To use or not to use: WWII Bayonet.

[Trigcure]

I just got a United Cutlery WWII Bayonet, it is marked 1942, half of one of the handle scales is missing, it has no sheath and the blade has been poorly sharpened at some point. My question is, should i keep this thing as is, or sharpen it up make a new sheath and handle scale and use it?. I don't plan on any hard chopping or splitting, but it would be awefully nice for thorn bushes.
Here is a picture of a nearly identical bayonet. mine is just a little more rusty and a little less used.

 

[Rupestris]

Most bayonets are made for thrusting, not cutting/slicing. They aren't really known to hold an edge and can be somewhat "soft".

That said, if you want to put an edge on it and play around with it, go right ahead. There are more than enough floating around for reasonable prices so you can pick up another in better shape if you get the urge.

At the very least, you will learn something about edge geometry, sharpening, handle comfort/ergonomics, tinkering, making your own scales and balance.

If it has no sentimental value I say have fun with it. Keep us posted on its adventures.

 

[Dorito Monk]

It probably wouldn't perform well at all as a practical tool. It was made for mounting it on the end of an M1 and sticking into people and not much else.

Besides, a neat old piece of history like that is definitely not something I would destroy on a whim, but that's just me.

 

[SpookyDriver]

I have a few dozen of those old bayos mainly because I collect M1 rifles. As mentioned above, they are pretty much worthless for anything other than stabbing. They break pretty easily and don't hold an edge worth a damn.

 

[D R E]

I just got a United Cutlery WWII Bayonet, it is marked 1942, half of one of the handle scales is missing, it has no sheath and the blade has been poorly sharpened at some point. My question is, should i keep this thing as is, or sharpen it up make a new sheath and handle scale and use it?. I don't plan on any hard chopping or splitting, but it would be awefully nice for thorn bushes.
Here is a picture of a nearly identical bayonet. mine is just a little more rusty and a little less used.

If yours has the same markings as the above photo it was manufactured by the Utica Cutlery Co in either 1942 or 43. There are replacement grips floating around and you could clean it up and reparkerize.

You can also find the correct scabbard on the Bay if you want to spend the money. If it were me I would hold on to it or sell as is. They are getting harder to come by and sought after by WW II collectors.

 

[Ellocomotive]

There are plenty of superior blades out there-if you want to chop thorns up, get a machete. The bayonet isn't the right tool for that-it was meant to kill people. I'd go with what D R E said, hang onto it and try to restore it. It's more valuable to you as a collector's than a tool.

 

[Dorito Monk]

They are getting harder to come by and sought after by WW II collectors.

This is another reason not to muck about with it.

Just like how it's getting increasingly hard to find non-modified/'sporterized' Garands, SMLEs, and 1903 Springfield rifles. Sure, there were lots of them a while ago and they were really easy to replace back in the day, but eventually the well dried up and they started becoming pretty sought-after.