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I also make a slight countersink so the rivet will have a little flare after finishing it. The countersinks in the next picture are exaggerated for clarity.

Now I make the rivets from a piece of brass rod. I leave them a little long when I cut them. I find that the easiest way to cut them is with a diagonal cutter.

After the scales are riveted on I trim the outside of the scales to match the tool.

Next I grind the top surfaces so that I have the right contour.  It will be necessary to replace the front rivet now because you have just removed the heads. Cut a piece long enough for a new rivet and hammer it on.

Next comes the fun part of rasping, filing and sanding the scales to finish.

The pictures do not do justice to the wood. It is almost jewel like when seen in person.  Here is the complete finished tool.  I draw filed the surfaces of the metal and then sanded and buffed it.  It was rather ugly when I started, but it looks pretty good now.

I still need to sharpen the end.

James D. Thompson,
the old Millrat in Riverside, CA
December 2006
Questions?  Send me an email.