[Jeff_H]

While I agree with Paul that Drifts are a traditional fastening, they are used where there is a lot of bearing such as might occur in edge fastening a wooden rudder or tieing dead wood together. They were often peened over a washer at the ends. Where drifts were used with less bearing they were often splayed at an angle so that the drift pins would need to be withdrawn in total to allow the parts to separate.

There are a number of problems with what you discribe. First, brass is a very poor choice for this application. Brass is very electrolytically active and not especially strong. Silicone Bronze or everdur bronze would have been a much better choice. The holes in both sides of the the bronze shoe should have been countersunk and bronze rods used. The Bronze rods should have been peened over on each end to form flush rivet heads. This is a very traditional way to install a shoe.

Jeff