M14 Forum

mtdburnett

The bayonet came with the rifle and folds into the forearm. It is a bright odd sort of aluminum color that is somewhat matte as though it was bead blasted or perhaps cast when produced. Neither edge nor the point is/are sharp, in fact, quite dull and rounded. I could and did easily sharpen the bayonet on my M-16 shaving sharp. The steel was better than that of my Camillus USMC fighting knife (GI "K-Bar"). I can understand having the exposed edge of a folding bayonet dulled, but not the point or the other edge.

Does anyone know the alloy of the Russian bayonet from that era or whether they were meant to be sharpened?

Thanks

AFD256

I think they are made from steel. Some say a soft steel so it has some "give". Off another website I found this-

Some, mostly Yugo ones, are covered in a aluminum color paint because they had little chromium deposits. It is the same reason when they don't have chrome lined barrels.

The others are chromed, and then covered in a matte coating or polished.


As for the sharpness, as heavy as the SKS is, the bayonet will just slide right in. I don't think bayo's are supposed to be sharp, a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one

lefty o

most bayonets are not meant to be sharpened. some people will even pay a premium for a russian sks over other models, and sharpening the bayonet will drastically hurt the value.

Whatsinaname181

I know that the old soviet mosin bayos were kind of sharp on the edge, like a sharp flathead screwdriver.

pfin

Dont sharpen that bayo, kills the value of the rifle and it will serve its purpose as is.

mercman

Agreed, do not sharpen the bayonet. Russian SKS's in good condition do bring a premium vs more common Yugo and Chinese SKS's. Is your gun a refurb or a nonrefurb? Refurbs will generally have a painted on finish vs a blued surface and most often will have a laminate stock with the serial numbers X'd over.

You can find out more info over at SurvivorsSKSforum.com

mtdburnett

OK. I'll not sharpen the bayonet. Not a refurb best I can tell. Original wood stock with a the number AB 5435. The same number is stamped on the left side of the receiver.
On the right side of the receiver is the following in what appears to be new very clean engraving:
SKS-RUSSIA 7.62 MM 9942091
NHM CO SACCO

I was wrong on the date. On the back top of the receiver is a 5 point star with an arrow pointing into the top point of the star with the date 1951 stamped in large numbers beneath the star.

mtdburnett

Correction. Tried an SKS site. It's a Tula but a refurb. All numbers match but I bothered to look for the refurb markings this time. Didn't find any paint except on the butt plate.

Charlie59

Sometimes there is a letter, or other marking, inside a square cartouche on the stock--indicating an arsenal rebuild.

Charlie