Carcano folding bayonet

This is the bayonet I purchased thinking it was chromed. Photos from the seller were quite a bit different than these and I have cleaned it up a bit as someone did a poor job of cleaning it before. Blade is all scratched and there are file marks on other sections. I'll probably work to get the scratches out leaving the other imperfections alone..

The odd part is the handle. It is bakelite from what I can tell or some other synthetic material. It looks as old as the blade because where the individual couldn't reach because of the grips, it remains uncleaned.

I have not found any other example with this type grips so suspect it may be an aftermarket "repair"

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6311-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6310-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6312-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6313-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6314-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_6315-1.jpg

I think the handle is correct but when is the question. These are a bit scarce and I wouldn't go overboard re-vamping it. Get hold of Carl at BAyonet Collection Presentation and he'll sort you out.

Jim,

I checked Carl's website but didn't find one like it there.

I'm not planning to do anything other than try to reverse what the last guy did. Looks like he took a coarse file to it here and there, nothing real major that can't be blended in. It is actually in a lot better condition than I thought it was from the ebay photos. It looked like a horrible chromed mess.

I did find one other mark, an elongated "C" on the front of the muzzle ring.

I ordered a copy of that new Carcano book but it hasn't been printed yet. Maybe there will be some information in there about it. Expect to have it in about two weeks as they are printing Monday and shipping shortly after that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I have not found any other example with this type grips so suspect it may be an aftermarket "repair"

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I think you are correct. In "Il Novantuno" I can find no mention of anything other than wood being used.

By correct I only mean it looks to be done by a factory or armoury...I just don't think it was a John Q Public job. The only handles I've observed are wood also. It's just that the rivets are excellent and the fit perfect. I was sort of eluding to you contacting Carl at Smithy and he would sort out questions...

The grips are very well made and do appear to be made specifically for this. Fit is better than a lot of other bayonets I own from the same time period.

I have never seen a se of grips like these. a while ago a friend of mine was collecting information on these and identify the variations - and there are many = no mention was ever made of grips like these. The italians used a Bone like grip but nothing like this on any Italian I have ever seem.

So is the grip issue good, bad, something that requires more research or should I start looking for a set of wood grips?

I don't think you should mess with them. You could never(I think)get that kind of match up done. Just keep it as is. Another variation on what's become a scarce variation.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I don't think you should mess with them.

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Agreed. If it is a professional job, you have no way of knowing whether it was done "officially" (i.e. arsenal) or privately. And it might just turn out one day to be something very special. And if you could find a set of original grips in good condition (snowball, chances, and hell are words that spring to mind) and fit them, you have not created an original, just imitated one. As you say yourself

"something that requires more research"

Since I like the grips and like you guys say, they may be authentic, we just don't know, I'm not going to mess with it. I didn't much like the odds of finding a set of wood grips and screws either. Maybe the new book I'm getting will have something in it. They really look like they've been formed in that shape, not carved which would imply there was some "mass" production worth creating the molds for.

One thing that keeps coming to mind is the Germans used bakelite grips. Just throwing this out there but what are the possibilities this is a German refurbishment of Italian equipment on the Eastern Front or after Italy surrendered to the allies.