M1 Bayonet Sharpening

[2uaysar]

Hi all - I have a M1 Bayonet I'd like to sharpen (both the edge and tip).

I think the blade as-is was made for higher ductility at the expense of keeping a sharp edge to accommodate soldiers using them like machetes.

Can someone direct me to an appropriate process for lowering the temper of the edge (ideally something that could be done with tools from harbor freight)? I don't need to shave with it; I'd be happy with good-kitchen-knife-sharp.

Someone on another internet forum says it's WD-1080 steel heat treated to "52-4-1" specification (no idea what that means).

Thanks!!!

 

[bucketstove]

Hi all - I have a M1 Bayonet I'd like to sharpen (both the edge and tip).

I think the blade as-is was made for higher ductility at the expense of keeping a sharp edge to accommodate soldiers using them like machetes.

Can someone direct me to an appropriate process for lowering the temper of the edge (ideally something that could be done with tools from harbor freight)? I don't need to shave with it; I'd be happy with good-kitchen-knife-sharp.

Someone on another internet forum says it's WD-1080 steel heat treated to "52-4-1" specification (no idea what that means).

Thanks!!!

Hi,
Have you ever sharpened anything before? Got any equipment already (like a stone)?

If you're just wanting to sharpen the blade at existing angle,
get a basic stone (perfect for bayonet steels) raise a tiny burr, cut it off at double the angle,
and it will shave, 5-10 minutes if blade is anything resembling a knife edge and you're anywhere in the neighborhood of hitting the edge/apex (angle adequately high)

If you're wanting to lower the angle on a bayonet, a regrind, you can still do it with a stone, beltsander not required, just do it a little at a time (one degree at a time), because that things looks thick, and it will take time

If you have a harbor freight nearby you also have a dollar tree,
which ought to have stones for $1 (versus the harbor freight $4)
so you can get two-three for about the price of one of the harbor freight ones (when its on sale),
the plastic they come in can be used as a stone holder, just put some soda bottle caps in the bottom
... more details and tips and links to videos...
$1 stone beard whittling edges
Newbie needs help sharpening tanto
Basic three step knife sharpening video

 

[2uaysar]

Thanks for the detailed response!!

After reading some other posts about sharpening these bayonets I was worried the steel was no good for holding an edge, but it sounds like I can just sharpen it up as-is. I think I may already have one of those cheapo solved kicking around...

 

[TwinStick]

FWIW,

On the subject of bayonets. While serving in the US ARMY, every time I was issued a bayonet, it was absolutely DULL. I would sharpen it until it would shave hair. Next time i was issued it, it was DULL again. So, after about a dozen cycles of this, I talked to the Armorer & asked if i was given a different one each time or what. He said, "no, you dumba**, they are not SUPPOSED to be sharp". I said this makes no sense to me. He explained that if you use it, in combat on someone & it goes between their ribs (which it usually does) & it is razor sharp, it will cut into the rib bones & you will not be able to get it out.

I really have no idea if that is true or not but it does make sense. I never had to use one for it's intended purpose. So then, the next question that begs to be asked is- "then why do they make bayonets so that the blade is vertical, instead of horizontal, when mounted on the gun ? If they did do that, it would seem the the probability of it getting stuck between the rib bones would be a LOT less ?