That's a good looking knife.
Every one of the 5 knives in my JS set had handle pins. Some were domed, others were ground flat, some were peened flat, but raised. If you are going to peen the pin heads at all, you need to protect the wood from errant marks and dents from the punches used to peen the pin head. I use small pieces of acetate sheet (basically transparency sheets) with a small hole made with a leather punch.
There are a few videos out there on this technique. I think the one from Nick Wheeler is still on the ABS youtube channel. My video is on my YT channel and is based on Nick's process. You can find that one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBRDYNQ8prY&t=3s
On your IG post you mentioned in a reply comment something about gaps in the fit with the spacer. Was this between the spacer/guard or the spacer/wood fit? most times I find these gaps are caused by unparallel surfaces causing the spacer to rock when the whole package is assembled. I finish all mating surfaces to 220 grit on a granite slab and I use a surface grinder or the mini mill to get parallel sides on the guard and spacers. Then it's just a matter of getting the handle mating surface to sit flat against the spacer in the final fit up. That can be achieved a couple of ways.
I like your work.
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.”
Thank you for the advice, I'll look into some acetate sheets! I have been peening the pins on a few just without the cover, hence a few slips. The knife in the reel did have fairly good fit-up at one point (I used a mill to get mating surfaces flat). The only thing is the spacer was a little loose on the tang and the handle was a little tight on the lineup pins and during assembly and disassembly after rough grinding the spacer went flying across a room onto concrete, and being nickel silver that didn't go ideally. Not a mistake I plan to repeat and I did try an salvage it with some sandpaper but clearly not enough.
Thanks again!
That's a good looking Knife Liam, nice and clean!
Joshua - Great advice on doming the pins and getting everything flat. Thanks for sharing the video! 👍
