All About Pocket Knives

Is there an accepted date range when iron bolsters and liners ceased to be in use?? I think this probably varies depending on the manufacturer or where the knife came from (ie Germany, England or USA)?? I have looked through Goin's and Levine's books and also the fifth edition of the Standard Knife Collector's Guide by Stewart and Ritchie. The only reference I can find is in Levine where he says that integral iron bolsters and liners are generally before circa 1860. I realize that there is likely no simple answer to this question but maybe someone can direct me to a reference book which may have more information.
Also, I am assuming that any bolster attracted by a magnet is considered iron??

Thanks
Dan

I found a general answer to my question in the Knife Lore forum in a thread titled Knives Made Before 1960. Quoting MILLER BRO's:
"I find that the early knives used a lot of steel liners, bolsters and pins. After the 1930's most all knives made had brass liners and pins, the fancy pearl models used nickle silver. Then around the start of WWII they had to use steel again, due to war time shortages."
I am assuming that the term iron bolsters (referred to by Levine and other posts I have read) and steel bolsters are somewhat interchangeable.
I am still interested in any other information anyone cares to share on this subject.

Thanks
Dan

I think I can add something here.
Concerning the reference in Levine's, regarding the term "integral iron liners & bolsters" , integral should be emphasized. I think this refers to a "one piece construction" where the liners and bolsters were made from one piece of steel or iron. Evidently, after the 1860s, liners and bolsters parts were made seperately, and then were pieced together in the assembly process. I have an American Knife Company Plymouth c.1849-75 that has this integral liner and bolster, which I have taken a few pictures of below.

Roger, I think I see the line between the bolster and liner in your first picture. Can you do a close up?

upnorth wrote:Roger, I think I see the line between the bolster and liner in your first picture. Can you do a close up?

I think if you click on the picture, then a full screen version will come up. I think that is shadowing from the light shining on the top ridge of the bolster. The bolster scallops down from this ridge, creating that look in the picture. But I've had it under magnification, 10x, 25x, and it is one piece.

Roger, Thanks for the additional info.

Dan

I have always been under the impression that integral iron liners/bolsters were of early(pre-1870)era knives but in another book(one of BRL's I think)they stated that the practice was continued on pruner knives up into the 1930's.And integral liners/bolsters of nickel silver were commonplace on inexpensive German knives in the 1920's and 30's.
I have a Saynor pruner with not only integral liners/bolsters but the backspring is of single thin piece of steel that is bent around about 180 degrees at the rear instead of being blanked out;obviously a forging.
Another unusual piece I have pictured is a pair of Joseph Rodgers miniature(about 3"long total) ivory scaled scissors.Each side of this is made from a single piece of steel(bolsters,both liners,and the scissors blade)with the exception of the backspring.Quite a feat even today.

knife7knut, that is one very unusual cutting implement. Boggles the mind thinking about how that was made. If it was carried it must have been in a sheath.
thanks
Dan

danno50 wrote:knife7knut, that is one very unusual cutting implement. Boggles the mind thinking about how that was made. If it was carried it must have been in a sheath.
thanks
Dan

Actually I do have the sheath for it(shown in the pictures).It is made of an extremely thin piece of nickel silver(I thought it was tinfoil at first)and the tip is missing which exposes the points of the scissors so it wouldn't be too practical to carry.I have seen another pair of these with pearl scales but they were in pretty sad shape.Somebody evidently wanted them because they were sold when I went back a few days later.

that is cool!!! I never saw one before thanks for posting it!

Hey Nut that is one cool tool Never have I seen anything like it.