Pin Materials for Knife Handles: Steel, Brass, Mosaic & More

Pin material affects corrosion resistance, appearance, and how easily the pin peens or finishes flush, and the options range from plain utilitarian steel to elaborate decorative mosaic patterns.

Mild Steel Pins

The cheapest option, but mild steel rusts without protection, generally a poor choice for an exposed pin unless it will be plated, blued, or otherwise finished to resist corrosion. Occasionally used where cost is the primary concern and the pin will be well-sealed under epoxy and finish.

Stainless Steel Pins

The standard modern choice for a plain, functional pin: corrosion-resistant, affordable, widely available in various diameters, and takes a clean satin or polished finish. Stainless pins are a reliable default when the goal is a clean, unobtrusive result rather than a decorative accent.

Brass Pins

Soft, warm-colored, and a classic decorative choice, brass pins peen easily (useful for hidden-tang or traditional construction where a peened end secures the assembly) and develop a distinctive patina over time if left unfinished, or can be polished to stay bright. Brass contrasts nicely against darker handle materials like walnut or dark Micarta.

Nickel Silver Pins

Despite the name, an alloy containing no actual silver, valued for a bright, silvery appearance that resists tarnishing better than brass. Nickel silver is a common choice when a bright metal accent is wanted without brass’s tendency to darken over time.

Mosaic Pins

Pre-manufactured pins with a decorative cross-sectional pattern (often a symmetrical design combining multiple metal colors) that shows on both ends of the pin once installed. Mosaic pins add a distinct decorative element with no extra work beyond installing them like a standard pin, popular on knives where the pin itself is meant to be a visual feature, not just a fastener.

Copper Pins and Tubing

Copper offers a warm reddish tone and, like brass, develops a natural patina over time if left unsealed. Copper tubing (hollow rather than solid) is sometimes used specifically to allow a lanyard hole to run through the pin location, combining structural fastening with a functional lanyard attachment point.

Titanium Pins

Lightweight and completely corrosion-proof, titanium pins are a premium option, but titanium is significantly harder to peen or work than steel, brass, or copper, better suited to designs using threaded fasteners or simple through-pins secured with epoxy rather than techniques relying on peening.

Solid vs. Tube Pins

Solid pins are simpler and generally stronger for a given diameter. Tube pins (hollow) save weight and, as with copper tubing above, can double as a lanyard hole location, at some cost to raw strength compared to a solid pin of the same outer diameter.

What’s the best pin material for a first build?

Stainless steel or brass, both are affordable, widely available, and forgiving to work with. Stainless gives a clean, understated look; brass adds warmth and contrast, and peens easily if the design calls for it.

Do pin materials need to match the handle’s other hardware?

Not strictly required, but it’s a common design choice for a cohesive look, matching pin material to any bolsters, guards, or lanyard hardware. Mixing metals intentionally (like brass pins with a stainless bolster) is also a legitimate stylistic choice, not a mistake.

Can I peen any pin material?

Softer metals (brass, copper, mild steel, aluminum) peen readily. Stainless steel is harder to peen well without proper technique and heat in some cases, and titanium is difficult to peen at all, better suited to other securing methods.