HOBBY: Kolinsky-Sable . . . what the heck does it really mean?

Do you know where your brush has been?

Greetings fellow wargamers!  Caleb with White Metal Games here!

You can’t paint a miniature without hear about the  quality of the kolinsky-sable line of brushes.  Generally speaking these are thought of as a Roles Royce of painting brushes.  But then I began to ask myself . . . why is that the case?  Why are these brushes considered so great, and what the heck does Kolinsky-Sable mean?  The answer might surprise you.

But before I answer that, let me ask you this . . . how many of you stick your brush in your mouth from time to time?  I know I have.  Well, I might not be so quick to do so again.  

Ostensibly there is no such thing as a Kolisnksy-Sable.  Here’s why:

The Kolonok (hence Kolinsky) is a Siberian weasel native to parts of Asia, highly prized for its fur, in particular by . . . you guessed it . . . the paint brush industry.  And before you worry, the kolononk is not currently at risk for extinction.

The sable is a close relative to the weasel.  Sables live in Russia, Siberia, Kazakhstan (yes, it’s a real place), Mongolia, China, Korea, and Japan, and is historically prized for its fur.  Red Sable is obtained from any weasel with “red” hair, but ironically NOT from the animal known as the sable.  A quality pure red sable brush is a good alternative to the more expensive Kolinsky with similar performance and durability.

Kolinsky brushes are packaged as ‘Kolinsky Red Sable’ or just ‘Kolinsky’ while the name ‘Red Sable’, ‘Fine Sable’ or ‘Sable’ is reserved for non-Kolinsky brushes made from the hair of other animals in the weasel family.

Kolinsky-Sable Brushes in fact contain no sable hair at all.  The finest K-S brushes contain all male kolonsk fur, but many K-S brushes contain as much as 40% female fur. The hair used is primarily from the tail of the kolonosk, which is the bushiest and most responsive; because of its strength, spring, and ability to retain shape (“snap”), it is considered the finest fiber for brushes in the world.  If properly cared for, it will last for many years.

The Kolonosk is known for being able to thrive in freezing wet conditions. Their fur was an evolutionary improvement because it would easily release all the moisture it held. The brush is great for what it releases rather than for what it holds, and the hairs are stronger than any sable or ermine hairs which are too soft and break easily with heavy use. 

Kolinsky bristles tend to be pale red in colour with darker tips. The weasel is not an animal that is raised well in captivity, and is generally isolated to the geographical region of Siberia. Due to this difficulty in harvesting the hair, and the fact that other natural and artificial bristles are not comparable in quality, these bristles are extremely valuable and consequently expensive. 

It should be noted that some believe it is unwise to use K-S brushes with acrylic paint due to the nature of the polymer emulsion that eventually dries out the hairs and causes them to break.  However, simple application of some brush soap or even a little shampoo/conditioner will help to restore the brushes luster. 

So, there you have it, more than you ever wanted to know about Kolinsky- Sable brushes and their origins.

But how do they perform?  Well, for that you’re just going to have to try them out yourself.  Spend a few extra bucks and pick up a K-S brush and then you’ll really be able to . . . you guessed it . . .

PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!!

Caleb
White Metal Games

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