Peening 101:
Peening is a controlled deformation of a rivet (or tang, inn this case) which tightens an assembly between a washer (in this case, the washer disc is the brass pommel) and the rivet head. Initially, peening causes the rivet to expand along its circumference a bit, which provides the initial lock-up of the assembly. The rest of the peening expands the struck area to many times its normal size, moving metal from the center of the rivet to the outer edges. This often results in the rivet having a "mushroomed" appearnace, where a flange devlops from succesive pounding. Successively oblique (almost diagonal) strikes willl continue to move the center mass of the rivet to the outer edges.
Peening is best done with a ball peen hammer, which is designed to provide you with glancing blows that deform the edges of the target, thus snugging up the fit. To 'peen', you secure the handle (preferrably the blade) in a vise (use a towel, cardboard or leather pads to keep the vise teeth from scarrinng the khuk), then strike obliquely (as opposed to straight down like when hammering a nail) from the center to the edge of the tang or rivet. You will know you are doing it right if you get a glancing blow that mushrooms out the edge of tang. Continue this process in all dorections, moving always from an oblique strike at the center of the tang down the lip of the tang. You can experiment with peening angles, and often you may start with a more straight on vertical shot, then end with strikes that are almost horizontal.
In comparinng my HI villager model to my other 'finished' khuks, I noted that it seems that the sometimes sharp peened edges have been removed for looks and safety, but sometimes this may remove the mass of bunched metal on the tang that held it all together in the first place.
The peening effect is often observed on old metal tent stakes, ones that have been hit repeatedly for years will exhibit the mushrooming characteristics of the target area.
Most of this comes from my armoring experience, which is limited to a helm, a full set of articulated arm and leg harness, a paor of articulated elbow cops with lames, a few suits of brigandine, and copious amounts of leather armor and copper rivet work. I guess I've peened just under 1500 rivets--copper, mild steel, and even the dreaded 'pop' rivet...
Hope this helps....
Keith
