Armoury storage of bayonets?

[Sentryduty]

We didn't have those then. I forgot about the new barracks in Wainwright...and their weapons vault on the same floor the troops lived on. Handy everything could go into a wheelbarrow and be stuffed into a safe storage.

During the time when I first hit Wainwright, they had 10 lbs of s... soldiers stuffed into a 5lb bag, so while waiting course loading a number of us lived in the old, black moldy H-huts. Those still had the plywood lockers with the single rack and short chain for bedside securement of the C1 you describe.

By my time, weapons were not permitted to reside outside the vault overnight unless in the field of course.

Every morning right after PT was weapons draw, and every night just before lights out was weapons return.

Circling back to bayonets for F10's notes, the bayonet was on individual issue to the soldier, issued at Company stores and held personally with the rest of his webbing (or FFO) until posting to another company.

Spares awaiting issue generally got the milk crate storage treatment.

[Flying10uk]

I've never thought of using a milk crate for bayonet storage and it's not often you see a milk crate nowadays.

I have seen a period photograph of Russian soldiers during WW2 with a bayonet reverse fitted to their Mosin Nagant rifle. I wonder if the Russian soldier had to keep the bayonet attached to the rifle at all times but it was acceptable for it to be reverse fitted to the rifle when not required?

[browningautorifle]

I wonder if the Russian soldier had to keep the bayonet attached to the rifle at all times but it was acceptable for it to be reverse fitted to the rifle when not required?

Exactly what we've been saying. No scabbards...

[Flying10uk]

It was the bit about reverse fitting the bayonet to the rifle that I was questioning, Jim. I've seen a period photo of Russian soldiers doing it as I mentioned in post 12 but I don't know if this practice was officially sanctioned by the Russian military (reverse fitting of bayonet to rifle). I have heard it stated that the bayonet had to remain attached to the rifle at all times except while travelling by transport, trains?/lorries? No mention was made of which way round the bayonet was to be attached to the rifle and so I assume the normal way round.

[browningautorifle]

reverse fitting the bayonet to the rifle

I think they were issued that way.

[tankhunter]

I take it that was for a bare bayonet as well. I'm familiar with them and had a chance to buy one not long ago. I've always seen the rifles with bayonet fixed.

That is correct Jim. a 'Bare' bayonet. Held on the scabbard, simply by two loops.