Remove paint on scabbard

[Pesce]

I bought a Ross bayonet model 1907 made in dec 1916 in prety bad condition. As you can see on the picture, the blade as been sharpened 20 years ago by the young brother of the seller (awfull). Also, the guard has been painted black with appear to be metal paint.
The same paint has been applied to the scabbard, that turned to be a Swiss Schmidt-Rubin model 1918. The two of them were bought in the 50s in a surp shop in Montreal.

How could I remove the paint without further damaging the metal?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I would use acetone or maybe 1850 paint stripper. Both are liquid and won't damage metal. Don't get them on your hands and do it in ventelated areas. The paint will liquify and wipe off.

[A square 10]

dittos - but yes take it off

[Cottage Hill Bill]

The bayonet pictured doesn't look lik a Ross bayo, nor does the scabbard look like a Ross scabbard. Looks more like a P-1903. Can you post a picture of the entire bayo?

[browningautorifle]

Yes the bayonet's a Ross. The 1903's got double edge. If you read the original post it says Schmidt-Ruben scabbard.

[Peter Laidler]

Did anyone actually try BAR's acetone suggestion? We had a problem like this in the Army with leather machette scabbards. Out in Malaya etc where you'd expect things to rot out in short order and bullshine wasn't a priority of any kind, when they were left as leather with dubbin rubbed in, they stayed fine but in the UK or Germany, where they were part of the tank crew or recovery tractor kit, they'd paint the leather scabbards and after a short time, they'd crack up, dry out and end up as scrap. There were various suggestions about removing the paint but nothing was very successful. The most successful thing was issue a stern warning to the tank crews that if they painted them, they'd be in the sh................. er.............. poo!

[browningautorifle]

I've done it Peter and it works to an extent. You need to be careful and then dress the leather after.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Welcome to our forums Pesce.

I've found I could get lightly painted things off with acetone, but it takes a bit of work. That looks like it has quite a bit of paint built up on it and I'd use stripper. Paint stripper is designed to remove paint from metals and wood and shouldn't harm anything. Read the back of the stripper to make sure, and as Jim said, follow the safety rules.

When I use stripper, I coat the surface using a parts cleaning brush while wearing rubber gloves and after it sits a few minutes the paint will bubble up. Then use the brush and scrub it while rinsing it with the water hose outside. If you leave the stripper and bubbled paint on too long before rinsing, it dries out and the paint gets sticky. The water will neutralize and disperse the stripper. You usually have to repeat to get all of the paint off.

[Albayo]

I picked up a long US 1942 Springfield bayonet and scabbard, one side of the scabbard has been painted with silver paint.
How do you remove that from a synthetic scabbard?
I am thinking of a little WD-40 and 4 O steel wool. It needs a locking mechanism. Wouldn't you know it I sold a ground down M1 bayonet in Truro last fall and I could have restored it. I am only going to sell it and the scabbard, but would like to restore it first.

[browningautorifle]

Albayo, I think I know of the bayonet you speak. If you strip the scabbard with Acetone it will come clean and not hurt the fiber scabbard. It will take all the paint off. If you don't want that then paint thinner and a rag may work. The paint on the scabbard is tough. Then after, you would have to find the correct tone of paint and apply with spray. Your local paint shop will mix it and add the correct flatteners. Take them an example of the colour you want. The lock mech may be available here from someone.