MOP delimma

[AUBE]

i think i recall from my college metallurgy books, titanium being the most abundant metal in the earths crust...its the refining that raises the price so high.
but dont worry, since titanium is a "newer" found metal, refining processes are getting more productive so in about 200 years we should be able to get it at a decent price

-Jason Aube

[Ray Rogers]

Yep, I went to the doctor and he said I have butt bolsters and there's not much they can do for me.

I believe they are just called bolsters, Robert .........

[Don Robinson]

Originally posted by rhrocker
Ok, thanks Don, I follow what you're telling me. I notice that most use the straight cut. Even ol' Ray R does in his tutorial. So, that's what I'll do.
Back to the MOP situation, I have another observation: I've noticed that some (not a lot) put a little "2nd" bolster (there's probably a correct name for it) on the butt of the handle. I guess this is for both visual and strength reasons. Strength meaning if the knife were dropped, and were to land on the back edge of the MOP (which of course it would), the little bolster would keep it from chipping. Is there some other reason for the butt-bolster, and what on earth is the name of that thing?

As far as i know, those are called bolsters too. They are there to protect the handle scales as you say, and on a lockback, for the pins that hold the backspacer in place.

I prefer not to use the back bolsters because they add weight where you don't need it and, for me at least, ruin the looks of a pocket knife.

[rhrocker]

Yep, I went to the doctor and he said I have butt bolsters and there's not much they can do for me.

I believe they are just called bolsters, Robert .........

Well by gosh I'm going think up a name for them and become famous. Let's see, "Rays Butt Bolsters", no, that's not quite right, the "RBB", no, well heck, will work on that one.

I'm not going to use Rays Butt B's anyway, for the reason you mention Don, sort of ruins the look. Anyway, I paid a lot of $$ for the MOP, and I'm going to put every square inch on that Ti that I can.
Now, If I can just get over being mad because my nice new 3/16's reamer checks out at .1875, and my #### 3/16's storebought barrel pivots are .1755. Of course I learned this after happily inserting the 1/8th stop pin in it's hole, which was perfect, then got ready to really press hard on the barrel pivot and it dropped through and fell on the floor. I've never tried to make anything that small. Probably a piece of cake for the Don's on the forum, but not for at least one Robert.

[striper28]

Where did you buy the pivots from? If they are .010 undersize send them back, if they were 1.865 that would be no big deal.

[Don Robinson]

Robert, that's why I told you to use straight pivot pins, and to get them from Halpern's. See the book.

[rhrocker]

Don, I think that they carry 3 styles of pivots, which do you consider the best? I can make changes. Right now, the only thing that's done are two really precision matching .050 Ti liners. For the record, I'm going all out on this folder, and refuse to use anything not up to par. I ordered the 1/8 and 3/16 reamers in order to build a presicion knife, so I won't consider the undersized pivot.

[Don Robinson]

I use only the straight pins. A press fit isn't necessary. Halpern's straight pins are always right on size. Since you already have a 3/16" hole in your liners, use a 3/16" straight pivot pin with 4-40 internal threads. Use 1/8" straight pivot pins for the rest, that way you can use 2-56 flat head screws to hold the assembly together and hide them under the scales.

[rhrocker]

I called Marianne and ordered several of each, thinking that for some reason the 3/16 just won't work, I'll go to the .25, I have a reamer for that also.

If I ever put the little bolsters on the butt end of a folder, I'm calling it the "rear end cap". There, I've named something on a folder.

[Don Robinson]

You may have started a new fad. Most people I know who wear a cap wear it on the front end.

Now if I see some kid wearing a cap on his other end, I'll know he's been talking to you.

[rhrocker]

Ok, I've decided that "Back Cap" sounds better. So from now on it's Back Cap (well, on my knives anyway