Single or Double bolsters and things along that line...

[Gary W. Graley]

I find that I am kinda partial to the double bolstered knives, while if a knife does strike my fancy, I'll let that one less bolster requirement go by, but often as not I look for those that have double bolsters. But any way, wondered what you guys/gals thoughts were on the subject.

I know there are also those Shadow warriors that don't need no stinking bolsters, those radicals lol, but just looking to hear about your views on single or double bolsters.

For good measure you can also talk about pinched or not pinched,

Single bolsters, both from Le Theirs France, lovely knives!

Two bolsters

Miss this one quite a bit…

And my current carry

And the pinched bolsters, after getting that Montana Workhorse, I tend to like the non pinched version a little bit more!

Feel free to also post your favourites as well,
G2

 

[Hammer67]

I tend to be partial to single and double bladed, barehead jacks - the #15s, #92s, #25s etc. Heck, it doesn't even bother me that they don't have shields. I like "clean and simple."

But it also depends on the pattern - some look better bareheaded, imo, and some simply look a little unfinished without bolsters at both ends.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks, that was what I was thinking but didn't get it into words "...a little unfinished without bolsters on both ends"

There is a jigged bone Eureka that for me just looks that way, again those Eureka's are calling my name pretty loudly, and lately I only listen to the really loud voices in my head but it'll be a while before I can save up for one of those, in the mean time, that Montana Workhorse fills the need quite nicely.
G2

 

[VANCE]

for me it's more about the overall appearance of the knife. example...i think my tidioute 15 looks perfect w. a single bolster yet on my northfield white owl i believe the doubled pinched bolsters fit the "package" better.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I hear ya, here's another photo, sure miss that large one there, I just can't keep them all but a good example of the smaller one, with two bolsters it would look kinda funny probably, so the way she's fitted up seems right on that one;

edited to add this photo, as that small one had a really big butt...

G2

 

[VANCE]

for visual refrence


i think this just looks right

& think the double fits the bill

 

[GronK]

. . .even the Templars. . . Perfect for when needing some size but with nkp's around.

 

[kamagong]

I'll answer the way I was taught by my professors all those years ago. "It depends." Too many different patterns to give a definitive answer. A barehead stockman would look off, and a sodbuster with bolsters and caps is plain weird. Gotta take it on a case by case basis.

However, I am biased towards single blade slipjoints. In that specific scenario I prefer bare head knives.

- Christian

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Hehe, Good answer, "It Depends" fits for so many things, and yep, I was thinking the same thing about the Sodbusters too, jinx! and that they would not look proper with any thing other than how they were made.
Thanks, and thanks for the images too, that TC has me looking for those also, bold lettering helps too !

Edited to add, Vance, that bailed folder, I'm not partial to bails but that sure looks nice !
G2

 

[kamagong]

Looking for a Charlow? I know a guy.

- Christian

 

[jc57]

I personally prefer bolsters on both ends, with a shield of some kind, plain or with a company logo either way. The exception is with some patterns like Barlows that traditionally only have the one, extra-long bolster.

I like fluted bolsters but not pinched ones for some reason. I have never been a fan of the bolsterless shadow-bone variety. It makes them look like the "economy" version, that they had to cut some corners to save a few dollars. However, in a pattern like a Sodbuster, I find it acceptable because they are *supposed* to be economy knives.

I guess I just like the extra bling.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Good point, threaded or fluted bolsters, I do like that bit of touch on there too, just shows a little more attention was given to it, more blingness I supposes
G2

 

[MarkPinTx]

I am firmly in the "it depends" camp. Along these lines, do bolsters really lend strength? Seems that any strength would be dependent upon the strength of the pin, which in most cases is of the same material (no?). Anyone have a shadow pattern fail when they believe a bolstered pattern would not? Also I see some references to steel liners and bolsters on some of the GECs and there was iron and steel on the Heritage models. What are the relative merits of these materials. In my mind the milled steel frames of the custom are a benefit for strength and scratch resistance. On the other hand, steel liners and bolsters used to be thr mark of an economy knife (I think this is the reason on the Heritage models).

 

[quattromori]

Yes, it depends.
And aside from personal taste, I think it depends alot on the pattern.
Knives with blades on both ends (like a penknife, stockman, cattle knife, congress and so on) just look better with double bolsters, and weird with single bolsters.
Knives with blades on one end (like a jackknife, sodbuster and such) allow to a wider range of options to my eyes (single bolsters, double bolsters, shadow). As a general rule, I prefer these knives with single bolsters but the frame is the key. For example, on serpentine frames, I like double bolsters as well. On teardrop, sleeveboard, and equal end frames, I prefer the bare-head option.
Sometimes, some knives just look fine in both versions, if the design of the knife and the bolsters is well proportioned.

Fausto

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Yep, materials make a difference, in my mind I see the double bolsters as protecting the scale material for any fall hazard, less chipping/splitting if it hits on the bolster than the scale material itself, but that's just in my mind, and I think that most people wouldn't want to spend much time in there
G2

 

[Hammer67]

On some knives that already have a lot going on, pinched bolsters make the knife look a little too "busy" for my tastes. But I do like them on this #55:

 

[C Ben Susrool]

I personally prefer bolsters on both ends, with a shield of some kind, plain or with a company logo either way. The exception is with some patterns like Barlows that traditionally only have the one, extra-long bolster.

I like fluted bolsters but not pinched ones for some reason. I have never been a fan of the bolster less shadow-bone variety. It makes them look like the "economy" version, that they had to cut some corners to save a few dollars. However, in a pattern like a Sodbuster, I find it acceptable because they are *supposed* to be economy knives.

I guess I just like the extra bling.

I agree with this.
Don't mean to hi-jack Gary's thread, but it begs the question,why is a bare butt called a bare head?

 

[black mamba]

My preference is simple: if there's a pivot, there should be a bolster. No pivot, no bolster. I like to see the cover material.

And fancy is good. Rat-tailed, lined, pinched, engraved, grooved . . . YES!

 

[MarkPinTx]

Good point on protecting the bone. I have never broken any but I dropped a g10 Case that might have been interesting without the bolster. I was thinking of joint strength. I tend to like my bolsters capable of being shined up. Some of my Cases in particular (seems to happen to the smaller bolsters) get so scratched up as to be unshineable. Looks like the GECs are carbon steel? I like the idea of the 410 ss I believe the custom makers use for that reason. Satin bolsters are probably nice can't think of any ive had.

 

[Doug Add]

If you went solely by looking at my pocket knives you would say I prefer double bolstered construction. I currently own just two single-bolstered knives and one shadow pattern.

Honestly though, I prefer the visual aesthetic of a single bolster on many knives, but for some reason not on equal end frames, or square end frames. I think the bare end looks better if it is wider than the bolstered end, and rounded.

For example, I think this 6292 would look odd without both bolsters.

Just to confuse things a bit, by contradicting myself (about the bare end being wider), I think this copperhead would look fine as a bare end.