Garda V18 18x3x2 - Brass

Garda V18 18x3x2 - Brass

"Brass garda" or "brass bolster" is the part of the knife located between the handle and the blade. This is a type of sheath that provides greater stability and reinforcement of the knife structure, and often better control when using the knife. Garda can be made from a variety of materials, including brass, which is a a popular choice due to its durability and aesthetics and ease of machining.

Gardes (Bolsters) are used in Nordic knives as the element that connects the blade of the head to the handle. No factory-made bolster will fit the blade perfectly right away, even despite the pre-shaped hole. Gardes may need a bit of work (with a file and sandpaper) to fit perfectly with the blade and wood you have. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the craft of knifemaking, and a well-executed fit of the guard will be a reward in itself.

If the hole in the throat is too narrow for your blade, you can enlarge it using precision diamond files. If the guard - opening is too wide, see if you can choose a guard with a smaller clearance. If it is not available then there is always the option of making the guard yourself based on a brass spacer (solid or with a hole) or from brass sheet at least 3 mm thick.

Knife guards with a V in the name, e.g. V18, V24, etc. are dedicated to heads typically Scandinavian, e.g. Lauri, in which the cut of the main blade goes all the way to the shank. In the case of throats with the designation R in the name, e.g. R24, R30, etc., are dedicated to heads in which the grinding of the blade goes into a "ricasso", i.e. a blunt part with a rectangular cross-section that connects to the shank, e.g. in Polar heads.

Guard parameters:

• dimensions: 18 x 13 x 2 mm

• hole dimensions: 11x2 mm

Garda will fit the Lauri head and others of similar dimensions, for example:

• Lauri 42 C
• Lauri 42 S
• Lauri 54C