Chrome No 4 spike bayonet & scabbard

[Peter Laidler]

While on the subject of chroming gew and all...... exactly what IS the difference between Chrome plate and Nickel - or come to that, silver or even gold? Apart from the obvious material of course.

I ask because when the SA80 first came on stream, we did a few SA80 bayonets with chrome blades and it really was a bit of a disaster but the nickel was a far superior finish and seemed to last forever whereas the chromes blades soon started to almost 'weep' in the way they corroded. I did speak to one of the metallurgists who said that it wasn't a metallurgy 'problem' as such but more a question for a chemist - which I ain't!

I kept a couple of the chromed ones greased up and still have one that's perfect. But like I said, it's greased up and not open to the atmosphere