Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Making a dagger/short sword from an old Bayonet??? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Joachim Elsander




Location: Sweden
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 20

PostPosted: Wed 11 May, 2005 7:16 am    Post subject: Making a dagger/short sword from an old Bayonet???         Reply with quote

Hi!
I just bought this old bayonet, it is a British 1888 pattern bayonet, this kind of bayonet was used in the Boer war and in the First World War.

The bayonet looks a little rusty, but its just dirt, now it is polished and fine.
The blade is symmetrical and in good condition. This is the first bayonet I have seen with real “sword potential” without being rare or expensive. The blade is 12" long and over all the Bayonet is 16-3/4" long. Here is my idea:
This bayonet didn’t cost me much, so I am planing modifying the hilt to make it more like a short sword/dagger. But I don’t want to ruin a fine bayonet, actually I am a little hesitant to ”destroy” this little piece of history.

Is there anybody out there with any experience from using a bayonet for a sword or a dagger?
Many bayonets are cheep, many have fine blade with fine steel. Isn’t that perfect material for experimentation?

I only need to figure out a way to deal with the hilt making it more like a dagger.
It’s a cheep item but I don’t want to ruin it! If you think I should leave it as it is, please tell me!

Any advice is welcome!

Greetings
Joachim



 Attachment: 89.78 KB
Bayonet.jpg

View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
G. Scott H.




Location: Arizona, USA
Joined: 22 Feb 2005

Posts: 410

PostPosted: Wed 11 May, 2005 4:19 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'll leave the technical aspects of such a conversion to the experts, but I will make an observation. The bayonets that I've handled all have very thick and heavy blades. I tried putting a good cutting edge on my M48 Mauser bayonet. It took a lot of work, and yielded only mediocre results. If you are looking to make a super heavy duty, nuke proof thrusting dagger, then this bayonet may be a good choice. Otherwise, I'd suggest leaving it as is and buying perphaps a Lutel (or some other quality) dagger. Just my 2 cents. Happy
View user's profile Send private message
David Lindberg





Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Reading list: 5 books

Posts: 27

PostPosted: Wed 11 May, 2005 4:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I suspect that this opinion will be in the majority: leave it. Destroying a piece of history over 100 years old to create a fair to poor 'custom' weapon is an enormous waste.
View user's profile Send private message
Joel Chesser




Location: Oklahoma
Joined: 23 Oct 2003

Posts: 724

PostPosted: Wed 11 May, 2005 10:56 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I have to agree with leaveing it the way it is.
..." The person who dosen't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one."

- Luke 22:36
View user's profile Send private message
Joachim Elsander




Location: Sweden
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 20

PostPosted: Wed 11 May, 2005 11:19 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you! I think I hear wisdom speaking. Yes the blade is definitly thick compared to a dagger I have.
I think I will leave it as it is and try to find the scabbard for it.

Thank you again!
Joachim
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Robert W. Betten




Location: Brisbane, Australia
Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 150

PostPosted: Thu 12 May, 2005 4:39 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

you are crazy if you do!!! Evil SERIOUSLY!!! do you know how rare those british bayonets are? I'm after one for my SMLE no1 MkIII* and guess what? they're either not accessable, or way out of my price range (i've seen one go for $2500 at auction, dress bayonet).

Keep it oiled and free of corrosion...thats a piece of history worth hanging onto, its like people snapping a nihonto to make a "trench dagger" Eek!

*!*
"If the people we love are taken from us,
the way they live on is to never stop loving
them. Buildings burn, people die, but real
love is forever."
- Sarah 'The Crow'
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
Joachim Elsander




Location: Sweden
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 20

PostPosted: Thu 12 May, 2005 5:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Robert I hear you! Sorry for my stupid idea, an idea I have thrown out the window!
Thank you for giving me good advice!!! I am new to bayonets, maybe that can exuse me. Blush

Anyway, now I am looking for a fitting scabbard, any idea were I can find one?
I repeat I will not damage the bayonet! After cleaning it carfully I see that I have a very fine pice of history.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Joachim Elsander




Location: Sweden
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 20

PostPosted: Sun 15 May, 2005 12:31 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I have learned that it is very hard to find an original scabbard for this bayonet.
So my question is: until I find a real one, where can I find a replica/reproduction?
Any info is welcomed!

Joachim
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Anthony Drew Farmer




Location: North Bend, Oregon
Joined: 17 May 2005

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Tue 17 May, 2005 1:44 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Well this is coming from a newbie to the forums who also happens to be a 19 year old kid, but for what it's worth..

I know for a fact it is pheasable to turn the old bayonets into knife; my great grandfather has shown me one he did himself on numerous occasions. True, it is tedious as all getout to put a decent edge on it, but yeah, it's definately possible. However, his was a WW2 issue from who-knows-where, so I could just be misjudging the material..

Perhaps, however, you could use this blade as a template? Take it somewhere, have a piece made like it? Or examine the piece you have to find a location selling replicas and with the piece you have, judge their replicas to see how ACCURET they are? Then you could make a knife out of the replica bayonettes guilt free! As for how to do it.. all I can guess is find some way to take the annoying rifle-mount crossguard off and replace it with extra handle-lenth with some fine oiled wood and some wood glue, I'm not sure with the look of it though.. I usually play with solid metal knives and such, not a fan of wood on knives..

Fé, Vit, Friðr, Grið, Heill

þur niut þasi þui
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address MSN Messenger
Joachim Elsander




Location: Sweden
Joined: 01 Mar 2004

Posts: 20

PostPosted: Tue 17 May, 2005 5:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hi Anthony!
I agree with you to some degree.
If I would find a cheap bayonet with a very damage handle, or a blade in worse condiction.
I think maybe I would try to use whats left and make a dagger out of it. (depending on the model of course)
But this one I will definitly leave as it is.

It seems like old bayonets that was modifide "back than" in the middle of war, for exemple if someone
used a bayo withe a broken blade to make a dagger out of it, that is somthing entirly differente.
(maybe you great grandfather did somthing like that) than if I today would "ruin" a fine old bayonet and making a
mediocre dagger from it. As David Lindberg pointed out to me, "Destroying a piece of history over 100 years old to create a fair to poor 'custom' weapon is an enormous waste".

But now I am looking for a scabbard and I am happy for any advice!

Joachim
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
George Hill




Location: Atlanta Ga
Joined: 16 May 2005

Posts: 614

PostPosted: Sat 21 May, 2005 10:04 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hey, I want some advice on converting a bayonet to a dagger. I have a bayonet in horrid condision I got for 2 bucks.
To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes. - --Tacitus on Germania
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
Matthew Grzybowski
Industry Professional



Location: Madison, WI
Joined: 23 May 2005

Posts: 110

PostPosted: Mon 23 May, 2005 1:52 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I realize this is an older topic, but just wanted to say that I'm impressed with the opinions that have been express. I would also have to agree that I think keeping it as a piece of history rather then creating a custom piece out of it is the right way to go.

I have a small little collection of bayonets myself. They are fine pieces of history and am always amazed at the variety that exist.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Making a dagger/short sword from an old Bayonet???
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum