I've been using the same wooden dowels as slave pins for reassembly for years. I did make hollow pointed metal push pins from old tool stock (screwdriver shafts,etc.) for disassembly/reassembly of the convex head pins in the receiver. I use a small footpress (sometimes called a kick-press) to urge them in and out. I have one in each pin size as used, including the barrel hinge.
I may make up a metal slave pin just for 'aesthetics', if you will, but almost any round stock will do, even stiff plastic tubing.