Slipjoint terminology

[silenthunterstudios]

If you have a knife without metal bolsters, but you have a micarta bolster, is the knife a shadow, or a barehead? For instance, I have Zulu and Lannys Clip patterns from Dr Taber. Both have red bone scales and metal bolsters, therefore, barehead knives. I also have a Zulu from J Oeser. It has a micarta bolster over a micarta handle, two different colors. Would that still be considered a shadow or a barehead?

I know pictures would be a big help, I will see if I can host them on my phone and then share them.

 

[Jack Black]

I think they'd still be Shadow patterns Dan :thumbup:

 

[ConBon]

Technically they have a bolster, but it's not metal or stronger than the handle, so it doesn't give them any bolster benefits. I would call it a mixed handle, like having multiple materials glued together (such as the canvas in micarta) except in a different direction. Shadow gets my vote.

Connor

 

[Jsega51]

If the pivot is exposed, it's a shadow pattern. The micarta on some knives is made to represent a bolster, but a true bolster it is not. Barehead is any knife without an end cap, has nothing to do with the bolster.

Shadow:



Barehead:



End capped:

 

[Primble]

If the pivot is exposed, it's a shadow pattern. The micarta on some knives is made to represent a bolster, but a true bolster it is not. Barehead is any knife without an end cap, has nothing to do with the bolster.

End capped:

This begs the question - have you ever seen a shadow with an end cap? I think Jack and Jake's answers are dead on. Jake that may the best knife you have, IMO - possibly because it has ancestorial qualities which makes me think of a few old Catts. Wonder how it might look with a worm groove down the middle?

 

[Jsega51]

Haha, Rob I actually thought when writing my explanation that "someone is gonna ask about a shadow with an end cap", and no I don't think I've ever seen one. I think it would look really odd!

I'll be sure to bring that Davison to Rendezvous...

 

[justsomedude]

I think the answer here is, it doesn't matter.

I'm not trying to be facetious, I just think that the whole point of these terms is to convey an idea while leaving as little room for misinterpretation or confusion as possible. Given that rationale, "This knife is a shadow pattern with micarta bolster" and, "This knife is a bareheaded pattern with micarta bolster" seem equally clear to me.

Now some examples I think are more ambiguous, such as this one:

Which do you think describes the above knife better?
Shadow pattern with blackwood scales and micarta bolster
or
Bareheaded with blackwood scales and micarta bolster

I think Bareheaded is better, and if the only difference between that knife and the OP's is that the bolster and scale are different materials then inductive reasoning would state that Bareheaded is the better term for OP's knife. Which is all the more interesting because my initial reaction was the same as Jack's but now I'm thinking otherwise.

Still, in the end, not much room for confusion with either term.

 

[Jsega51]

I understand what you're saying Justsomedude. Traditionally speaking, bolsters are made from metal and cover the joint, whereas a shadow pattern does not have these.

Here's some definitions from GEC's website:

Bolster-
A smooth, rounded piece of metal, usually nickel silver, located on the end of a knife handle for added strength, protection of the cover, and improved appearance.

Cap End-
The end of a jack knife opposite from the end with the blade or blades.

Bare Head-
A pocket knife without bolsters on the cap end.

I would say that your knife is a shadow pattern. As Primble pointed out, you can't have a barehead without having a bolster at the blade end. I guess that would be called a cap ended shadow and I'm sure it would be bad luck to own one or really bad luck for anyone to make one since they aren't around!