Staff with bayonet mount?

[mntbighker]

Anybody know where might be a good place to look for a hardwood staff with one end designed to accept a standard bayonet? Actually, I have been thinking something like that could be useful with several types of accessories.

 

[Zemapeli]

There is a gun specialties store near my house that sells demilitarized training rifles that were used for training troops. They have a bayonet lug and barrel on them. If you were to buy a Cold Steel Escrima Stick and take a band saw and drill press to it, you could find a way to attach a section of barrel and the lug to the end of the Escrima Stick. Some ideas could be some long pivot screws and maybe metal wire and an epoxy of some kind like fishing rods eyelets are wrapped would be nice. You could would need a drill press for the thin barrel section that would stick out of the front one inch to secure the knife tip. Then you would need to use a dremmel tool and small hand files to cut out the outline of the bayonet lug. I would also go to hobby lobby or micheals and buy a small rubber cork to stick in the barrel (just the right size to make the barrel waterproof, but small enough of a diameter to be smaller than the barrel itself to allow you to remove and fix the bayonet to the stick) The space inside the barrel would be perfect to keep some fishing line, matches, hooks, sinkers, firesteel, etc...

The Cold Steel Escrima Stick Specs:
Weight: 15.6 oz
Overall Length: 33 3/8"
Thickness: 1 1/2" Diameter
Material: Polypropylene
Really, the Brooklyn Smasher would leave you more medium to work with.
You would have to reinforce the escrima stick with a wire and wire glue like used to make custom fly fishing rods...
You can find this wire and glue at fishing specialties stores or online.
Just some ideas.
The demilitarized rifles run about 50 dollars..
The escrima stick is 32 dollars..
Pivot screws, wire, epoxys, and rubber cork would run between 30-40 dollars..
Plus shipping fees...
But you could really make something nice with these.
I hope this helps
-Zemapeli

 

[mntbighker]

There is a gun specialties store near my house that sells demilitarized training rifles that were used for training troops. They have a bayonet lug and barrel on them.

Good ideas. I'm hoping someone knows about an existing product.

 

[sideways]

Mosin nagant

 

[BlackKnight86]

Good ideas. I'm hoping someone knows about an existing product.

None existing that I could find; and I did quite a bit of hunting. I ended up making it....proto one was a lug on a barrel ring, lower portion screwed into the wood. Proto two is a strip mounted lug (designed for a gas block), fits better (flush) to the wood.

Biggest issue right now is strength in the nub that the bayonet's ring goes on, and reinforcing the wood that it goes into. Trying to solve....

Best solution is one that I haven't the skill to do. Metal cap - cylindrical spear socket? -, sort of like a ferrule, with lug and nub welded or forged on. Attach the cap to a walking stick like you would a ferrule. This would be an actual manufacturable product, again, just like a ferrule.

Good luck!

 

[sideways]

Mosin Nagant.

 

[mntbighker]

Best solution is one that I haven't the skill to do. Metal cap - cylindrical spear socket? -, sort of like a ferrule, with lug and nub welded or forged on. Attach the cap to a walking stick like you would a ferrule. This would be an actual manufacturable product, again, just like a ferrule.

Good luck!

My thoughts exactly. The nice added bonus is something like that could accept various things other than a bayonet.

 

[storyville]

Probably not what you're looking for, but Luxury Lite makes a carbon fiber sectional hiking staff with an included/optional spear tip. Depending on how you arrange the sections, it can be mounted at the end or 'sheathed' mid-section and withdrawn as needed/desired. The spear tip is basically an extended aluminum joint. Not 'ideal' but functional, and the staff itself is very strong and light––I've used one for years.

Wow, just checked to see if it's still available––yes, but prices have gone up considerably!

 

[BlackKnight86]

Probably not what you're looking for, but Luxury Lite makes a carbon fiber sectional hiking staff with an included/optional spear tip. Depending on how you arrange the sections, it can be mounted at the end or 'sheathed' mid-section and withdrawn as needed/desired. The spear tip is basically an extended aluminum joint. Not 'ideal' but functional, and the staff itself is very strong and light––I've used one for years.

Wow, just checked to see if it's still available––yes, but prices have gone up considerably!

Do you know anything about the quality? It looks like they got the idea from the Crawford Staff.....I saw one at Blade at their table; it's a lot more expensive, but I would trust a Crawford product. I don't know anything about these.

You're right; it's a different function set....at least for me, the idea I had behind attaching a bayonet is to have the bayonet as a knife, as well, but with the option of giving it reach. It was a much more basic functionality than one of those survival staffs; plus my intent was that the setup be portable and transferrable to any common stick. The staff as a gear set is nice, though....a Crawford model is on my list.

 

[storyville]

Do you know anything about the quality? It looks like they got the idea from the Crawford Staff.....I saw one at Blade at their table; it's a lot more expensive, but I would trust a Crawford product. I don't know anything about these.

You're right; it's a different function set....at least for me, the idea I had behind attaching a bayonet is to have the bayonet as a knife, as well, but with the option of giving it reach. It was a much more basic functionality than one of those survival staffs; plus my intent was that the setup be portable and transferrable to any common stick. The staff as a gear set is nice, though....a Crawford model is on my list.

Quality is very good––I don't know if Luxlite produces the CF staff sections themselves or has a 3rd party make them, but they are obviously done in small batches with high quality control. (I'm not a 'UL guy' but LL has been well-known for a long time in that community.) I weigh 170 and can do pull-ups with the staff suspended at the ends, yank or stand on it, etc. The design has evolved, too: this is the first time I checked it out online in years, but I can see the tweaks and refinements from the one I have (bought in spring 2008, 54" long assembled and ~9.5 oz). Didn't know about the Crawford survival staff before, but it definitely aims to do more than the Luxlite version!

With apologies for continuing to take the original topic astray––I'm interested in the bayonet idea, too!––but there have been BF threads in the past that discussed lashing a knife to a staff or branch with paracord. (Can't find them now but can try later.) I wasn't a believer but I was shocked at how well such a set-up actually performed: cutting down fruit from high branches, sure, but also chopping, getting jammed into bushes and briars without falling apart, etc.

 

[mntbighker]

With apologies for continuing to take the original topic astray––I'm interested in the bayonet idea, too!––but there have been BF threads in the past that discussed lashing a knife to a staff or branch with paracord. (Can't find them now but can try later.) I wasn't a believer but I was shocked at how well such a set-up actually performed: cutting down fruit from high branches, sure, but also chopping, getting jammed into bushes and briars without falling apart, etc.

Having a staff with a flat side and a knife with paracord covered handle would be a next best solution. Especially if the staff and knife had several matching holes the paracord could pass through. You could also carry some kevlar cord to wrap with. Or something that is TOUGH and made not to stretch much. I'm actually warming up the idea this might be the preferred solution for making a spear. For one thing that style knife would be much lighter than a bayonet. And I'll bet the paracord handle knives can easily had in much better steel. Not to mention a really good staff could easily be modified with a flat side. Much easier than having a bayonet mount built. Problem solved ;-)

 

[BlackKnight86]

Having a staff with a flat side and a knife with paracord covered handle would be a next best solution. Especially if the staff and knife had several matching holes the paracord could pass through. You could also carry some kevlar cord to wrap with. Or something that is TOUGH and made not to stretch much. I'm actually warming up the idea this might be the preferred solution for making a spear. For one thing that style knife would be much lighter than a bayonet. And I'll bet the paracord handle knives can easily had in much better steel. Not to mention a really good staff could easily be modified with a flat side. Much easier than having a bayonet mount built. Problem solved ;-)

Another thought would be along the lines of the socketed knives, to fit over the end of the staff, and with some kind of anchoring system ( a small screw or nail), to go through a hole in the socket.

Most notable examples would be the Cold Steel Bushman and the Condor Matagi, or United Cutlery's newer SK-5 Colombian Warrior Spear Head. The advantage there would be a more substantial handle....and possibly greater strength in the joint between spear and shaft? Plus, unlike with a bayonet or a flat handle tied on the side, a socket would put the center line of the spear head in line with the center long axis of the shaft, as opposed to an offset to one side (you would get the same thing if you put your flat handle into a notch/slot in the center of the end of the staff). I've got a project lined up to use the UC spear head to make a walking stick (durable, not temporary mount), using kydex to make a staff "headpiece" that would serve as a decorative concealment for the blade as well as a sheath/cover. An alternate blade is the discontinued Cold Steel Warhead; either choice would be a dedicated bladed hiking staff, rather than a staff/knife combo.

The biggest benefit to a bayonet mount would be speed of deployment (with enough of a dependable level of reliability to trust it in use). The scenario is, your staff is primarily a walking stick, and your bayonet primarily a knife. If you need the reach, you have it in seconds. No need to unwrap/wrap, or otherwise anchor. I'm assuming no need for a dedicated, actual spear....the main goal is reach extension.

I don't think I'd throw any of them, with the possible exception of the durably mounted, by-design spearhead.

 

[mntbighker]

The biggest benefit to a bayonet mount would be speed of deployment (with enough of a dependable level of reliability to trust it in use). The scenario is, your staff is primarily a walking stick, and your bayonet primarily a knife. If you need the reach, you have it in seconds. No need to unwrap/wrap, or otherwise anchor. I'm assuming no need for a dedicated, actual spear....the main goal is reach extension.

That was my original notion as well.

https://youtu.be/LsmF_S4Yfds

Now that would be a SPEAR head ;-)

 

[storyville]

mntbighker--You're right, Kevlar or similar would be much better than para--lighter, thinner, and stronger, and knot-friendly with minimal 'creep.' The 'high end' of a socket-type knife that BK86 suggests would probably be the discontinued Chris Reeve one-piece knives--but pricier doesn't guarantee a better spear, of course. I think I'd still rather go with a skeletonized knife for quality and versatility, whether lashing to one side or into the split end of a pole for centering, as BK86 notes. (Although I didn't know about Condor's Matagi before; see, I can still learn something new here). TOPS has those two 'harpoons' but a Tibo, Izula, or even Candiru would be more versatile, i.e., they're good as-is as knives! For something a little bigger, a Spyderco mule in a tool steel would work well, too. The Bushman/Matagi type blades--probably devote more time to carving then mounting one of those snugly than to lashing a skeletonized knife. But the Bushman/Matagi would be a lot biggerStill not sure how necessary or high priority this would be, but it would definitely be fun to play around with.

 

[c_langille]

I have thought about this concept as well. If I were to put this plan into action, I would procure myself a nice piece of hardwood for a staff, then carve it to accept the nose cap off a No. 1 lee enfield rifle. It has a bayonet lug built into, and could be epoxied and screwed onto the staff. The bayonet would be offset to the staff as shown on the rifle.

The sword bayonet that attaches to this lug is a whooping 18" long and would be quite effective at fending off most creatures. As well, to attach, it just clips right on, and to release, a button on the bayonet is pushed and voila.

 

[mntbighker]

The sword bayonet that attaches to this lug is a whooping 18" long and would be quite effective at fending off most creatures. As well, to attach, it just clips right on, and to release, a button on the bayonet is pushed and voila.

On the plus side, that would be a formidable weapon. But I would prefer a lighter weight combo with a more versatile edged implement. It certainly has the advantage of being "off the shelf" parts ;-)

 

[gadgetgeek]

Zing-it and Lash-it are good options for the cord you are looking for. Braided dyneema, so easy enough to splice, and its coated with a urethane coating that helps it hold knots. the 1.75mm stuff has a break strength of 270 kg or something so similar to 550, but no stretch. should be less than a buck a yard on the spool.

For an engineered solution:
I'm envisioning a slab handled knife, like say an ESEE4, with the tang skeletoned out to create a channel, relying on the strength of the G10 to form the sides of the socket. the mechanism to lock it on could also be used to lock on the walking tip of the staff, or the handle. I'd go for the option to remove the walking tip. you could have it held in place by a pivoting lock bar that had dogs on the far end. that way the lock has to be pulled out to unlock the inside, and can be secured by a secondary method if needed.
Apart from the knife, a lot of it could be titanium for weight.

 

[BlackKnight86]

I have thought about this concept as well. If I were to put this plan into action, I would procure myself a nice piece of hardwood for a staff, then carve it to accept the nose cap off a No. 1 lee enfield rifle. It has a bayonet lug built into, and could be epoxied and screwed onto the staff. The bayonet would be offset to the staff as shown on the rifle.

The sword bayonet that attaches to this lug is a whooping 18" long and would be quite effective at fending off most creatures. As well, to attach, it just clips right on, and to release, a button on the bayonet is pushed and voila.

This is an excellent idea; and one of the first directions I wanted to go. The only issue was the choice of bayonet; and that was driven by the whole purpose of the design.

For just about any scenario, this is pretty much a "not a first choice" design. Anything one can do with even the best bayonet, one would be far better served by a quality fixed blade; so allowing the specific need for a bayonet to drive equipment choice is not something one should ever do. By far the more likely scenario would be the standard need for/utility of a good fixed blade, with the neither common nor absolutely essential opportunity to extend the reach by lashing it to a staff; and that is arguably something that one can do with any fixed blade. So why do it at all? Besides the entertainment in the activity itself, it seemed to me that there was a narrow scope in which the deployment speed and attachment versatility would be a benefit....if and only if you had a bayonet that was an acceptable fixed blade substitute.

I am not that knowledgeable on bayonets; but what I ended up with after some research was that bayonets make terrible GP knives, because GP knives don't usually make good bayonets. From what I read there were only a couple of decent exceptions, and both are AR-15 system bayonets: the Marine OKC-3S and the Camillus CAM1A1. That effectively narrowed down my search to AR-15 off the shelf parts; and those are attached to a barrel less than an inch thick. Not strong enough if executed in wood, at least it wouldn't seem like it would be.

Long story short, c_langille's idea is excellent in concept; but selecting the wrong bayonet will get you a long sticker at the end of a staff, along with the need to carry another knife to do what your bayonet can't. It does, however, provide a good basis for a custom socket with bayonet attachments welded on....which would require someone with the skill to execute it.