M7 bayonet question

[bigdaddy99]

All, I just received my m7 bayonet beater upper from sportsmans guide and I have a quick question that I'm hoping that someone might know the answer to.

I took it apart to clean it - had sand and a bit of rust that I cleaned out, but the thing that really annoys me is that the finger guard/loop thing rattles. I see there is a U shaped piece of metal that appears to have the job of holding the finger guard/loop in place, but it has some play there - and some rattle.

I was thinking of hammering the U shaped piece with a nail set or something like that in order to spread the metal a bit further towards the finger guard.

Does that sound like at least a semi-proper fix?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have!

 

[RetiredGuns]

I put up with the M7 as an Armorer in the Marines for a long time and being a knife person I never liked them. On the other hand, we paid about $13 for them so what do you expect. I used my own knives the entire 20 years but did tinker with some bayonets. I actually shimmed a couple that had a lot of play to them. If it bothers you go ahead and do whatever seems logical to stop that slop.

 

[Halfneck]

I liked the M7 a lot more than I did the M9. They just need a proper sharpening, and usually need to be reprofiled, to get a good edge.