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My buddy gave me this the other day. Its a m1905 from SA, extremely low SN, made in 1906. unfortunately its a chromed parade ground one. It was really rusted when I got it, but was able to conserve it fairly easily with little remaining damage. Here is some before and after pics.
Beautiful piece, you know the chrome CAN be removed without too much effort by the guys that do that sort of thing. Then a return to original finish, hand polish the whole affair and blue the back end only...the scales are good like they are. Then it would be very attractive. The rust would be gone too. It's probably coming through from poor preparation before chrome.
Very nice though, I have an infinity for low number and early too.
i was half debating doing that. But in cunninghams US bayonet book, it talks about how there was different units that did used nickel and chrome plated m1905s in the field to protect it from the elements or as a point of pride. In theory could be one of them, but most likely its an VFW or honor guard
From- US Knife Bayonets & Scabbards By Gary M. Cunningham
"This was normally done for parade and ceremonial uses, but at least some were done to help with
corrosion protection. The following reports document some of these bayonets.
Unfortunately since the grips are readily removable, it is practically impossible to determine
who plated the bayonet and for what purpose. American Legions. VFWs, ROTC units and
schools have plated bayonets for their Honor and Color Guards over the years so a plated
bayonet is not necessarily US military used.
“Inspection of the 15th Infantry troops stationed in China in 1933 revealed that all their
bayonets had been plated". (This information is from the Springfield Research Newsletter.)
Unfortunately the type of plating was not mentioned but it is likely that it was nickel.
The Marines apparently did the same, as the book Old Gimlet Eye by Lowell Thomas has a
quote from Smedley Butler “My Marines were behaving splendidly. When they chaffed under
inaction they polished their equipment and burnished their mess gear until it sparkled in the
sun. I even let them nickel plate their bayonets and scabbards although it was against
regulations. I was glad to have them out of mischief." I am not sure what was meant by the
scabbards though as the M1910 scabbard had no exposed metal parts.
Frank Trzaska reported on a letter dated 1940 from the Commanding Officer of the Marine
Detachment on board the USS Wyoming. “It is the practice in this detachment, upon the
reporting of new men and the transfer of men ashore, to effect an exchange of bayonets, the
new arrival getting a nickel plated or bright bayonet for use on board ship, giving his
serviceable bayonet to the man being sent to shore duty. ”
“400 nickel plated M1905 bayonets were reported on hand at Fort H.G Wright in 1937".
Information from the Springfield Research Newsletter.
“ Periodically in the Post World War Two period, quantities of Krag M1898 bayonets were
overhauled and chrome plated for the USMA. Much of this work was done by Frankford
Arsenal. M1905 bayonets were also chrome plated during this period." Information from the
Springfield Research Newsletter. Since the date stated would be after production of the
M1905 bayonet in 1942-43, they may have also been included in the plating.
Unfortunately since the grips are readily removable, it is practically impossible to determine
who plated the bayonet and for what purpose. American Legions. VFWs, ROTC units and
schools have plated bayonets for their Honor and Color Guards over the years so a plated
bayonet is not necessarily US military used.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilevi
If it were mine, I'd leave it alone. There are apparently enough examples of actual military plating that I'd just go with that story. Can't be proven but can't be disproven either.