Need help with Rivets for “rail to no where”

[ydnad3]

Someone cut the original rivets on my "rail to no where" can anyone tell me where to get replacements?

Thanks in advance!

[theSKSguy45]

What's the diameter?

[echo1]

I have 2 of those KSI rifles, Paratroopers, that both the rail rivets were replaced with screws. I cloned a Parka Para and a Stealth Para out of them with the rails removed and the holes filled with Allen screws (I forget the size). It's futile to replace or reinstall the "nowhere" rails. If you're wanting a mount, you can easily adapt a shotgun style side mount, trim to size and fit to existing holes in receiver. Here's an example of several mounts and bases, one waiting for final fitting. Choate, nowhere rail fitted to fit T89 mount (not economical unless you already have a T89 mount), T89 base, modded shotgun base/mount combo, uncut shotgun mount. PAX

[running-man]

You'll have to pull the remaining rivet out of the rail and measure the pin and head diameter and also see if the head is a 100° countersink, 90° countersink, or a tubular/flat bottomed head. Then estimate a length and order what you need from a screw and fastener company.  (I typically use McMaster-Carr)  I would assume the rivet is going to be metric as we believe these were installed in China, so that's going to be a bit tougher find unless you can approximate an imperial size close enough that it won't wobble in the already drilled holes too badly.  Getting a true steel rivet to swage completely in that tight a space is going to be an interesting challenge too.  You might have to go with a pop rivet, though the head will not look like what was originally there. 

As echo1 said, you could always tap the receiver holes and use screws to refasten the rail as well.  I've seen screws that look quite nice in those rails, but as echo also says, there is no commercially available mount that fits on the west coast rail to nowhere...