BisonWorld Member Joined: Mar 2012  IN, USA Posts: 43 Feedback: 100% (4)

Posted: 7/11/2012 12:26:31 PM THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT Hi all, I just acquired a m1917/p14/ trench bayonet (tho im guessing it was likely issued on a p14 as its date stamped 1913 ) that is in pretty fantastic condition and appears to never have been sharpened other than the initial factory sharpening. So question is, would I be harming it by making it a little sharper? Or should I just leave it as is?

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NAM DD214 Holder Team Member Joined: Jul 2002  WI, USA Posts: 23629 Feedback: 100% (41) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 12:28:44 PM I'd leave it as is.
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Grey_Man Member Joined: Dec 2009  MD, USA Posts: 2351 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 12:31:34 PM I vote leave it.
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ConKeeper Member Joined: Mar 2012  AFG Posts: 65 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 12:43:31 PM Yes, leave it. I doubt you will be running any Germans through, so preserve the history.
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Black-Tiger GIVE THEM NOTHING, BUT TAKE EVERYTHING! Team Member Joined: Jan 2006  AZ, USA Posts: 23111 Feedback: 100% (14) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 12:49:30 PM Leave as is.
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BisonWorld Member Joined: Mar 2012  IN, USA Posts: 44 Feedback: 100% (4) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 1:41:59 PM Well that was quick and easy, I'll leave it as is. Well at least until nazis or zombies attempt to take over the world again, when that happens I'm sharpening it.
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SoftwareJanitor Member Joined: Jun 2005  TX, USA Posts: 3256 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 2:39:37 PM Unless you plan on using it, and you probably have more suitable knives available, you are right in just leaving it as it is. Bayonets really don't need to be all that sharp anyway.
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dfariswheel Member Joined: Feb 2005  USA Posts: 6547 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 3:38:18 PM Bayonets are not fighting knives. They're stabbing weapons so sharpening the edge really does no good, and in fact may reduce the effectiveness of it's damaging abilities of tearing flesh instead of cutting it. Modern bayonets that are combination bayonets/fighting knives may be sharpened. The older types are best left as-is.
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Brazos Member Joined: Jan 2005  TX, USA Posts: 1418 Feedback: 100% (18) Link To This Post	Posted: 7/11/2012 9:49:17 PM [Last Edit: 7/11/2012 9:52:28 PM by Brazos] They were not sharpened originally although some soldiers did sharpen them against orders (or policy, anyway.) If it is original finish you should be able to see that the blade was left in the white except for about the first 2 inches in front of the bolsterl.
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madcratebuilder Member Joined: Oct 2007  OR, USA Posts: 1804 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post

Posted: 7/12/2012 10:05:20 AM Originally Posted By dfariswheel: Bayonets are not fighting knives. They're stabbing weapons so sharpening the edge really does no good, and in fact may reduce the effectiveness of it's damaging abilities of tearing flesh instead of cutting it. Modern bayonets that are combination bayonets/fighting knives may be sharpened. The older types are best left as-is. THIS. It was not sharpened when new. A previous owner has altered it.

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BisonWorld Member Joined: Mar 2012  IN, USA Posts: 45 Feedback: 100% (4) Link To This Post

Posted: 7/12/2012 10:51:08 AM Originally Posted By madcratebuilder: Originally Posted By dfariswheel: Bayonets are not fighting knives. They're stabbing weapons so sharpening the edge really does no good, and in fact may reduce the effectiveness of it's damaging abilities of tearing flesh instead of cutting it. Modern bayonets that are combination bayonets/fighting knives may be sharpened. The older types are best left as-is. THIS. It was not sharpened when new. A previous owner has altered it. Not so sure about it having absolutely no edge when issued, every other p1913 sword-bayonet I have seen has had an edge to it, while not necessarily sharp ( mine sure isn't) there definitely appears to be an edge

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