Finishing pins on textured scales

[benjamin2515101]

If you have stag, ram or other textured scales, how can you finish peened pins or Corby style rivets without sanding into the material? I know you can round them with a punch but is there another way to keep them from feeling like they have sharp edges?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Use a ball burr in a dremmel or flexshaft. Shape them to be even with the surfaces and matching in contour. You can texture them as needed to make an even better match. Done right it will make folks say, "How the heck did he fit that rivet?"

 

[parbajtor]

You can use a hollow punch to round off the rivets when setting them.
With corbys I usually try to continue the textures into the rivets using the dremel.
I dislike doing this on stag as it's so easy to slip into the antler with the disks.

 

[Horsewright]

I've had really good luck using a flap sanding wheel (120 grit) on the dremel. If you're careful you can match the pin right up to the texture of the stag.