Dome head pins from brass rod stock?

[Harry Stone]

I'm gradually turning a very old forged chef's knife into an old-west style bowie. I want to put stag scales on it with 1/8" domed head brass pins. Where can I get a rivet set to put the domed head on the pins?

Thanks for any help.

Here's the beast, it has a clip in it now.

 

[Patrickknives]

I make mine from drill rod but I spin to form the head.

 

[B Finnigan]

Or you can peen them. I made a swag block to peen dome head pins. It has four depths drilled at 1/8" with a smaller 1/16" hole all the way through to knock the pins out.

A small ball peen hammer will give a neat texture and I also made a punch for a smooth dome head. The punch was made with a 3/16" ball mill on a chunk of 52100.

A small round end of aluminum with a 3/16 divot ball milled out will protect the dome as you peen the other end.

 

[hammerman]

I make mine from drill rod but I spin to form the head.

I bought on of those head spinners some years ago, but never could get it to work worth a darn...is there a trick ??

 

[Patrickknives]

I can get a spinner to work on softer materials such a nickel steel or brass but not on stainless. Typically I use a swag block like finnigan to make the first head peen and then spin, sand and polish. The swag block has the same countersink angle as I use in the handle materail. I put the pin into the handle and use the spinner as an anvil (I need to try the alum, save some scratches) peen the other side and then set up in the drill press to spin.

The only trick I use is to spin fast for a few seconds and then apply pressure in a even pull until the head starts to form.

 

[azdave35]

please post a pic when your done..i'd like to see how it turns out