Pre-1940 Ulster Jack - Different for an unusual reason

[knifeaholic]

This is an older pre-1940's Ulster jack.

Unusual shield...but also a VERY odd thing...the blade end bolsters are iron rat-tail bolsters. The cap bolsters are nickel silver.

When I got this knife initially I noted the heavy patina on the blade end bolsters but I assumed that they were nickel silver like the cap bolsters, just very heavily tarnished, maybe from the knife sitting long-term with one end exposed to moisture and the other end protected. But when I tested them with a magnet recently I was VERY surprised.

I had never seen nor heard of mixed bolster materials on the same knife until this one.

[OLDE CUTLER]

That is really strange, have not seen or heard of that. Do you think anything on the knife has been replaced or been apart? If not then it must have left the factory that way.

[knifeaholic]

That is really strange, have not seen or heard of that. Do you think anything on the knife has been replaced or been apart? If not then it must have left the factory that way.

No, it has never been monkeyed with.

[sharpike]

I have a three line Camillus which I think to be a gunstock, which has the same method of construction.

[kootenay joe]

It looks to be an old knife from early Ulster Knife Co. days. Perhaps it was made at the change from iron bolsters & caps to nickle-silver ? We know that knife manufacturers made use of all parts until all were gone.
kj

[LongBlade]

This is an older pre-1940's Ulster jack.

Unusual shield...but also a VERY odd thing...the blade end bolsters are iron rat-tail bolsters. The cap bolsters are nickel silver.

When I got this knife initially I noted the heavy patina on the blade end bolsters but I assumed that they were nickel silver like the cap bolsters, just very heavily tarnished, maybe from the knife sitting long-term with one end exposed to moisture and the other end protected. But when I tested them with a magnet recently I was VERY surprised.

I had never seen nor heard of mixed bolster materials on the same knife until this one.

Cool knife Steve ... Since you noted you had never seen this before (and no doubt it is rare) - Miller Bros also made a Hunter with an iron pivot bolster and a nickel silver rear bolster (as an fyi not my knife anymore as it has moved on from my collection)... Here's a pic just for comparison. I also think NYK made a Hunter very similar but with NYK on the rear silver bolster.

[knifeaholic]

This is an older pre-1940's Ulster jack.

Unusual shield...but also a VERY odd thing...the blade end bolsters are iron rat-tail bolsters. The cap bolsters are nickel silver.

When I got this knife initially I noted the heavy patina on the blade end bolsters but I assumed that they were nickel silver like the cap bolsters, just very heavily tarnished, maybe from the knife sitting long-term with one end exposed to moisture and the other end protected. But when I tested them with a magnet recently I was VERY surprised.

I had never seen nor heard of mixed bolster materials on the same knife until this one.

Cool knife Steve ... Since you noted you had never seen this before (and no doubt it is rare) - Miller Bros also made a Hunter with an iron pivot bolster and a nickel silver rear bolster (as an fyi not my knife anymore as it has moved on from my collection)... Here's a pic just for comparison. I also think NYK made a Hunter very similar but with NYK on the rear silver bolster.


Mark Side DSCN0576.JPG

Thanks, Lee - very interesting!! I would guess that the Miller Brothers that you pictured was made by NYK on contract, as they made them for many other companies.

The only reason that I can think of is that (perhaps) an iron bolster/iron pin combination gives a sturdier pivot that will stand up to more abuse as compared to the softer nickel silver. Just a guess.

[LongBlade]

I agree with you Steve ... I always thought the iron bolster at pivot was more likely to get more "banging" around and the nickel silver was more of an adornment.

[danno50]

Lovely, interesting old knife, Steve! I have this Curtain & Clark gunstock jack which also has an iron rattail bolster and a nickel silver cap. It has been buffed, so the iron bolster is shiny, but a magnet says it is iron.

[msteele6]

Here is an example of the NYK hunter that long blade referred to above, it's not quite as obvious as knifeaholic's example but the bolster is steel and the cap is nickel silver, maybe they felt like the steel was stronger and therefore used it for the bolster where there would be more stress.

[knife7knut]

And just when you think things could not get any stranger.........here is a folding dirk by Edward Barnes & Son that has what appear to be original copper bolsters up front and cast nickel silver fancy rear bolsters.