Recommendation? Question on pin sizes

[J.R. Shelley]

Hello! First time poster here, and just had a question on pin sizing for blades. I am extremely new to this whole process but I have found a lot of my answers in the last little bit on these forums so I thought I would give it a shot. The basic question would be, how do you choose what size of pin to use in the handle of your blades? Are there advantages to smaller vs. bigger? Can they be to small? Or is it more aesthetically based?

Any information you have would help me tons.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hengelo_77]

it's personal preference.
I prefer smaller pins and sometime use hidden(blind) pins
Peening/doming is also a mechanical bond. (as are corbies/screws etc)

 

[AVigil]

It does not matter the size.
Just pick what you like.

I like small pins 3/32" or 1/8" for asthetics

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I use Corby bolts most of the time. Far stronger and better than just pins.
I like 1/8" and 3/16" for hunting knives. 3/16" and 1/4" for kitchen blades.

Make the tang hole at least 10% larger than the pin size or you will most likely have trouble inserting the last pin.

 

[Horsewright]

Vast majority of my blades ( and that’s lots) I use 1/8” pins. Some larger hunting type blades and kitchen knives I tend to use 5/16” Loveless bolts.

 

[Drew Riley]

It's mostly preference. I prefer corby bolts over pins for the most part, unless I'm doing a folder. In that case it's usually 3/32" or 1/8", and I always peen my pins for a mechanical bond. As for corby size, I like the 1/4" and 5/16" diameter heads.

 

[Scaniaman]

Use the size that you think looks good. Too big or small looks weird.
Also look into carbon fibre, g10, micarta, mosaic pins. They are much easier to work than solid metal, stainless in particular.
I use a lot of 6 mm pins, drill scales with 6.1 mm works great.

 

[Jrmysell]

On my fixed blade hunters I usually use 1/8" pins with a 1/4" mosaic near the front