To peen or not to peen: That is my question.

Modoc ED said:
Jake - Dremel makes a grinding bit that has a small cup in the end of it for things just like this situation. I have a few of them in different sizes. You only use the cup for grinding (not the side of the bit) and it is a fine/medium grit bit. It will take that spring pin down just fine. I got a GEC Powderhorn with the same problem. I spun the bit around the pin and it lowered the pin nicely.

You don't have to have a dremel tool/motor to use it. A regual drill will do. The brass pin may be soft enough that you can spin/twirl it with your fingers.

Remember! Whatever you decide, "slow and easy" does it. It doesn't take much pin (material) removal to get it down so it's just right.
Click to expand...


Excellent post and suggestion, thanks for that info about those bits!
I have a bunch of Bucks and have come across the occasional high pin...I used to mask off the handle and go at them with tiny hobby files, then a sanding stick ( Popsicle stick with wet/dry paper glued to )
I believe this pin to be steel, but it won't be hardened, those bits Ed described could also be turned by hand in a pin vise...although time consuming, it could be done.
Now I need to find some of those bits ;)
 
It's an odd ball in the Buck lineup and I don't have another for comparison. A Buck 310 whittler... the 309 mark is a repurposed blade from a more common pattern of the same size.

I suspect it was just overlocked. It's a VERY small knife and the pins are tiny. I can definitely understand missing it. If it is normal than it would be unlike the 301 and 303 stock knives. 300bucks would know but I don't want to bother him while he's recovering. I'll see if I can find a photo from his posts.

Buck-whittler_zps9d3eb690.jpg
 
Gotcha, I look forward to learning the details of the outcome :)

Nice little knife btw, I may have to keep an eye out for one next time Im at a sporting goods store.

ETA for the record, "not to peen"
 
My buck 301 and 303 have the pin sticking out on one side like yours. I guess it's how they come. Good luck with your fix!
 
It's a very good looking knife, Jake. I hope one of our resident makers will pop in with some answers for you
 
I would suggest taking it back to the store or sending it back to the maker for an exchange or repair. If it needs work let them do it or if it's the way it's supposed to be let them explain it.
 
Looked at my 309 real closely, man those pins are small, or the light is dim. Well, the two sides don't look the same. Yours looks a bit longer on the pile side than mine, but mine is cut slanted an not as comfortable as it could be

My thought is that the pin does have a head on it, on the shield side, and the pile side is ever so slightly domed with a very tiny tool mark, which may or may not be from spinning.
There is no circle in the plastic on either side indicating heavy spinning.

Unlike my old 301 (Camillus made I think) which is definitely spun on both sides, both sides roughly the same size with marks in the plastic from spinning.

I think it may be part of the manufature, which I'm thinking isn't spun, but maybe pressed into a die?

I would probably either take it back, or file/sand/polish it to a more comfortable level.

I don't think the covers will come loose, you could try to peen, but it looks like a steel pin, I doubt you would hurt the knife with a couple of taps, but I also doubt it will give you a nice rounded shape.

Actually if it were mine I would probably give it a few taps to try to spread it a bit, then sand/polish it comfortable, which I might try with mine tomorrow when everyone isn't sleeping

Buck doesn't seem to be shy about having pins that are proud, but normally they did seem better rounded I thought.
 
I'd return it to the maker, unless it was an EDC for 5 years and got beat on daily. Then I would try to fix it, and if I failed, replace it (as I would figure I got my money's worth out of it).
 
Alive and almost well,

High pins were addressed over in the Buck forum sometime back. Factory man said that the machine does most of the pin 'push' from one side. I believe it is the side that is high on your knife. This situation is not common but not rare. Factory man was going to look into it. I think I have one or two like this myself. I had a brass one on a stag 303 scale and I took a nail, ground it flat and touched the flat with the tip of a drill. I used this cup to spin the pin head down a little but it was not a perfect 'tool'. Black sawcut scales do not need the spring pin to help hold on the scale. There are several other attachment points.

I think I have one of those dremel bits and want to try that. If I don't I will pick one up to give it a try. As was said 'Slow and steady wins the race.'

Gut feeling is the SS pins are so hard that a peen hit will bend the pin rather than round the head. You don't want to fool with the effect of a pin pushing sideways. If you want a perfect fix then send it back. That's their promise for the life of the knife........If you want to try to fix it yourself I would look at the dremel bit as the least invasive action. 300Bucks

Imperfect repair
StagrepariBClose.jpg

StagRepairB.jpg
 
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I have a 309 that has this exact same "problem." If it really has got your goat, then peen it or send it back. From what I've read, this is the way 300 series with valox scales are made. I've carried my knife with this proud pin for a year, and it has never given me grief. I don't see this feature as a problem any more, but I can see how it won't sit right with others.
 
Jake if you'd like I can spin that for ya, just drop me a PM ;)

BTW the spun pins do have a head on them, they're what's holding the center of the knife together.

Eric
 
Eric,

Do the pins have a head on one side and then spun on the opposing side only? So if you were to sand the side down with the head you may ruin the integrity of the pin?

Thanks!

Kevin
 
Kevin, it certainly looks that way, kind of odd how they do that. If you sand off too much you'll take the head off the pin, or weaken it enough for the knife to spread open. There's a lot of torque involved in that area when the knife is opened and closed. You'd just want to gently
spin that head round to take the edges off.

Eric
 
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