Nickle silver

[Scotchman]

Nickle (spelling) silver is not supposed to be attracted to a magnet, right? If a strong magnet sticks, could it be the result of it attracting the steel spring? I really don't get the theory. I have a knife ( don't want to say where I got it ), in the specs. it says nickle silver bolsters, but, a magnet sticks.

[Scotchman]

All of my 3 knives bolsters look the same and I'm assuming they are ss.

[Scotchman]

Am I using too strong of a magnet. It's a type of magnet that keeps a glass front stereo cabinet closed. I think that's where it came from. It is pretty small, but, strong.

[natcherly]

Nickel does respond to a magnet field and can be made magnetic. When alloyed with copper and zinc, I'm not so sure. I use a magnet out of a hard drive for testing various things. They are small but extremely powerful magnets; much more that those used in latches. Nickel silver does not respond to them.

Perhaps the bolsters are stainless steel. Some stainless bolsters can really look like nickel silver depending on the alloy and finish. One or two makers use those for their swivel bolster models out of fear that NS bolsters will wear while being swiveled against the lock tab. SS bolsters are more sturdy.

[Bill DeShivs]

There is too much steel in a knife to use a magnet to test anything.
Why not just show us a good picture of the knife?

[john]

Hi Scotchman,
Nickel silver has a soft warm color more like sterling silver. It polishes beautifully with a luster that outshines stainless steel. If the nickel silver is tarnished you'll see that it has a very different color from stainless; stainless does not tarnish like nickel silver. The nickel silver will look cloudy when it's tarnished.
Like Bill said post a photo.
John

[Scotchman]

I will try to take a good pic of it, the lighting in my apt. isn't the best. I don't really mind either way ( nickle or steel ), I just don't want to be mislead/lied to.

[Scotchman]

IMG_20170905_153153.jpg (742.61 KiB) Viewed 2959 times

[Scotchman]

IMG_20170905_160026.jpg (104 KiB) Viewed 2959 times

[Bill DeShivs]

Those bolsters are steel. Plain, low carbon steel, like on all the lower priced modern stilettos.

[Scotchman]

I thought they were. Thanks Bill.

[john]

At first glance the top bolster definitely looked like steel. If all I could see was the bottom bolster I'd say it almost looks like nickel silver because of the discoloration of the steel. Photos can fool the eye. But in this case Bill is right. If the bolsters were polished it would be obvious that they're steel.

[Scotchman]

Yeah, I've handled the knife alot. Wished I did not.

[Scotchman]

Bottom bolster was as shiny as top.

[john]

Bottom bolster was as shiny as top.

It may be my screen the top looks more shiny in the bottom one looks very dull.