M1 Bayonet

[Johnny Peppers]

Was the M1 Bayonet originally sharpened? I have an original finish AFH M1 that has grind marks perpendicular to the blade in much the same fashion the M3 and M4 was sharpened, but the blade actually isn't very sharp. Was this to actually sharpen the blade, clean up the edge, or done after it left the military? Appears to have been done with a single pass on each side. Edge is very uniform, but I got a little closer with the right side shot.

Left side.


Right side.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I'm pretty certain this is just the factory edge. They were pretty dull even when new. They could be sharpened( by the armourers) on a jig to avoid removing too much from one place and maintaining blade shape and uniformity. I've had several that had very little edge at all.

[l2a3]

U. S. bayonets were require to pass a "string" cutting requirement (IIRC in was adopted in 1908-1910). That is why there is a slight "edge" on the blade. Most were "rough" and not sharp; you usually needed to "saw" thru the string as all that was required was to get throught the string. I do not recall if there was a time or stroke limit. I do not know if the requirement is still current but I do believe it was still current due to the "edge" on current military issue bayonets & knives. I hope this helps.

l2a3

[Tom Doniphon]

There was a standard edge that was supposed to be adhered to by the M1 makers. The Military did not want the bayonets to be too sharp nor too dull. They even supplied sample blades with this standard edge to each maker. But I would imagine in their rush to get bayonets produced during the War there was a lot of variance in the bayonet edges.

[TDH]

Bayonets are not suppose to be cutting sharp as they were not designed for cutting. The purpose was to stab. The point has to be sharp.not the edge. Besides a dull blade hurts worse than a sharp one. You have the trama of being scewered and ripped with a rough edge blade.

[browningautorifle]

a dull blade hurts worse than a sharp one

Sheep dip!

You know this personally? I found that a sharp blade hurts just fine thanks...

[Bob Womack]

Moved to edged weapons forum for greater exposure.

Bob

[karl schmidt]

For what it's worth:
In the 1960's Marine Corps. Anyone caught with a sharpened bayonet during a personnel or equipment inspection was in a world of trouble, Blades were to be kept in the "issued" condition which was really dull

[Sarge1998]

I was told that a sharp bayonet was much more likely to get caught in the rib cage or other bone and be difficult to remove, as noted previously, it was designed to puncture not slice.

[browningautorifle]

Those are the typical stories that circulate in the recruit barraks and are held dear after in the troops hearts.