M1A1 stock

Some one replaced the face pad on my M1A1 stock years ago, they did a good job with the leather, but used the wrong rivets, they have a rounded top, not the flat one, the rivet head's look like they are chrome plated.
I ordered this rivets from ebay, I've been told they are the correct ones. I know that some rivet's were brake shoe rivet's also.
1. Does any one know what kind of special tool I need to install these rivets ?
2. Can I just drill the old one's out and use a punch and hammer to install the new ones ?
3. Or should I just leave it alone for fear of screwing it up, which I'm known for. :runaway:
I would like to make it as correct as poss.
Any suggestions ? Thank's

There's a correct tool like a punch for this, also a press which they would have used. If you look up the tools for applying rivets you'll see. Then gentle and slow. A large supply of rivets helps too as you may bugger up a couple. That happens.

So the question (although not numbered) is also if the rivets are correct? Curious myself. I drilled old rivets out.

Never had the nerve to try this but I've gotten to point of needing to on one that had no leather when I got it. The old leather jacket bought from a used clothing donation store looks perfect and I cut/folded it like others I've got. Got some of the same type of ebay rivets and an antique handheld press tool for the attempt, but not the nerve to try.

So there are threads on several forums covering the types of tools others used. Some have used as many as 3 dyes to form the rolled appearance. One thread I read a year or so back said he sent his off to the guy offering the service to do it and was unhappy with the results and was looking to replace them.

I now remember trying a dye tool you hand hammer the rivets with from Tandy Leather that destroyed a rivet and which I took back before buying the antique tool I now have. That's my experience so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tenOC

I now remember trying a dye tool you hand hammer the rivets with from Tandy Leather that destroyed a rivet

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They work but gentle does it.