Bayonet sharpening

B

beherethen

Joined
May 13, 1999
Messages
58
I recently got an old WW1 bayonet that has responded well to sandpaper in terms of appearence but has resisted all attempts to take an edge. I started with a file and then used my Gatco, but can't seem to get it really sharp. Any ideas?
 
You can sharpen very soft steels to a very keen edge, I have seen shaving edges on mild steel knives.

View the edge under a scope, if the steel is of very low quality it may be breaking apart instead of being cleanly cut. I have seen this on some very low quality imports.

It is very difficult to sharpen them, the best way is to progress to a very fine abrasive. They still crumble apart but the breaks are smaller.

You want to use very low pressure and a decently large sharpening angle as if it is too thin the breaks will be too deep.

Of course, this assumes that you are actually hitting the edge and getting the bevels to meet. Check this with a marker to be sure.

-Cliff
 
I bought an old double-edged bayo a couple years back and the cutting edge (If you can call it that) had an angle of like 70 deg. Hideous for cutting. I had to sit for hours with my Lansky to re-profile it to 40 deg. You might just have the same thing going on. I guess the military thinks that its for poking people, not cutting, and it doesn't need to be sharp.
 
If you could tell us more about the bayonet type and where it was made we can tell you more. In general the edge tends to be obtuse and you either need to reduce the angle or stop after you do file sharpening.
 
Off the bat, I don't mean this as a flame. If your bayonet is a WWI bayonet, it is probably close to 85 years old. I don't know what kind of bayonet it is, but if it is a US bayonet, it could be very valuable if left as is. You will ruin the value if you sharpen it. I know the phrase "to each his own", and if you want to sharpen it - go ahead. I would just suggest getting a newer knife if you want to have a sharp edge. Again, I apologize in advance as this is not meant to be a flame, merely advice from a military collector.
 
SBAR,

It's too late. He did say in his initial post that he had been trying to sharpen the piece. Of course when you do this, you loose alot of the collector value (assumming it had any to begin with). When in doubt, find out what you have before you start making modifications.

BTW, if you can give me a little hint I may be able to identify this thing.

Start here:
-Are there any Marking?
-What is the blade length?
-What type of handle (Wood with screws,brass, etc.)

N2S
 
My WW1 Bayonete took a lot of time to grind down to a 25 deg angle. It is super sharp at that point though. I just think you have not brought the edge to the right point yet. Use a pencil and see if you are cutting the actual edge or the side wall of the blade.

------------------
Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
Disco Stu, nothing gets past you, does it? Yes, a bayonet is for "poking"! They are also for slashing and with the momentum you gain by having that bayonet out there three feet from the pivot point, you don't need it to be very sharp to part some flesh and joints. Bayonets, including the newest M9 are predominently made to be used on the end of your weapon, with subsequent priorities for field craft and as a fighting knife.

Granted, a soldier uses his bayonet far more often for things other than to turn his rifle into a "pike" but when you need it as a bayonet, you don't want too fine an edge because it will chip and abrade as you cut into some poor enemy soldier's web gear, clothing, body, etc.

I wouldn't sharpen an old antique bayonet to turn it into a knife. The value is in having it as near to issue as possible.

Bruce Woodbury

[This message has been edited by bruce (edited 04-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by bruce (edited 04-18-2001).]
 
I prob' should have made this clear in the begining-bayonet is M1924 Czech with a value of about $10. Thanks for input.
 
Hi
i belive to remember that (i read) in WW2 soldiers are not allowed to sharpen their bayonets, because of a international agreement???
There was a punishment for getting caught with a sharp bayonet by the own officers, and a more serious one by the enemy.

Hey sounds funny to me:
>>OK, shoot him as much as possible, but take care not to cut his fingers<<

But as i said i`m not sure can anyone affirm this?



------------------
*so is life : hard but unfair*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~bigbore`s knives~
 
A czech bayonet is probably made of pretty decent steel. I'd guess the hardness to be around 54-56. What I've done before is to carefully use a grinding wheel and reduced everything from the blood groove to the edge. It won't hold an edge like a modern hunting knife, but it is useable. I used bayonets like this as short, light, machetes or as camp knives. If you aren't going to storm enemy trenches there is no reason to worry about dinging the edge on military equipment.
 
A friend of mine is in the forces (well several in fact) only this nut case actually knows a bit about blades. Well he told me a while ago that it is in fact an offence to have the issue bayonete sharp. The master at arms inspects then to see they are not sharp. I am unsure whether this is due to breakages or in fact an international agreement. Probably a bit of both. Well his reaction was that as it was the issue bayonete they talk about, he carries something...'else' for those nastly one on one moments. You can thank me for putting him in the right area
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------------------
Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
I am not aware of any international prohibition against the use of sharpened bayonets. The only international prohibition that has been noted with respect to bayonets was the prohibition against the use of the Sawback version of the german 98-05 bayonet.

During World War I the allies for propaganda reasons decided to declare that any soldier caught with a sawback bayonet would be shot. It was claimed that the bayonet was cruel and barbaric. That sawback bayonets had been in popular use with the military of most nations during the closing decades of the 19th century was momentarily forgotten.

I suspect that the reasons some bayaonets turn up unsharpened is that during peacetime the military likes to keep them that way to increase equipment life and reduce training injuries. Once these troops are given orders to deploy the bayonets will probably get sharpened.


 
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