Solid nickel,Silver, Stainless, bolsters HOW DO I TELL THE DIFFERENCE ?

[bigfatross]

Hi Gang,
At the risk of showing my knowledge on cutlery, I often see owners of there knifes telling us what the bolsters are made of.
Is there a quick way of telling what my bolsters are made from (Solid nickel,Silver, Stainless)?
I know silver is not magnetic, and nickel IS magnetic, and stainless IS magnetic. So how do you tell between Solid nickel and Stainless?
Thank You in advance!
Ross

[john]

What I have noticed is that stainless isn't polished it typically has more grayish color to it and when it's polished it's very bright like a white. I do not know if what I said makes any sense. Nickel silver is much softer in color it as a yellow tint to it. You can easily tell the difference when both have tarnished.

I hope someone else can give you a better way of telling which is what.

[natcherly]

Stainless, being iron based, does respond to a magnet, although not as strongly as carbon steel. NS does not react at all. I use a magnet out of an old disk drive. Those small magnets have some serious attractive properties. I love to re-purpose stuff.

[sammy the blade]

Stainless, being iron based, does respond to a magnet, although not as strongly as carbon steel. NS does not react at all. I use a magnet out of an old disk drive. Those small magnets have some serious attractive properties. I love to re-purpose stuff.

I like to re-purpose too, that's why you save my brass and beer cans. HO HO!

[Bill DeShivs]

You should acquire known examples of each.
Then you will have something to compare.
Silver is seldom used on knives.

[john]

Hello Ross,
Take a look at the photos in this topic: http://www.talkblade.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24103 or go to Blade Pictures topic Restored Cartailler D & Co. France and compare the bolsters to the stainless blade. Depending upon the lighting you can see how yellowish the nickel silver can appear and also how the same bolster in a different photo can look silver in color. It's really hard to tell stainlhess from nickel silver in a photo. Nickel silver is softer then stainless. Check your collection you might have a nickel silver bolstered knife. If not, it probably won't be long till you do.
John

[bigfatross]

[quote="john"]Hello Ross,
Take a look at the photos in this topic: http://www.talkblade.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24103 or go to Blade Pictures topic Restored Cartailler D & Co. France and compare the bolsters to the stainless blade.

Hey John,
NICE JOB on that knife! I see what you are talking about looking at your photos, thank you!

And thanks to all for the info!

[john]

You're welcome I'm glad I could help you even if it was just a tiny bit.

Thank you for the compliment. The knife needed a lot of TLC. These knives originally came with black plastic checkered scales with beveled edges. I almost checkered the handles, but I thought better of it. I left the slabs of French tiph horn smooth. I really like how it came out. It took some time and a lot of patience.
Thanks again,
John