How do I clean (maybe identify) an old bayonet?

[Alex Franke]

I have an old bayonet that I always thought went with my father's WWII M1, but I notice now it's marked "1897", which would almost certainly change that story. The belt clip on the scabbard is marked "lNY143".

It's covered in a sticky gunk -- it looks and smells like an aged rancid oil of some sort.

While I'm waiting for a call back from my father (to hopefully identify it), does anyone have any advice on how to clean it properly? If he doesn't remember, I may need help identifying it, too...

Thanks!

[Tom Slick]

Whatever you do, don't use an abrasive on it. I would start with a penetrating oil to see if it'll loosen whatever is on it now.

[Uncle Cracker]

I recommend that you not be in a hurry to clean it, but instead to contact a conservatory group, such as a Civil War museum, and inquire further. Putting the wrong chemical on it, or even cleaning it at all, might affect the value.

[chopnhack]

Could it be cosmoline? If so really hot water alone should be enough to melt it followed by a detergent and water wash, dry and oil.

[bruce hylton]

WD-40 works well.

[cwsmith]

If it's WWII era, then in all likelyhood that gunk is cosmoline, as previously mentioned. Lot's of stuff came back with the boys and most of them packed it in "cosmoline" as, I understand, it was plentiful.

Did your father serve in the Europe campaign or in the Pacific? That would help identify the bayonet to some great degree.

As I recall, U.S. Army bayonets were comparitively short, a bit larger than a hunting knife at eight or nine inches. Enfield (British Army) bayonets and those that the Japanese used were rather long (aproaching 16 to 18 inches)... or at least the one's that I have seen. I think most Enfield bayonets were designed prior to WWI and used in "the trenches".

I don't recall German or Italian bayonets, but again I think they were long.

Your father would hopefully know for sure.

CWS

[pelligrini]

My folks have a US Bayonet similar to this one http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...an-am-war-nice That 1897 date of yours would probably put it in the Spanish american war.

[tommyt654]

Probably a Wilkinson would be my guess as well as cosmoline.

[Alex Franke]

Alas, it wasn't his bayonet after all. In fact I it looks like I didn't even git it from him; he didn't even remember that I had it.

Whatever you do, don't use an abrasive on it. I would start with a penetrating oil to see if it'll loosen whatever is on it now.

Does WD-40 classify as a penetrating oil? I won't use an abrasive.

Did your father serve in the Europe campaign or in the Pacific? That would help identify the bayonet to some great degree.

As I recall, U.S. Army bayonets were comparitively short, a bit larger than a hunting knife at eight or nine inches.

He was in the Pacific. He said his was short -- like around 6-8 inches. The blade on this one is about 11.75".

My folks have a US Bayonet similar to this one http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...an-am-war-nice That 1897 date of yours would probably put it in the Spanish american war.

That looks EXACTLY like the one I have -- scabbard and all. Exactly. Based on that image alone, this is almost certainly a Krag. Cool...

[Tom Slick]

I also think WD-40 would be good.

[dangre]

There are some good tips and links on this group, but not too much traffic.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bayonetcollecting/

Dan

[os1kne]

Depending on how much luck you have with warm water and WD-40, the next step up would be kerosene or diesel fuel - they have been known to work well on cosmoline (assuming that's what the coating is.) Good luck and please post some pics.

[eezlock]

clean an old bayonete

Gt to an auto parts store and buy a can of spray brake cleaner or spray
carb cleaner. Spray it liberally all over the bayonet and that cosmoline will literally melt and fall off and won't hurt the metal at all. That cosmoline was
all over the bed of my jointer when I bought it, did the same thing to it...no problem with it. After cleaning, coated the jointer bed with WD-40 and ready
for use.

[Raffi]

take a few pics, and post it up on bladeforums.com

there are a lot of helpful and knowledgeable folks over there that would be willing to help im sure

till then, don't mess with it

[Alex Franke]

Here are a couple pictures. I put several more up at my blog site here: