Great Eastern Bail Removal Question

[traumkommode]

Howdy, porch dwellers. I have searched and found a few threads with pieces of the information I'm looking for, but I would like to ask this question - for those of you who have removed the bail from something like a #33 Conductor or a #68 White Owl and NOT peened the pin down; simply removed it and left the brass tube like a lanyard tube - how has the knife held up? Has that tube shifted and sacrificed your pen blade? Or is it in there pretty sturdily?

I was searching for a stainless Conductor, and recently got one with elk covers. I'm not digging the bail, but that's my only complaint about the knife, it is otherwise perfect.

I appreciate any input you have.

 

[Ernie1980]

I do not have either of those knives, but have removed the bail from a couple of different knives. In both cases, I trimmed the pin and then peened it down because the blades developed play. This knife had a bail originally:

 

[traumkommode]

Thanks man. I ended up just snipping the bail down as far as I could get it to the pin, and then buffed everything smooth and shiny. Wanted to leave the pin for the structural integrity of the knife, and didn't want to peen.

 

[LastRodeo]

Could you post a picture?

 

[Ernie1980]

Yes, a picture please!

 

[traumkommode]

Sure! Take a look:

At some point I may go the peening route, because I don't have snips small enough to trim that pointy end down to where it's just a circle, and I would like it to look cleaner than it does right now. But we'll see.