Bought a blade

[kBob]

fraggle raggle frack!

trouble up loading pictures.

bought a K98 bayonet today with a mind to doing some sort of fantasy renfaire guard and grip to it for The Gurl and it seems more than I expected.

I am reluctant to Bubba Up what if I am reading the internet right may be mildly collectable

It is a 1939 made “Jos. Cort” K98 Bayonet with matching numbered sheath and an unmarked leather frog. Unsharpened of course.

can some K98 bayonet fiend out there tell me if I will burn in hell for buggering up the grip of this or even sharpening it?

The Gurl saw it this evening as I was whipping it down to look for marks (oh, two waffen ampt marks on one side of butt and one on the release button on the other side)
and suggested she would love to have it “as is” but sharpened.

what to do, what to do?

-kBob

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

If it's still original I'd leave it as it is.
I've got a boogered up old Japanese bayonet blade that I'll send ya for a renfest project if you like.

 

[hso]

1939 made “Jos. Cort” K98 Bayonet with matching numbered sheath and an unmarked leather frog.

Do not molest that!

 

[rust collector]

Most bayonets encountered these days are rusty tent pegs missing scales and latch parts, often sawed down or chewed up. Those that are in better shape are often "sporterized" or sharpened, which leads to frustration because a. they are thick and were not designed to cut, and b. once they are modified they lose most, if not all, of their collector value. As more are messed up, the value of those in unmodified condition increases as we have noted with 91/30s and SKSs. Oil the metal, conserve the leather, then sell to a collector and buy a Ka-bar, Condor or Becker or fantasy knife that will do a much better job for you.

 

[Boattale]

Gurls are a lot more expensive and difficult to replace than even the finest bayonet. So I know what I would do.

 

[JohnKSa]

You can buy bare blades if you want to make a semi-custom knife without having to forge/shape/heat-treat a blade.

Here are a few, but there are others.

https://knifemaking.com/ (They also sell sheet stock if you want to do a stock removal and heat treat. There are also companies that will heat treat for you if you send them a blade you've already shaped.)

https://www.smkw.com/knives/knife-accessories/knife-parts/blade-blanks

https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/knife-making-kitsblades-c-1070.html

 

[Blue Jays]

Were I to unearth a cool/unique/rare antique of some sort…I wouldn’t touch a darn thing on it!

 

[hso]

https://knifemaking.com/collections/dagger-blades/products/renaissance-dagger

 

[kBob]

First,

Thanks for the offer Shanghai, I will find something local rather than have you do all that work!

Thanks to all for advise. It is currently partially cleaned up and resting in a 100 year old gun cabinet next to a boltless K98 Cortuna and a Yugo K98 bayonet.

(bolt in a much more secure safe)

The Gurl asked if the Yugo bayonet is as sacred as the Jos. Cort and can we bugger it up? She likes the longish heavy blade with a point and both long edge and short “false edge”. She wants “fantasy” but the ability to be used say in self defense.

I have pointed out “we” already have two blade projects in waiting where one of us seems unable to find time to help on, but she is Terrier like when she wants something.

-kBob

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I was given one of these-

Its brand new with sheath and is semi sharp, but doesn't fit any rifle Ive tried it on. I really have no use for it, its yours if she wants it.

 

[rust collector]

There are many bayonet-like objects that would serve SCA purpose better than the genuine article. Smokey Mountain has 60 or so catalogued, 18 in stock. Amazon search term "bayonet" would reveal many shiny options with no historical value.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

First,
Thanks for the offer Shanghai, I will find something local rather than have you do all that work! -kBob

Your welcome and it's no trouble if you change your mind.