I have been goofing around with this for a while now. The steel is from a circular saw blade that I have been shaping with a couple of hand files. I am at the point now where I am getting ready to harden and temper the blade, but think I need to drill the holes for the pins that will hold the scales on before I do that. What is a good source online to look at options for those pins so I will know what size to drill the holes?

Jantz knife supply, Knifekits.com, Texas knife supply. Ebay has some good sellers here in Tx and also Etsy. do a search for knife pin stock or mosaic pins. Good luck looks good!

Thanks, it has been fun working on this. I am looking forward to finishing this one and starting another!

You can get 1/8th in brass pins from Loews or Home Depot.. for 1/8 in pins use a #30 drill bit. 1/4" mosaic pin can be bought on Ebay pretty cheap and use a letter F drill bit for 1/4". Jantz is a good source, I prefer USA Knife Makers, either one has anything needed for knife making. That blade should probably be annealed; it may be too hard to drill into if it's a saw blade.

Thanks for the info on the brass pins. I think that is the route I will take on this first one. I had to anneal it early on to be able to work on it. I had cut out a general shape with a plasma torch and the edges where I cut it were too hard to cut with a hacksaw or a file!

Here is another good source of pin material. If you live close enough to the local warehouse our you can always have them shipped. Normally one day shipping here in Texas.

https://www.onlinemetals.com/

Tip: Use mechanical connections - bolts, rivers, flared tubes...

Pins, peeled or not, are not mechanical connections.