this for $10.......

U

UnknownVT

Joined
Feb 15, 2003
Messages
2,575
used Swiss Mil Bayonet
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9.5" stainless steel blade, 14.5" overall (just too long to fit on my flatbed scanner). Scabbard has built-in springs to hold the blade snug - the blade shows score marks from these springs.

handle details and blade edge
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blade edge is NOT sharp - in fact quite "blunt" - sort of letter-opener or table knife sharp - I guess bayonets are meant to be for thrusting so only really require to be pointy, and the point/tip is very well done - shaped and ground.

$9.97 from
SportsmansGuide.com
 
That's neat. Many years ago I purchased a bayonet from SMKW and cut down the guard and then sharpened it. In my mind I had a nice big knife - never did use it - don't know if the steel in these is correct for use as a knife. Sat on my bedside table for a few months. Sharp enough for defense work, it certainly was a formidable weapon. Had a 15" blade so it was very sword-like.
 
Originally posted by averageguy
Many years ago I purchased a bayonet from SMKW and cut down the guard and then sharpened it. In my mind I had a nice big knife - never did use it - don't know if the steel in these is correct for use as a knife.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.

So are bayonets generally not sharpened like a knife?
Are the steels suitable for knife usage - ie: sharpened?

Thanks.
 
Great Bayonett ya got there! I love these kinds of knives. They come in so many styles and there are LOTS to collect.

Are Bayonetts "real" knives? I don't know much about them, so I can't say much with authority. A lot of modern bayonetts are meant to be like knives too, such as the M9 and the M7 (both for the M16). I would be leery about older bayonetts though, as I don't believe that many were made with the right steel and heat treat to make a good knife. Though a general piercing shape is good, I'm sure a sharpened bayo would work better than an unsharpened one though. Of course spike bayonets are an exception!
 
I once tried to buy a knife from Sportsman's Guide. I was told it would not be shipped to me because said knife was illegal in my state. I told the phone jockey that it certainly was NOT illegal (they were trying to tell me it was too large a blade and therefore illegal, even though NY has no blade length restriction yet) and I damned well knew my state's laws better than some company from out of state. They would not listen and would not ship me the knife.

I've not a bought a single thing from them since. I throw all their catalogs away unread.
 
Originally posted by UnknownVT
Thanks for the response.

So are bayonets generally not sharpened like a knife?
Are the steels suitable for knife usage - ie: sharpened?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I don't claim to be any sort of bayonet expert by any means but i have seen a few and, as far as I can remember, none of them were particularly sharp. They all had a good point on the end and seemed to be designed for thrusting only. In fact, one I saw was a long piece of almost squarish metal with grooves down each side and a sharpish point on the end. The ONLY thing this could be used for was stabbing. Interestingly the old Roman short swords were also only meant for thrusting as well. Not sure how sharp they might have been.
 
Bayonets don't need to be sharp, especially when they are backed with 8-12 pounds of rifle. They tend to be unsharpened, hard steels that are tough to sharpen. I have a Swedish bayonet from WWI, have had it for ages. Picked it up for $10 at a knife show. Mostly a conversation piece. One of my first knives.
For $10 it's hard to go wrong, and that is a nice-looking knife.
 
I would have to agree about the bayonet not needing to be sharp. Something I learned when growing up in the streets of NYC, a dull blade hurts a hell of a lot more than a very sharp one. it's gonna hurt going in casue the person has to put that extra effort to make it stick in you. Since bayonets are weapons of war I would think that the same principle applys as well. WOW! this is my first post and I had to start it off in this manner? HAHAHAHA! Anyways. These boards have a lot of info to give and I have that thirst to learn. I am soon going to purchase a Emerson Mini Commander BT. The Wave feature is JUST SO DAMN COOL! But I digres, mi malo. Anyways, glad to be here and on on the side, coping the mail.

73's
 
hey thanks guys for all that input.

I had always just assumed that bayonets would be "knife sharp" as it looks like a knife.

The edge on this Swiss Mil stainless steel bayonet looks like it could easily be sharpened - but to a fairly obtuse angle - which probably is "good", even if it might not be "razor sharp" - as it would have a pretty robust edge, that could still cut well (for a bayonet :D )
 
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