Bayonet Storage Question

[bb57sodak]

Hello,

I have a question regarding bayonet storage.

Would VCI INDUSTRIAL PAPER SHEETS be good the wrap bayonets in to prevent rust for storage? I have listed the link to the ULINE product I am referring to:

VCI Industrial Paper Sheets in Stock - ULINE

Uline stocks a wide selection of VCI Industrial Paper Sheets. Order by 6 p.m. for same day shipping. Huge Catalog! Over 40,000 products in stock. 12 Locations across USA, Canada and Mexico for fast delivery of VCI Industrial Paper Sheets.

www.uline.com

Any advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much.

 

[Hambone]

bb, I messed with that stuff to store magazines and it’s a bit of a PITA and overkill. I don’t know what effect it would have on leather and such either. I store my magazines in old socks with string labels on the sock with what’s in there. Some are on my safe inside wall and many are in socks stacked on a safe shelf. I have a dehumidifier keeping my room at 50%, it’s HVAC’d so the dehumidifier doesn’t run much and I have silica dehumidifier sacks in my safes. Never a problem.

I’d recommend those things for wrapping tools and wrenches that you don’t use to store in a non-HVAC’d shed or garage. If you had a deployment for a year or so and needed to store your bayonets in a non-climate controlled storage unit or garage, maybe. Otherwise these are a PITA.

 

[grimlin13]

Depending on where you live storage conditions vary. I have lived in humid and dry climates. I inspect my bayonets twice a year minimum, more if living in humid climate. There are collectors who keep their bayonets in gun safes, others in boxes. We have members who have built special cabinets and display cases. So many ways to store them. I keep mine lightly oiled and in old socks, two socks on each bayonet for cushion. I then put them in an acid free container with an air tight lid. I also throw a few little desiccant packets into storage container. I have had no problems with rust.
I would also suggest that any time you handle your bayonet to wear some kind of gloves cotton works well. Always wipe any fingerprints off if handling bare handed, the oils/acids in you fingers and hands can and will permanently etch the blue and it can happen fast.

 

[bb57sodak]

Mr. Hambone & Mr. Grimlin13, I can not thank you enough for your advice and suggestions. I really appreciate it. Looks like the old socks idea will be the winner for storage. Mr. Grimlin, thank you for the glove suggestion, I actually use a nice pair of Mechanix Wear SpeedKnit mechanics gloves when I handle and oil them. They are oil resistant and a $10 investment towards protecting our beloved collectibles. Thank you both again!!!

 

[Hambone]

One other thing: what effect on old resins and celluloid, etc., such as grips?

One warning about socks: if they get moist or wet and hold moisture against metal finish will be removed quickly, under 24 hrs. So the real answer is humidity control.

 

[WreckTangle]

Cut to length and Seal one end…. I’d prefer 8mil but 4mil is enough, won’t attract moisture like a cotton/poly cloth

… no go??

4 Mil Poly Tubing Roll - 3

Cut to length special size bags for odd shaped or extra large products. Roll converts from 1" to 3" core. Eliminates the need to stock an expensive variety of bags. All-virgin film meets FDA and USDA specifications. Poly Tubing Dispensers . Seal with Poly Tubing Sealers. --> Use with Poly Tubing...

www.uline.com

 

[Muncher 1953]

One other thing: what effect on old resins and celluloid, etc., such as grips?

One warning about socks: if they get moist or wet and hold moisture against metal finish will be removed quickly, under 24 hrs. So the real answer is humidity control.

THIS: Humidity Control.
Bare, unfinished & unoiled steel will not rust below 40% RH. I live & die by this, weapons, tools, & motorcycle parts protected primarily by dehumidification. One in my cellar, a bigger one in the garage, supported by several separate hygrometers (humidity meters, the little electronic ones). Of course I still oil the weapons, in case of power failure or if one of the dehumidifiers dies. It costs me some in electricity, but saves my stuff.

Just a note, polyethylene film (most civilian plastic bags) does transmit water vapor, which is why our military uses more exotic & expensive films to protect critical stuff.

 

[pwcosol]

What I did with my bayonets is wipe down the metal with something like Ballistol. Insert bayos into old, cleaned socks. Then layered them into several large USGI 20mm ammo cans with a cardboard separator between the layers. Granted, those cans got pretty heavy, but they took up minimal space while I relocated to my new residence and were in an airtight container. Also had a couple heavy-gauge, steel boxes with a external locking lid which got put to use as well. One can also buy (or get for free if you know where to look) some of the silica-gel bags and toss one into each can if humidity could become a issue...