Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

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Miller Bro's
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Miller Bro's »

LongBlade wrote:what's the pattern for those pearl bolsters and maker? Looks like ebony scales? I would hate to drop that knife on its end...
It`s a big Wostenholm folding hunter, the handles are actually horn :wink:
danno50 wrote:Seems to me it would be very difficult to peen the pin tight enough to hold the knife together without cracking or damaging the pearl?
Dan
No problem Dan if you have the correct hammer, actually pearl is not as fragile as you might think. The hole is slightly enlarged on top of the pearl handle then the pin is carefully hammered to created an enlarged head which will tighten down the pearl and hold the knife end together, then the excess pin is filed down flush with the pearl.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by LongBlade »

[quote= It`s a big Wostenholm folding hunter, the handles are actually horn :wink: [/quote]

That is pretty amusing and would have been my last guess - for those fancy pants hunters in days of yore :lol: :wink: ... be cool to see that knife for sure!!
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by danno50 »

[/quote]No problem Dan if you have the correct hammer, actually pearl is not as fragile as you might think. The hole is slightly enlarged on top of the pearl handle then the pin is carefully hammered to created an enlarged head which will tighten down the pearl and hold the knife end together, then the excess pin is filed down flush with the pearl.[/quote]

Thanks for the explanation.
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Miller Bro's »

I like this bolster too............
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Lansky1 »

I really like the slanted bolster Case's - have one of these on the way...
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by dcgm4 »

I agree with you, Lansky. It's a small detail, but slanted bolsters certainly improve the look of a knife. ::nod::
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by dcgm4 »

Here's a knife marked Marsh Bros & Co's Celebrated Cutlery. The pearl was carved to flow with the bolsters, similar to the horn scales on this Wm. Elliot & Co jack.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Dinadan »

Dave - those fluted bolsters are really different. Very cool knives!
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by dcgm4 »

Thanks, Mel! :D
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by danno50 »

Really like those fluted bolsters and handles. ::tu:: Great old knives, to boot!
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by dcgm4 »

Thanks, Dan. :) I just wish they were in better condition. Oh well. ::smirk::
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by LongBlade »

Those are awesome bolsters on both knives Dave ::tu:: but that Elliot Sheffield Jack is so cool in the way the jigging is symmetrical with the fluting on the bolsters ::drool::
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Beechtree »

K7K, the quill knife marked Quills16 is beautiful.

I agree with all those in the thread, Dave, those Elliots are really swell!

With unusual “tulip” cut bolsters, this German (not so marked), Barmen Export Co. (BEG), looks to be from the 1900s-20s?. It measures 3.5" without the bail, the back-spring and blade are hand forged and it has French Ivory handles.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by danno50 »

Beechtree, that is different one, very nice!
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Beechtree »

Thanks Dan!
Here is another interesting bolstered knife. A Japanese barlow style, I would guess from the 1950-60s. It has integral steel liner/bolsters that are threaded and with beveled edges. The buffalo handles have 5 pins on one and 4 on the other. The blade is marked JAP, has a glaze grind and the matchup of the back and the spring is fantastic. The style is reminiscent, albeit less refined and likely ancestral to Dale's terrific Al Mar on pg. 6. I'll occasionally slip this one in the pocket as it is such a comfortable knife to use.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by wlf »

Dimitri ,as usual,you have much to add to any thread. Thanks Lansky,and Dave those are two great examples for this thread,real cutlery artwork.

Bt lovely knives,steel pins must have some chronological importance? That Japanese knife looks more like a custom,the decorated pins. Thanks for the detailed information in your posts.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by leggo »

Some CASE worked bolsters .
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by knife7knut »

wlf wrote:
Bt lovely knives,steel pins must have some chronological importance? That Japanese knife looks more like a custom,the decorated pins. Thanks for the detailed information in your posts.
I agree;that does not look like a Japanese knife. The letters may be the maker's initials and it looks a lot older than the 1950's. Horn handles are almost non-existent on Japanese knives but were popular on English knives. The existence of the extra pin on the handle is most unusual. Wonder if it may have been installed to help hold that side down better due to the horn curling.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by Beechtree »

Thanks for the compliments all.
K7K, take a look at Dales Al Mar on page 6 of this thread and I think you will see the resemblance (water buffalo horn, shape of handle, beveled bolster edge, etc.).
Their are a few reasons I would guess the 1950's, although it does have a certain old style; The font of the JAP is San serif and reminds me of the British arrow markings during WWII (utilizing simple straight lines), the blade and spring appear to be punch pressed and not hand forged. This being said, the pins are hand hammered and not spun. Lyle, the pins appear to be fancy due to the photo but they are just simple steel. I would guess this was constructed during the industrialization post-WWII. A very well made knife.
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by thefarside »

First Photo is a Schatt & Morgan - slanted, grooved and pinched bolsters
Second Photo - a couple of old Daddy Barlows - Robeson and a Hibbard
Third Photo - Slanted and grooved bolster Kutmaster
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

My favorite bolsters on one of my favorite knives, a circa 1910 - 1916, Terrier Cutlery Company 3 3/8" standard Barlow with "TCC" stamped into the face of the bolsters.

Even though it says, "TCC", if you look at it long enough, it seems to become the stylized face of a mustachioed man wearing pince-nez glasses.

Always makes me think of William Powell in the classic and very funny movie, "Life With Father".

I guess the case could be made that it resembles a balance scale.

I still see William Powell.....

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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by LongBlade »

Not only lovely bolsters Charlie but that bone is so nice with that worm groove among the jigging ::tu:: ... now I can't look at the TCC either without seeing the face :)
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Pete Cohan, who has collected hundreds, if not thousands, of Barlow knives, tells me this is the only one of these he has ever seen.

Don't know how that effects value, there aren't that many Terrier collectors.

Charlie
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by peanut740 »

Charlie I agree. ::tu::
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Re: Big, Bad, Boring or Beautiful Bolsters

Post by wlf »

You have made me a big Terrier fan Charlie. That bolster stamp leaves a very desirable impression.
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