S/42
Thunda from down unda
I won a SUPERB Argentine 1909 bayonet (matching scabbard) on eBay to go with my lovely M1909 rifle. The set was covered in grease from head to toe.
I cleaned that off, and there were the darkened spots on the blade from grease staining as often seen on bright bayonets. Those polished out easy with Brasso brass cleaner and a soft towel. BUT, at the very beginiing of the blade, forward of the ricasso where the fuller starts, the discolour was heavier. I rubbed this with the polish, and 95% came away, leaving concentric rings - BOTH sides.
I looked at it carefully, and in fact these rings are ever so lightly etched into the blade. I was wondering, this is either a little pitting where the storage grease kept some humidity trapped under, over time lightly etching, or the Argentines spot-annealed the blade at this juncture to strengthen them - anyone know?
An anneal at that point would be beneficial (being the point at which the fuller starts so is a weak point), but trapped water also makes sense - but odd it is the same on both sides - it did look like heat blackening before I polished.
I checked his other 1909 bayonet he had online still, and it too has the same discolour "temper" at this juncture.
Opinions appreciated
I cleaned that off, and there were the darkened spots on the blade from grease staining as often seen on bright bayonets. Those polished out easy with Brasso brass cleaner and a soft towel. BUT, at the very beginiing of the blade, forward of the ricasso where the fuller starts, the discolour was heavier. I rubbed this with the polish, and 95% came away, leaving concentric rings - BOTH sides.
I looked at it carefully, and in fact these rings are ever so lightly etched into the blade. I was wondering, this is either a little pitting where the storage grease kept some humidity trapped under, over time lightly etching, or the Argentines spot-annealed the blade at this juncture to strengthen them - anyone know?
An anneal at that point would be beneficial (being the point at which the fuller starts so is a weak point), but trapped water also makes sense - but odd it is the same on both sides - it did look like heat blackening before I polished.
I checked his other 1909 bayonet he had online still, and it too has the same discolour "temper" at this juncture.
Opinions appreciated