Lets talk about Bayonets. What's your thoughts on getting period correct Bayos for your rifles?

[Rockrivr1]

More and more I've been going down the rabbit hole of Bayonets. Doing some reading and research there just as much or more to know about Bayos then there is to know about the firearms they go with. I've slowly been picking up Bayos for some of my surplus rifles. So far I've got period correct Bayos for my Arisaka 99, Enfield No 4 Mk1 and SMLE, M1 Garand and Carbine and will be picking up a nice example for my K98 this weekend from a fellow forum member.

Just looking at the options for the Arisaka, there are 4 different options you could go with depending on year and how far up the ranks you were in the Japanese military. The same for the K98. There are a TON of different Bayos out there from the mass produced to the works of art done by some German manufacturers. Significant price change as well if you have a matching number scabbard with the Bayo. You look at the Bayo for the Enfield and some of them are as big as a saber. It's like carrying a sword on the end of your rifle. Fun stuff.

Anyone else down this rabbit hole. What have you found so far?

 

[tark]

At the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, we have in storage, over ten thousand artifacts that we simply do not have room to display. Among them are hundreds of bayonets from all eras, from the civil war to the present. If a rifle was made to take a bayonet, we probably have the bayonet. Here are just a few of the many drawers full of the things. Unfortunately, as government property, none are for sale!

 

[Hookeye]

I have one for an StG57.
Cant afford a rifle to put it on LOL

Need to find a minty tube style for FAL

 

[Rockrivr1]

At the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, we have in storage, over ten thousand artifacts that we simply do not have room to display. Among them are hundreds of bayonets from all eras, from the civil war to the present. If a rifle was made to take a bayonet, we probably have the bayonet. Here are just a few of the many drawers full of the things. Unfortunately, as government property, none are for sale!

That is awesome!

 

[JohnB-40]

I would like to have one for my Enfield #5 as I have ones for my #3 and #4. The problem is a real one is nearly the same cost as the rifle!

 

[Show Me]

How about a WW2 bayonet in a Greek scabbard on a WW2 Garand that probably came from Greece. Am I in style.

 

[eastbank]

i have correct bayonets for most of my milsurp rifles and some of them for older rifles look like they were for pole vaulting over the trenchs. i lucked into this so called crank bayonet for a ww-1 german 98 mauser.

 

[Bullet Bob]

When the internet and I were younger you could buy them cheaply when a country dumped a bunch at once, not sure that happens much anymore. Like Hookeye I bought a couple for StG57's at about $10-12.00 each, And a pair for the Swedish 96 Mauser I have at about the same price. Here's one of the Swedish Mauser bayonets along with a Swedish Fallkniven folder:

When one of those things is attatched to a 29+ inch barreled rifle it would definitely take the worry out of having to get too close!

 

[argonn]

The top one was issued, M4
The next two were taken in Iraq in 2003, and Afghanistan in 2010, the bottom kinda speaks for itself.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I'm currently on the hunt for a Winchester M1917 Bayonet and Scabbard to go with my original Winchester 1897 Trench Shotgun. I'm seeing them going for upward of $500 or more for a decent one.

 

[ilbob]

It's another part of gun collecting.

 

[argonn]

I'm currently on the hunt for a Winchester M1917 Bayonet and Scabbard to go with my original Winchester 1897 Trench Shotgun. I'm seeing them going for upward of $500 or more for a decent one.

My dad was a career Marine, as was his dad, and both used the 97. My uncle, also a Marine, died at 81 years old a few years ago he had the 97 trench and the bayonet. My aunt offered it to me, but I had her sell it. It was worth more than I wanted to pay, and she deserved the money it brought. I don’t recall the amount, but it was a nice windfall.
He road around the ranch on a mule with a McClellan saddle, wearing the Marine campaign hat. I miss him.

 

[TimRB]

Unfortunately, as government property, none are for sale!

I would say that's fortunate. If they were for sale, some rich collector would come along and clean the place out--those bayonets would be gone forever.

Tim

 

[Gerd33]

I don't know if I'd say down the rabbit hole but I always keep an eye out when one pops up on an estate sale in the area.
A couple that I've picked up.

Czech bayonet for, I think, the VZ24



Remington Pattern 13.





It looks as if it had a name scratched into the wood.



One that I picked up for a relative as a retirement gift.
The bayonet itself was in rather poor condition so I got it "cheap" but they had made the "mistake" of mentioning that they wanted one for their Stevens 520-30 trench.

 

[tazbigdog]

Got one for my M1. Looking for one for my 1903A3.

 

[jobu07]

I don't seek them out, they seek out me. I don't consider them as especially important for a collection, but I they're nice to complete a rig.

 

[Mk-211]

Got one for my M1. Looking for one for my 1903A3.

I finally found one for my 1903, in ok condition, cost me $200.

They just go up from there.

 

[nativeoutdoors]

Definitely gone down the bayonet rabbit hole! Started with one, now it’s a full-blown side collection. Got a correct M1 bayonet, recently picked up a matching K98 one, and still hunting for an M1917 (prices are getting crazy). The details—markings, factory variations, and serials—really make collecting interesting. Best advice? Do your research and be patient—good deals are out there!

 

[toivo]

I bought a bayonet for my Swiss K31. When it came, I put it on the rifle, looked at it, and thought "That's cool." Then I took it off and put it away. That was ten years ago. Oh well ...

 

[tazbigdog]

I finally found one for my 1903, in ok condition, cost me $200.

They just go up from there.

I stopped looking for a while as the prices went crazy. Keeping my eyes open on internet, fleabay, private sales, auctions, etc. When I was in Phoenix, they had a military-gun related items. Bin full of bayonets, less than $50 apiece. Spent a while digging in, and nothing.

 

[jmorris]

My most useful bayonet has opened mail before, all of the others have remained as useless as art on a wall.

 

[AlexanderA]

The traditional "stand of arms" included the musket plus the bayonet. The armament of the soldier wasn't complete without the bayonet (unless he happened to be a specialist, such as a rifleman).

These muskets are all reproductions, but all the bayonets (except for the three on the extreme left) are originals. I used these when reenacting Rev War, War of 1812, Mexican War, and Civil War.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I have about 100 bayonets, mostly bought in various auctions.
A number of them are currently valued higher than the firearms that are linked to them...

 

[jmohme]

It took me almost 10 years to find one that was close to correct for my FN49

 

[Slamfire]

I believe that is the correct bayonet for the K31 Swiss

the saw back bayonet was something that was around from before WW1

Sawback bayonets were something the Engineer battalions were issued, so these guy would have a saw. However when WW1 kicked off, the Allies demonized the Germans to an incredible degree, and in their propaganda claimed the saw teeth were there to cause a more severe wound as the bayonet was withdrawn. As if getting bayoneted was survivable. This WW1 war crime hysteria against the Germans resulted in captured Germans being shot on the spot if they had a sawback bayonet. An original German sawback with its teeth is rare, as the Germans ground the teeth off, to avoid summary execution. I have a German sawback sent as aid to the Turks, and the teeth were ground off.

I really don't know if sawbacks were made after WW1, the saw function was not very good, and then your troops might be shot on the spot if captured.

No one seems to have liked the spike bayonet.

Sure it was lightweight, and it was cheap, (of no concern to anyone but Ordnance) but the thing was, it was useless to cook with, to chop, to cut roots as you dug your foxhole, or to pound with. Bayonet butts got used as hammers.

The Martini Henry and a bayonet are an outstanding combination.

You put a socket bayonet on a Martini Henry, and you will start looking for things to stick with it. The rifle and bayonet are so well balanced, and your reach with a fixed bayonet just gives a person confidence.