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Knives with bolster

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In the knife industry, knives are typically categorized as either having a bolster or not. The bolster is a metal section where the blade transitions to the handle, offering several key functions:​

 

  1. Finger protection (only in case of full bolster)

  2. Balancing the blade and adding more weight to it

  3. Gapless, smooth transition between blade and handle = more hygienic

There are two basic versions of a bolster

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  • a half bolster (A), only covering the connection between blade and handle, but leaving choil and heel of the blade exposed

  • a full bolster (B), where the metal part extends from spine to heel

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The primary advantage of a full bolster is that it offers complete protection for the hand and fingers from the sharp blade. However, the downside is that it prevents the user from using or sharpening the entire blade, particularly the area near the heel, which can reduce the blade’s overall functionality and ease of maintenance over time.

Recently, the bolster has become an area of innovation, with different shapes emerging where the bolster reaches into the blade for superior ergonomics and balance when held in a pinch grip (C).

Half bolster of kitchen knife

A

full bolster of kitchen knife

B

curved bolster of kitchen knife 3/4 bolster

C

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