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How to recondition the leather grips on M-4 bayone
diamondpete
Member Posts: 71 ✭✭
I recently purchased five M-4 bayonets for the M-1 carbine that are in poor condition, i.e. scuffed, dirty, greasy, etc.. Is there a safe way to clean these up without doing more damage to the leather?? A couple are missing leather loops also and would appreciate any ideas on how to replace them. Thanks.
Comments
Lexol Cleaner and Lexol Conditioner (for leather). Lexol is one of the best leather products. Do a google search for treating dried out leather or somethng like that. There should be plenty of stuff out there.
I have treated old dirty saddles that have been untouched for a long time by making a solution of wal-mart shampoo with water and washing them down real well but quickly, then rinsing them quickly and drying them off with towels. Then I let them completely dry in the shade and out of the heat, I wipe them down with a light coating of good olive oil, let that stand for about 15 minutes and wipe off the excess. A lot of people clean and treat their saddles with Lexol Cleaner and Lexol Conditioner.
Texas Knifemaker's Supply out of Houston sells the leather washers to make these stacked-leather-washer-type handles for about $0.25 each. You have to glue the stack of washers together, compress them tightly, grind them down to shape and seal the handle. You could go to a shoe repair shop, buy a thick leather sole and make your leather washers out of that leather. Unless you have the equipment to do this, it can be a trying job. It might be best for you to set aside the damaged ones and deal with the sound bayonets first.
As far as how the handles are held together, I think the tang of these bayonets are peened over to hold fast onto the pommel, but I'm not sure. Many knives such as these have a threaded end on the tang and there's a nut that holds the pommel and everything together, but I think the bayonets are peened over; take a good look at them. If they have a nut, they will be easier to fix.
EDIT:
Moonshine,
Where do you find a shoe repair shop[?]
I know they are becoming a bit like buggy whip makers, wheelwrights, adding machine repair and tv repair shops.
All's I can say is, keep your eyes open or look in the yellow pages. Problem with yellow pages is that it's so expensive to advertise in there that very small businesses can't afford it.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION:
Go to a feed store, farm supply store, etc. where you might be able to buy horseshoes. They should sell thick, heavy, full grain leather hoof pads for horses. Buy them instead.
It's probably best to buy from Texas Kinifemakers Supply or someone like them, due to the fact that working with this thick leather is not easy. Only problem would be that their washers would have to be bigger than the diameter of your handle so you could grind them down. Call them and ask for a sample sent via first class mail.
where do you find a shoe repair shop any more,they are few and far between here.
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Lexol Cleaner and Lexol Conditioner (for leather). Lexol is one of the best leather products. Do a google search for treating dried out leather or somethng like that. There should be plenty of stuff out there.
Wolf beat me to it. Lexol is what you need. Any good farm and ranch store should have it, if not. www.lexol.com
edit; had to change link