When attaching brasses/handles to drawer fronts, the threaded posts usually are longer than the drawer front is thick. One method is to leave long, another is to cut off extra threaded post even with the attaching nut. and the last would be to "dig a hole" to lower the nut below the inside surface and cut off the extra post even with the nut. I've seen all three used. and have seen the same in museums....So....what would the "period correct" method be? What do you guys do?