Why don't production companies make more bolstered designs?

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mbp

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Jan 26, 2015
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I love the look of a modern knife with a contrasting bolster, and have owned many such customs in the past. However, very few of these designs are being made by the big production companies, and I wonder why? With so many collaboration knives being produced, one would think that more of these would pop up. I did recently see the Spyderco Myrtle which has beautiful marble CF scales and TI bolster, and if it didn't have a goofy blade shape I'd snap one up.

I'd love to see Spyderco particularly tackle more bolstered designs in the future, especially with the incredible work their Taichung factory is putting out lately. What do you guys think?
 
Considering modern folder designs and the way in which these folders are commonly used I would imagine bolsters do not add any meaningful amount of rigidity to the pivot area versus a titanium lined or titanium scale design.
 
I simply feel American knife making is in a rut of "how little work can we do and still charge top dollar for it". And when companies do go the extra mile they ask an arm and a leg. Whether this trend was due to the war (affecting titanium pricing, less skilled workers etc), market trends (wanting more basic utilitarian designs whilst retaining high end materials) or a combination of both I really don't know. Bolsters just seem to fit in the fluff category where no one wants to pay extra for it as a cosmetic detail. And the companies that are doing it are using cheap materials and most have poor fit and finish. Id like to see more companies try and push the limits of what can be done and keep the prices realistic. But I don't know if it can be done here any longer.
 
CornSyrup said:
Considering modern folder designs and the way in which these folders are commonly used I would imagine bolsters do not add any meaningful amount of rigidity to the pivot area versus a titanium lined or titanium scale design.
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PURPLEDC said:
I simply feel American knife making is in a rut of "how little work can we do and still charge top dollar for it". And when companies do go the extra mile they ask an arm and a leg. Whether this trend was due to the war (affecting titanium pricing, less skilled workers etc), market trends (wanting more basic utilitarian designs whilst retaining high end materials) or a combination of both I really don't know. Bolsters just seem to fit in the fluff category where no one wants to pay extra for it as a cosmetic detail. And the companies that are doing it are using cheap materials and most have poor fit and finish. Id like to see more companies try and push the limits of what can be done and keep the prices realistic. But I don't know if it can be done here any longer.
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Good posts, with respect to adding rigidity/etc agreed that adding bolsters doesn't help functionally. It is definitely an aesthetic touch. But look at the Spyderco Nirvana... an integral design doesn't add much (if any) extra functionality either, yet Spyderco did it, charges a huge premium for it, and has sold tons of them to great fanfare. So why this design choice when just adding a titanium bolster to a CF or G10 scale requires little to no additional work?

I agree with your post PURPLEDC. Production companies nowadays are just trying to churn out the next "hot" design without doing much extra work. It's usually a titanium framelock flipper with some gimmick added or maker's name slapped on it. I also see knife companies no longer focusing on elegant or "gentleman's" type designs which is really where my taste is. That isn't terribly surprising I guess because the market as a whole has been demanding the "overbuilt" aesthetic for years now.
 
I love the old traditional designs, esp. the barlow. I found several modern, non-traditional versions in the past. The Kershaw Crown is my favorite. Browning and Remington both made thumb stud linerlocks in a barlow style but I don't see them on anyone's site now. It is a wonderful development IMHO. Great old style with modern convenience of a linerlock. I also see Rough Rider is making a liner lock stockman and several other traditional designs with non-traditional mechanisms. One of the prettiest ones for me is the CRKT M4 A/O with wood scales and a barlow style bolster. It's also available with stag scales (wood is just warmer in the hand for me).

pic from Knife Center:
https://images.knifecenter.com/thumb/1500x1500/knifecenter/crk/images/M4-02W.jpg

What I really don't like about many of the current (and expensive) non-traditionals is that they basically look like techno-freak frankenknives - just plain ugly!

Rich
 
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mbp said:
I love the look of a modern knife with a contrasting bolster, and have owned many such customs in the past. However, very few of these designs are being made by the big production companies, and I wonder why? With so many collaboration knives being produced, one would think that more of these would pop up. I did recently see the Spyderco Myrtle which has beautiful marble CF scales and TI bolster, and if it didn't have a goofy blade shape I'd snap one up.

I'd love to see Spyderco particularly tackle more bolstered designs in the future, especially with the incredible work their Taichung factory is putting out lately. What do you guys think?
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One Eyed Jack, coming from Spyderco soon I hope.

15875926_1301679606619413_5447630844871049216_n.jpg
 
I do enjoy a good bolster. Love my buck paradigm. When done right a bolster adds a lot of class to a modern folder or fix blade.
 
The Spyderco is nice, but IMHO would be much prettier with just plain walnut or cocobolo handles. Don't care for the heart,spade,etc. inlays.

Rich
 
Mixed bolsters can be a hit or miss for me. I've probably seen more misses then hits. Granted, many are on custom folders. I'm content with a slab of g10 or micarta.
 
I like bolsters, and I REALLY like double bolsters.

I would guess that it would be more costly for production knife companies TO makes knives with bolsters.
 
That Spyderco One Eyed Jack would be fantastic if it wasn't for the hideous inlays...
 
I'm almost certain it's a cost vs. profit issue. Mass-produced means much lower profit margins per piece sold, means as low production costs as possible. I have seen custom scale makers do bolstered/combo designs here on the forums that don't cost that much more, than their regular pieces, I have also seen some that cost up to 50% more. That says to me that it is easier and effective for some workflows and not others.

As to manufacturers, we're talking about increasing the cost of the knife anywhere from $50-(maybe even)$150 per piece (I'm really just pulling that figure out of the air, but it feels like it's reasonable), and that is significant enough to change the class of knife that they are selling, thus reducing the number of knives they can expect to sell, yada yada yada.
 
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