think I'm the only one who can't stand the smell brass leaves on your hands! I'll never buy a brass handled knife unless it's for decoration only (and I don't buy knives for decoration). :-)
 
littleknife said:
I have seen a lot, and have used myself quite a number of brass bolstered traditional European knives.
In my opinion nickel silver is a step up to brass, and steel would be even better.

Based on my experience with brass bolsters I can tell you that:
- Brass looks really pretty when it is pristine or freshly polished. Unfortunately this does not last too long if you plan to actually use or carry the knife.
- Brass tarnishes very quickly, unevenly, and verdigris can develop easily too. Brass patina is rarely pretty, especially if it is uneven. When it is pretty, it won’t last long either.
It changes all the time and unpredictably. Brass tarnish, and especially verdigris will color your skin, pockets and may even affect the scale material near the bolsters (e.g. stag scales).
- Brass needs regular polishing to remove the uneven tarnishing/patina.
- Brass is usually heavier than nickel silver. You can feel the difference!

Brass is OK for liners, but I don’t like it for bolsters.

I know there are different varieties of brass, and my experience is limited to a single one (or a few).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass

If GEC plans to use some unusual variety, who knows, it might be a good choice.
Click to expand...

willgoy said:
Brass stinks, it corrodes a lot-verdigris,read greenslime.:barf: It does stain the handle materials even on brass lined knives, it makes your hands reek, it spots oddly, it's very soft so bolsters get dinged with ease. Need any more?:D

I like NS bolsters & liners or stainless liners for the main.

GEC and Brass Bolsters? Hell no not the way to go.

How about lead bolsters anyone:eek::D
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spketch said:
Another vote for no from me. I was starting to think I'm the only one who can't stand the smell brass leaves on your hands! I'll never buy a brass handled knife unless it's for decoration only (and I don't buy knives for decoration). :-)
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Yes, yes, and yes!

- Christian
 
I was put off by the recent cotton sampler with brass bolsters. Just not my cup of tea but to each his own. They still make the best slippies coming down the pike IMO.
 
Planterz said:
Technically speaking, nickel silver is brass. ;)
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What he said! As for GEC using it, it would have to be a pattern where the brass " fit" the pattern style...I could imagine a brass bolstered 23TL with Ebony, for example, I think it would be beautiful.
 
Not a fan if brass bolsters (not even on the buck 110s) but I would like to see a few copper bolsters. I like the way copper patinas and missed out on the kabar dog head pinch lockbacks CSC did a while back.
 
Funny thing is, the basic formula for brass is about 60/40 copper and zinc. Whereas nickel silver is about 60/20/20 copper, zinc, and nickel. Various formulae exist of course, but it's amazing what some nickel does. Maybe it's kind of like carbon in iron!
 
Nothing wrong with brass bolsters...Schrade did it:
AllGDOTS.jpg

...but I'd prefer stainless bolsters.
 
- deleted -

I don´t want to derail the thread! Sorry, fellows.
 
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Stelth said:
Nothing wrong with brass bolsters...Schrade did it:
AllGDOTS.jpg

...but I'd prefer stainless bolsters.
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I agree, nothing wrong with brass bolsters…on collector items/safe queens.
Once you start edc-ing them and you use them & carry them in your pockets on a daily basis for a while, their charm wears off fast.
 
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