Before & After
Years of sharpening had left the full bolster extending below the cutting edge. The bolster contacted the cutting board first, keeping the heel from reaching the board and preventing the rear portion of the edge from completing a cut.
This is one of my personal knives and has been used for many years. The original Henckels blade marking had already worn away, so I also gave the blade a gentle cosmetic polish while completing the repair.
Cosmetic blade polishing is not part of normal sharpening. Polishing can fade or remove logos, etching, model information, and other factory markings. It is only considered when specifically requested and after the possible loss of those markings is understood.
Repeated sharpening gradually moves the cutting edge upward. A full bolster does not wear at the same rate, so it can eventually sit lower than the heel and strike the cutting board first.
When that happens, the last portion of the blade may no longer cut completely through food. Correcting the problem requires removing steel from the bolster and carefully blending the heel so the cutting edge can contact the board continuously again.
Repair Gallery
The three views show the complete knife, the heel while lying flat, and the heel viewed directly along the cutting edge. Click or tap any photograph to open the high-resolution zoom viewer.
Pre
The knife before repair, showing the original heel and bolster relationship as well as age-related staining and surface wear.
Post
The restored knife after the bolster and heel were corrected, the blade was cleaned, and a new cutting edge was established.
Pre
The bolster sits lower than the sharpened edge, creating a gap beneath the heel when the knife rests on a flat surface.
Post
After reduction and reshaping, the heel can once again meet the cutting board without the bolster interfering first.
Pre
Viewed directly along the cutting edge, the low bolster and irregular heel transition are more apparent.
Post
The repaired heel now transitions cleanly into the reduced bolster, allowing the cutting edge to function through its full usable length.
Light corrosion and staining were reduced during this restoration. Deep pitting, scratches, and age-related marks may remain because completely removing them could require excessive steel removal.
On this personal knife, a gentle polish was appropriate because the original Henckels logo was already gone. Customer knives are not normally polished in this manner unless the owner specifically requests it and accepts the risk to any remaining factory markings.
A visible gap beneath the heel, food remaining connected near the handle, or the bolster striking the board first can indicate that bolster reduction and heel-profile correction are needed.
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