How many of us actually rivet the scale pins?

[Dmitry.M]

I know some people simply put the straight pins with epoxy and call it a "rivet".
So... what can you say?

 

[tedinatl]

I don't call the "rivets" if I don't peen them - I just call them pins then.

 

[watercrawl]

I don't call anything a rivet unless it's a rivet...which I've never actually used.

I used straight pins until I had someone leave a knife in a hot ass car and the epoxy melted and the scales came loose slightly. Since I've used corby bolts, at least one per handle.

 

[Big Barn]

+1 to tedinatl

 

[LRB]

To be period correct, I rivet these on my trade scalper knives, but on most others, they are pins. However, when using pins, I drill many connecting holes through the tang for the epoxy to "bridge" the scales together. A few years back, a customer wanted ivory scales on a knife of mine he had carried a for a few years. This knife had black buffalo horn scales. The pins came out easily with a hammer and punch, but after trying to break the horn loose with a 4 lb hammer, I ended up having to burn them off. Below is a typical English scalper of the 18th c. with a partial tang and one piece boxwood grip. No epoxy used in these. The half tang is tapered to a near knife edge, the grip is slotted with a V cut, and held only with the three rivets.

 

[Dixieblade57]

Depending on the scales I usually peen the pin. Some bone if I am going to peen I countersink ever so slightly to all for the mushroom. However in some cases where I am really worried about breaking the scale I sometimes just file off flush!

 

[Bill DeShivs]

If you are going to the trouble of installing pins, it only makes sense to peen them. Handles have been secured with peened pins for centuries.
Of course this does not apply to mosaic pins-which, like platform shoes, were cool in the 1970s.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

My avatar is a frame held together with domed silver pins. I also do pins that are peened into a tapered hole and sanded flat. I definately prefer the domed method, more meat holding things together, plus I think it looks cool.

 

[elementfe]

I do.
As Mr. Q points out above, it can be a stunning look.
A few days ago I removed the straight brass pins (1/8", PC7 epoxy) from a handle because I thought it would look better with peened ones...all I can say is that I was terribly not impressed by how little force it took to get them out. If any corrosion gets behind your scales, I don't think straight pins are going to keep them on the knife at all.
The scales for that knife are ivory- use good peening technique on dead soft pinstock, and enjoy!