Splitting Steel Pivot Pins

[Froe]

I'm no knife mechanic, but I have performed some minor repairs on pocket knives that required cutting the nickel silver or brass pins. I used a old razor blade to slide between liners and cut the pins. I replaced them with like materials.
But now I have an old Buck and a German Eye that need a little love. Do any of you use the same technique to split steel pivot pins? Or do you recommend some other method for cutting the steel?
Thanks in advance.
Froe

[glennbad]

The steel does cut harder than NS pins. I don't use a razor blade. I have an old thin kitchen knife blade that I use. It's thin, similar to the razor blade, but allows me something to hold onto for control.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I use a Stanley utility knife blade. The steel pins will nick the edge, but if you keep moving the blade to a fresh area it will eventually cut thru the pin. Utility knife blades are cheap, toss when cutting is done.

[Froe]

Thank you Gentlemen. I will proceed as you suggest.
Froe

[ea42]

I use an old pocket knife blade, the thinner the better.

Eric

[Bill DeShivs]

You can drive the pins out.
If they are flush, you have to punch them from one side, file the protruding side, drive it back the other way and file that side. Keep doing this until the head on one side is gone and it will drive out.

Or, if you are good, you can drill the head out.

[Froe]

That's a neat trick on driving out the pin. Thanks.
But if I go to drilling out pins I'm afraid I'd have to use a tenpenny nail for a replacement pivot pin.
Froe

[Bill DeShivs]

You just center-punch the head, and drill with a bit that is much smaller diameter than the pin. Then, you go up in size until you are almost at the head diameter. Kastly, use a punch that is smaller than the pin diameter. This will collapse what is left of the head as you drive it out.