Caveat Emp...t..o..r...SARCO "1907 British SMLE Bayonet & Scabbard"

Some vendors try and offer a "repro" of an item by "careful or clever" wording of the advert/listing without actually, explicitly, stating that the item in question is, in fact, a repro. In the UK it may be the use of the word "pattern" and possibly where it is placed in the description. Confusion can arise in the mind of the "punter" when he/she incorrectly believes that the word "pattern" is being used to described a generic style of something, by the vendor, for example, 1907 bayonets, when in actual fact the vendor is using the term to avoid the use of the term "repro/reproduction".

Obviously don't make the "schoolboy error" of assuming that a "Pattern 1907 bayonet" and a "1907 Pattern bayonet" necessarily refer to the same thing because they may not do. One may refer to a repro and the other an original but equally they may not do.

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Originally Posted by Eaglelord17

A issued bayonet should not have a cutting edge on it. They purposely were made without a cutting edge. If you find one with a cutting edge, odds are it was done post service and it significantly drops the value of the bayonet.

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THAT is interesting info! Does this apply only to British bayonets? During a specific time period? Literally all the MILSURP bayonets I've owned (not many) or seen (still not many) have had sharpened edges, so I assumed (A.S.S. of "me" but in this case not of "you") they all did.

Thanks, EL & BAR.

Over the years I have bought many things from Sarco and have been very happy with what I got. For the most part what they sell is as advertised. However, when you call customer service, a real person answers the phone and they are pleasant to deal with. I am surprised they did not offer for you to return it for a refund.

You got good customer service? You're one of the rare ones. In my experience they have been some of the rudest people I've ever dealt with. I've gone to the actual store numerous times and trying to get someone to help you is a serious challenge. I like them, I like their products and haven't ever had an issue with them having recently placed two orders with them within the last two months. I also see them at gun shows all the time and they are more helpful there than they are in the store but not always knowledgeable about what they are selling. I generally solve all the problems and just order online computer to computer. I hate the tracking service they use, half a dozen updates before it even leaves the warehouse and then nothing until the day it arrives.

I'm not unhappy with their products or services, and they've always been polite and as helpful as you can expect a phone answerer to be (although one time I needed to talk to one of the eggheads and he was SUPER helpful). I've ordered many times and always happy--even with this repro bayonet, although I certainly they could have been, uh, clearer in their description!

Agree their "tracking" emails are a true PITA. I'm printing them out and within a year I should have enough to thatch the roof on my 10-cord woodshed!

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Originally Posted by tj214

THAT is interesting info! Does this apply only to British bayonets? During a specific time period? Literally all the MILSURP bayonets I've owned (not many) or seen (still not many) have had sharpened edges, so I assumed (A.S.S. of "me" but in this case not of "you") they all did.

Thanks, EL & BAR.

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My understanding is you don't want a sharp edge on a bayonet, they aren't for cutting they are for stabbing. The logic being a sharp edge can cut into and get caught on bone vs. a blunt edge which will deflect and hopefully not get caught. It seems to only be in the modern era where designs are getting sharpened but I suspect that has more to do with them just being knives at this point (most modern bayonets are fairly weak and don't hold up to stabbing things too well).

It depends on what you define a cutting edge as, they will have it come down to a point but it isn't a sharp one. I have had bayonets which have been sharpened, but they aren't done by factory, either by civilians post-war or by military members in the field.

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Originally Posted by Eaglelord17

by military members in the field.

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Allot of the Aussie diggers had their bayonets sharpened I have a pic somewhere in my books showing them lined up on Gallipoli having their 07's sharpened on a hand turned wet stone.
One thing noted about the diggers in WWI especially by the Germans was our chaps were very proficient in the use of the bayonet when attacking the Germans in their trenches, my WWI vintage bayonets show evidence of sharpening

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Originally Posted by Eaglelord17

My understanding is you don't want a sharp edge on a bayonet

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If you have a blunt bayonet it may not even penetrate heavy clothing or webbing. Worst case you have a bad thrust and catch a webbing pouch and thick clothing under...giving the opponent time to retaliate.

You at least want the leading edges sharpened and there were directions in the books to do that (and at the early days, sharpen the officer's swords...) If still in doubt remember the history of the Ross bayonet and the reasons for the change. I know you know about that... Not necessarily the whole edge like a butcher knife, just the first leading edges. That's mostly what's involved in bayonet drills anyway.

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Originally Posted by tj214

Nice late manufacture, WW1 style British bayonet

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I'm not sure I would have thought more about what that meant if you hadn't already told me. They should have clearly specified reproduction. They know it matters.