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.... you should get yourself one of those tools, to push out all the digs and dents :D
Never knew there were even such tools, I liked it so much I bought it. And after all it carries a bit of Austrian history aswell, since it was used by the Austrian Police forces in Kärnten after WWII since they were equipped with Enfield rifles ;)
I have though that there should be a tool for this. Good to know thanks! will you rent it out?
I seem to think that this was a tool for holding the scabbard straight while re-stitching the seams and for 'lacing' the mouthpiece and thinggy on the other end............. was it called a 'chape.....?
The old 60's Armourers shop at Knook Camp had one of these things still on charge before they moved the Demonstration Battalion to the then new Battlesbury Barracks. Nobody knew what it was for until I cleaned the old grease off it.
'Lacing' was the term used for fitting new retaining staples to the mouthpieces. Apparently, you put this mandril thing into the scabbard, spread the legs of the laces outwards slightly, fitted them in the holes and punched the laces in with a wood block. When the laces hit the mandril, they spread outwards and tightened and secured the mouthpiece and end thinggy
Never used one but saw a couple and Robbie Robertson told me how it was done. If it's all a load of rubbish, blame him!
We did have a mandrell for doing FN mags and for the FN scabbard. They looked similar and were just a solid item. Strip the item and fight it on the mandrell, then beat the dents out with the nylon hammer. Peter must have had those in the shop too? They were only marginally effective though. Once the metal is stretched, you're hooped for the most part.
I have need for one of those. I just completed an auction on a P-14 bayonet and the metal end cap is beat up pretty bad.
Yes the end thingy is called a chape.
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Well i would love to get one to go with my 1907 collection. However the Austrians used a Modified (new made) 84/98 bayoent with a muzzle ring on the police enfields, and i am still after one of those as well!
Another bayonet collecting friend and I have been using these mandrels/ lasts to repair and refurbish British scabbards for several years. Without these instruments it is very difficult to undertake the "lacing" as described by Peter of both the locket and chape. Whilst I can see that such an instrument can be used to knock out dents in metal scabbards one would have to be very lucky due to their thickness actually being of benefit to an Austrian full metal scabbard. Anyway I have two examples of these; one being the P1907 in question and another being the P1903 which also provides lacing for the British P1888 scabbards as they basically the same dimensions. Have attached photos of the smaller P1903. Would love a spare P1907 mandrel so I could give it to my mate so that he doesn't have to borrow mine and conveniently forget to return it.
Do you have any idea upon the value of such a thing (or where would you value it)?
Earlier this year a P1907 mandrel sold at auction in Australia for in excess of A$200. I purchased the P1888 mandrel for A$100 but it needed to be worked on and straightened. Mandrels here in Australia are rarely seen and I don't belive people actually know what they are.