Mixed Pin Stock - Fake, Repaired, or Original?

[lithicus]

I recently purchased a vintage knife (1900s - 1920s??) that, upon arrival, I had one primary concern... the handle pins were brass but the others were nickel silver. I'd never seen this before and immediately became concerned that this knife that was sold as original was a repair or fake. The odd thing was how well the knife was put together. Nice blade centering, good walk and talk, flush in all positions, no pin or handle cracks. All tang stamps seemed original and valid for the timeframe. I thought, perhaps, that this was a warranty repair; one done by the manufacturer? Because I'm not sure the average person could do a repair so well. And, if anyone was that talented, trying to sell off fakes or repaired knives as originals for a profit, wouldn't they put in the tiny extra bit of effort to match the pin stock??

Anyway, I started googling around and found in just a few hours a surprising number of knives with mixed pin stock. I started to question my understanding of typical knife construction as it started to seem like maybe this was common practice. I'll include pictures below.

So, my question to the knife experts out there... is mixed pin stock a method used on very old vintage knives originally? Are these knives likely repaired by the manufacturer? Repaired by some crafty individual? Are these fakes? I'd love to hear your input! Thanks again!!

 

[ms3902]

I've always been told it's because the pins that are brass are just holding on the handle scales, where as the pins that are nickel silver are holding the backspring. The backspring obviously having more tension on it needs to have a pin made out of a heavier, more durable, material.

 

[lithicus]

Yea, that is one pattern I noticed for lack of a better term. It seems to always be that the brass pins are smaller and only holding on the handle scales. Whereas the nickel silver pins are typically larger and holding the springs together. I had just never seen this before (or maybe just never noticed?) and became very curious!!

It sounds like you've seen/heard this before. So, perhaps, the knives truly were manufactured this way. Appreciate your comment!

 

[ms3902]

Yea, that is one pattern I noticed for lack of a better term. It seems to always be that the brass pins are smaller and only holding on the handle scales. Whereas the nickel silver pins are typically larger and holding the springs together. I had just never seen this before (or maybe just never noticed?) and became very curious!!

It sounds like you've seen/heard this before. So, perhaps, the knives truly were manufactured this way. Appreciate your comment!

I have seen it before, and have had a few knives over the years that had mixed pins. My grandfather is the whole reason I got into traditional pocket knives a few decades ago. When he was first showing me his collection as a kid I asked why some pins were smaller than others on the handle. That was when he told me that sometimes they use different sized pins, and different types of pins, sometimes when certain pins are going to be under more stress from the back spring.

I don't know if this is true or not but it has always made sense to me lol.

 

[SteveC]

Very common to have mixed pins.

 

[lithicus]

I have seen it before, and have had a few knives over the years that had mixed pins. My grandfather is the whole reason I got into traditional pocket knives a few decades ago. When he was first showing me his collection as a kid I asked why some pins were smaller than others on the handle. That was when he told me that sometimes they use different sized pins, and different types of pins, sometimes when certain pins are going to be under more stress from the back spring.

I don't know if this is true or not but it has always made sense to me lol.

It makes sense enough to me!

Very common to have mixed pins.

This is good to know. I honestly had no idea and probably was just never paying enough attention when perusing the images posted here. It can be hard to tell in pictures sometimes too I guess. This is definitely my first one I've owned with mixed pins. But, glad to hear it is fairly common!

 

[Rookie82]

With older made knives, I think it is pretty common. It's customary for the handle pins to match the liner material, so brass liners = brass handle pins. Not always, but often. But the center spring pivot pin is almost never brass, probably too soft a metal to function properly.

 

[Will Power]

You've had good opinions and I think you've nothing to worry about. My CASE/Bose Norfolk has mixed pins: two small flush stainless and one larger domed brass on the centre. I'm pretty sure other bone slab Collabs have this arrangement- but I've always found it odd, given that they are otherwise all stainless construction.

Thanks, Will

 

[lithicus]

You've had good opinions and I think you've nothing to worry about. My CASE/Bose Norfolk has mixed pins: two small flush stainless and one larger domed brass on the centre. I'm pretty sure other bone slab Collabs have this arrangement- but I've always found it odd, given that they are otherwise all stainless construction.

Thanks, Will

Ahh, I definitely haven't been paying enough attention to the pictures on here then!! I've seen quite a few of those norfolks and various other case/bose collabs and never noticed the mixed pins before.

It is definitely a little odd but good to know that I have nothing to worry about. Thank you all so much for the information! Learned something new for sure. And, if anyone else has any context or history as to when mixed pin stock was used it is always appreciated!

 

[donnord]

I have a few like that and I always figured the brass ones held the scales in place, the steel one holds the spring.