Can I use 440C for bolsters?

rhinoknives

rhinoknives

Well-Known Member
Hello Fellow knife maker Doggers.

I am putting together the materials for some liner lock folders.

Can a use 440C for some bolsters? Heat treated? or would non- HTed work better? Bright satin finish? The plan is to pin the bolsters now, but can I braze 440C?

Any reason I shouldn't do this? Will 440C be usable for a liner lock in terms of its spring ability?

I am in the process of working up a few all steel folding knives with a Gone back theme.
 
Going back to the old days. And I'm talking about 1978. I never used any heat treated parts for bolsters. I used 303 for bolsters and guards. Still use it today on combat pieces. I only use titanium for liner locks. 440C makes good springs for slip joints.
 
440C will not be very corrosion resistant without HT. If you are thinking of using it for liners, it also won't have much spring without HT. This next part, I don't know the answer to. but I wonder if you would need 440C pins to pin the bolsters, or if any old pin would be a close match? I guess you could drill and tap the backside of the bolsters and screw them on from the liner side.
 
You don't want to use 440C for liner lock springs. It will polish out and you will not be able to keep it locked. It will just slide off the back of the tang of the folder blade.
 
Laurence -

Here's my two cents. I built a pair of fixed blade knives with 440C bolsters awhile ago, and overall I liked it. I found matching pin stock on eBay from an aircraft supply company and with a standard peening the connection was invisible even with a total mirror polish.
 
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