In Memoriam

FINISHING A KNIFE

by Doug Webber

Feb 29, 2016

This is something I've wondered about for some time. When a knife is finished, why is it that some of the pins are buffed down flat to match the contours of the handle, while some are not? In the picture below, I understand that the 2 end pins and the top center pin are holding the bone to the liner while the bottom pin is the pivot for the backspring and put in after the liners are assembled, but if it is buffed flat, why not the others for a better looking finish? I understand why it's not done on a jigged or stag handled knife.

 

Load Previous Replies
  • up

    Cory Hess

    I went and found that picture of the flower sticking out of the side of somebody's knife:

    Mar 3, 2016

  • up

    Jan Carter

    Cory,

    I understand the frustration with pocket lint getting in sunken pins.  I also tend to be displeased with then because at some point the edges of the handle around the pin will grab at the pockets.  Pins that are flush make take a bit more time but they give a better look, feel and as you said pride to the owner of the knife

    Mar 3, 2016

  • up

    Cory Hess

    Here's a video where you can see how they rivet the ebony covers onto a #15 boy's knife.  It doesn't exactly jive with the quote I posted earlier.  I don't know if the dealer was mistaken or if they changed their methods after he wrote that.  In the video the covers are countersunk and the pin is placed in from the top.  It's hard to see exactly how the machine is working, but it appears that the tops of the pins are already flattened out and the piece that she places the scale over spreads that backside of the pin inside of the liner.  They grind it flush with the liner at a later stage.  The main point is that all of the pins are precut and sitting in a tin.  They don't adjust the length of the pin to fit the cover that they're attaching.  They're doing the riveting starting at the 2:40 mark.

    https://youtu.be/xA-OpahW7EA?t=2m40s

    Here's another video.  At the 21:57 mark you can see the tins full of pins that are all precut.

    https://youtu.be/l1TI2LsOP1w?t=21m57s

    This method of having the pins all precut to a generic length is why we end up with sunken pins.  Many flaws in knives that I receive are easily fixed.  Sunk pins are not easy for me to fix.  It's not the end of the world, but like I posted yesterday it's frustrating because I know that they're not trying on this issue.  If I get a Queen or a Case with a sunk pin I can accept that it happens now and again.  When I know that they go in with the intention of having sunk pins it's a little tougher to swallow.

    Mar 4, 2016