How to tighten up a loose pinned stag scale?

comoha

comoha

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Jan 12, 2006
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I recently purchased a very nice 1996 Boker trapper with gorgeous stag scales. This knife is mint-in-box, however there has been some shrinkage of one of the scales and it rocks up and down toward the butt end. Only one scale does it, and the scales are held in place with three brass pins.
How can I tighten theses pins without wrecking the nice scales?
I realize I will have to probably gently tap in pins, but what is the best setup for this?
Thanks.
 
I seem to think I've seen some similar posts, and one 'fix' was to use a tiny bit of CA glue (superglue), seeped carefully into the gap between the scale & liner. Whatever excess that's left on the exterior could be sanded off.

I have a stag-handled fixed blade with the same problem (pinned scale slips against the tang), so I'm curious about what others might recommend. Hopefully, we'll get some more input here.
 
I have had luck by placing a piece of flat stock in a vise. This needs to fit between the liners of the knife. Then using a pin punch about 1/32" and peening lightly with a hammer. The steel flat stock protrudes slightly from the top of the vise and by placing the open knife over the steel it acts as the back up for the pin and does not put pressure on the scales. I have done about two this way. Use care as to not slip off the pin surface and damage the scales. I had not thought of using glue.
 
Bone on most knives is brittle and pretty unforgiving.I think the super glue is the safest idea.Just a tiny drop and hold down snug until its secure.
 
For what its worth almost all hobby stores sell several different thicknesses of CA adhesive (super glue). I think the thicker would work well for this and not run through and make such a mess. This thicker CA is used to fill gaps and build up and I think would work to fill what play may exist around the brass pins. They also have a cleaner for it but I usually use my wife's fingernail polish remover.

huauqui
 
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A couple of used "finds" had this problem. I was too afraid of breaking the scales to tap anything, no matter how lightly or controlled.

I used a very thin epoxy (mixed as normal, thinned with acetone) and worked it in under the scales with a thin sliver of wood. At the pins, I used CA medium viscosity

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2021102/24490/Instant-Bond-CA-Adhesive-Medium-2-oz.aspx

and it worked great. Had the surface under the scale been cleaner (as in a new knife as described) I would probably have been fine with CA under the scales and at the pin as well.

Robert
 
A thin dusing if baking soda in the gap will instantly cure cyanoacrylate.
If you fill the hole with baking soda and then tip it out, this should leave a small amount inside.
When the superglue hits it, it will form a barrier, preventing the glue from seeping too far and maybe coming out the other side and making a mess.
If you do it this way, you can use thin superglue.
I doubt you'll get the thicker stuff to wick into the gap like the thin stuff will.
 
I've found the best way to apply very small amounts of superglue, is to dispense a drop onto the tip of a needle. Any excess will simply drop away (onto a paper towel is good), as the needle tip won't hold very much. Then use the needle to apply what's left to the item being repaired. A bonus, the needle tip is perfect for 'guiding' the glue directly into very small, tight places.

This works pretty well in applying thread locker (Loctite) to the threads of very small screws, too.
 
Seems to me that you could mask off where the glue would run out, then put in as much thin glue as you want.
 
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