All About Pocket Knives

I have not been posting many of my knives here lately, but I wanted to share this one, as it was a new thing for me.
I replaced the blade on this Barlow, and due to the engraved bolsters I chose to learn to make a replacement Swinden rivet, rather than drill these bolsters through.
You can watch the video of how I did it here:
https://youtu.be/7qhWNdtCJwo?si=MTavE8EYQkDPyE4G

I have had one of those apart in the past to rehandle. I re assembled it as a Swinden pin as it was still tight and that as you say, drilling a through pin would ruin those scrolled bolsters. Typically the head of the pin is larger than the body, so to replace the blade requires cutting the pin. The length has to be very precise to make the joint tight as well as the location of the grooves. I would like to hear your procedure for making a Swinden pin.

Nice video Rev!
I haven’t ever made a new Swinden key but after watching your video I can see that it can be done. I would probably only attempt this on a Schrade Barlow with the fancy bolsters. For any Schrade with the standard bolster it’s just much easier to replace the Swinden key with a pin through the bolsters.
Jeff

Very nice video Reverend. It shows in your video that you really like
the hobby and enjoy showing others your techniques.

Sharing your knives and knowledge is what it is all about!

Bob

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 5:28 pm I have had one of those apart in the past to rehandle. I re assembled it as a Swinden pin as it was still tight and that as you say, drilling a through pin would ruin those scrolled bolsters. Typically the head of the pin is larger than the body, so to replace the blade requires cutting the pin. The length has to be very precise to make the joint tight as well as the location of the grooves. I would like to hear your procedure for making a Swinden pin.

In a nutshell, I took the handles off and used feeler gauges to check the clearance between the head of the pin and the blade.
Then I made a new pin out of brass, peening until I had that huge head, using the feeler gauges to get that depth correct.
I still had to do about 5 or 6 test fittings, peening in between until I got out all of the blade wobble, but it can be done without too much fuss.
On most Schrades I will still convert it and pin it through, but at least now I know that I can make a Swinden rivet when I need to.

Jeffinn wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 5:51 pm Nice video Rev!
I haven’t ever made a new Swinden key but after watching your video I can see that it can be done. I would probably only attempt this on a Schrade Barlow with the fancy bolsters. For any Schrade with the standard bolster it’s just much easier to replace the Swinden key with a pin through the bolsters.
Jeff

I agree!

Great work Great video on the repair. I learn something new every time I log in.

Nev

Awesome job, as good as new!