When you do file work how do you get the cuts blackened?Second, when you use pins do they secure the scales by a tight fit only or are they threaded?
                    Thanks Fellas

I use a blackener made for the type of material I am wanting to darken. For instance, Brass Black from Birchwood Casey will work on brass, nickle silver, but I am wanting to stain Stainless Steel, I use a Stainless Blackener from Caswell. If it's steel such as the spine of a blade, I might use baking laquer.
   
     There are lots of tricks to achieve the same thing, so let's see what these guys say too.
     
    Pins are sometimes threaded, but some are piened. I rarely ever just glue a pin.

                                        Lin

I do my filework before I heat treat the blade, so as I quench the oil blackens the entire blade. I'll then polish the blade sides & spine, leaving the burnt oil in the filemarkings.

I use pins that are an interference fit into the handle & epoxy them in place.

I use gun Bluing on Carbon steel blades.