1/16" is plenty strong. And actually, as Huntschool said, I confess I use finishing nails... exactly what I use, and I don't even harden them. There is no reason for such heroic measure to hold stock to barrel or thimble to stock. It could be argued that less peening and thus, tearing of wood will occur if they are hardened, and it does deserve serious consideration. For trigger pins, I do use 1/16" drill rod, and I do harden and temper this. This is because I make a trigger assembly, and do not pin the trigger directly to the wood.
I only us a single pin at each attachment point, with the exception of the entry thimble, where I always use two. Now, if I were copying a rifle, of course, I would follow the original makers design. But I don't copy anyone, so this is just the way I do it. The reason I do it this way is because all entry thimbles I have installed so far have had a tail, and I believe this makes a more secure fitting. Having the brass tail snag on a twig may bend, but damage to wood, at least theoretically, should be reduced if not eliminated. Also, my thimble bodies are generally around 1.5", so they are not very long, and one pin should be sufficient.
M. E. Pering
