Kiwi 4 Scale Removal

[steppinthefunk]

Has anybody ever attempted to take off the scales on the Kiwi 4?

I am very interested in this knife and I would be even more interested if I had the option of making some custom wood scales for it.

Problem is, it looks like it's riveted together and I have no experience with slip joint (*Edit - or is this a spine lock? clueless noob here) assembly.
If I were to drill out the back two rivets and unscrew the pivot would the scales come off? or would I also have to drill out the top rivet (that I assume is the spring pin)?
Or am I getting a bit ambitious?



Thanks for any help.

 

[yablanowitz]

Yes, it is a lockback, and yes, it is pinned construction. To disassemble it, you would have to remove the pivot screw and drill off the swelled ends of the pins on one side, then punch the pins out through the other side. Drilling all the way through would probably end up destroying the knife. They are pinned construction mostly because there isn't really room in the design for screw construction.