Bayonets, Knives, Military Firearms OH BOY!

[bladeworks123]

The excitement just continues to grow here on this site. My father was an armament man and gunner in the 7th AAF during WWII and travelled through the Pacific all the way to Okinawa. Before he shipped out, he had a man in Dover Delaware build him a knife which he carried to every island in the Pacific. When he returned he carried that knife every year for 62 years during big game season. He also brought back several different US and Japanese bayonets and the rifle he carried. He also had a collection of manuals and books on repair of aircraft mounted weapons . As a kid growing up, I marvelled at the collection and his personal knife, which was hand crafted from a file. All these things I suppose were the inspiration for me to build knives and do gunsmithing. The knife he carried for 65 years, together with the bayonet from his 03-A3 Springfiled hang in my shop today as a tribute to the inspiration they provided me. That's why I am ecstatic that you have added this section to the site. Looking forward to seing some military blades.

[Optimus Prime]

So where's the pics of those blades?

[bladeworks123]

So where's the pics of those blades?

Just took these, at your request OP.... Japanese Bayonet taken from the island of Tarawa, Dad's 03-A4, Model 1905 (Marine Corps) bayonet. (1942 AFH) He traded his issued M1 carbine to a Marine Corps sergeant on the island of Okinawa, brought home the barrel and action and this bayonet in his duffle bag. Unfortuantely he sporterized the rifle, but I still have the scope, mounts and all the original parts, and will restore it someday. The rifle itself hunted elk every year from 1947 to 1996. Was given to me in 1973 on my 14th birthday. Third knife was hand made in 1942 by an unknown knife maker in Dover, Delaware. It was made from a file and is tougher than H E double toothpicks. Dad said he had it made because he didn't like the knives the Army issued.

[SteelCore]

I have also made a knife from a file, a Nicholson mill bastard, to be exact. File steel is super hard (62+ on the rockwell scale) and thus keeps a good edge for a long time. They do need a surface treatment or constant oiling (or wax) to keep them from rusting until they build a natural patina.

Not mil, but since we were talking file knnives, please allow me this OT:

[brewskzilla]

That Third knife looks to me like a hand-made Ka-Bar. Take care of it and it will last forever. Remember: The steel they use these days isn't $h!t compared to the stuff they used to make. I still use my grandfather's old straight razor from the 30s. It has NEVER rusted on me, though it is not stainless. The steel was just that good. Also, I've had it for several years, and only had to strop it twice.

Ah, those were the good old days when quality meant something.