Pedersoli Enfield Bayonet

[Matt Maier]

Does anyone know of a decent reproduction bayonet that will fit the Pedersoli three band Enfield rifle? I recently bought one and when I tried to mount it, it fit very poorly and it wore off some of the bluing. This is a brand new musket that I have not even fired yet. Needless to say the bayonet is of very poor quality and is ill fitting and I do not wish to take the time to fit it to my rifle unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Calum]

'afternoon,

While I don't have a Ped Enfield, advice that we routinely give to individuals is to take the musket with them to the sutler (whether at a reenactment or a brick n mortar store) and try bayonets to find one with a good fit. Same goes for the bayonet to scabbard fit, especially with repro Enfield bayonets.

The best you can do is an original bayonet. I have them on the majority of my muskets and Sharps. Most have had to have minor fitting done - it's easier to enlarge the barrel/sight hole than to make it smaller.

Also, be aware, no matter how good the fit, the bayonet to muzzle fit is metal to metal. Especially if you fix/unfix bayonets regularly, you will not have much bluing in that area.

Calum

 

[Artificer]

Could not agree more. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Gus

 

[Artificer]

I actually prefer a bayonet fit a little snug like most original Enfield bayonets fit original Enfield Rifles. They could do this because they were manufactured on the interchangeable parts system and generally all original bayonets fit original Enfield Rifle Muskets well, without needing much or any fitting.

Some reenactors like the fit to be very loose so they can make a better show of affixing the bayonets in a "sharp and snappy manner," though that can be done with a properly fitting bayonet.

Now it is not as important to correctly fit bayonets today for reenacting, because we don't use them as bayonets and you are rarely allowed to affix them. Still, I've seen some loose fitting bayonets fall off when reenactors did parades or demonstrations (mostly with Flintlock Muskets, but a couple times with Percussion Rifled Muskets) and BOY, that was embarrassing for their owners. :haha:

Gus

 

[Heelerau]

Gus,
a mate of mine has just go a nice reproduction bayonet for his IMA Nepalese Bess that I built up for him. The bayonet fits 3/4 but is tight on the leading end, taper just a bees ***** out. In the past I used a break hone to adjust one of the Indian made report Pat 53 Bayonets for an original contract musket, it fits just as nice as an original.
I am a bit concerned there may be a bit more than could be lapped out with the Bess bayonet, what do you suggest ?

Cheers

Gordon

 

[Artificer]

A brake hone will work in the forward part of the socket, but might wind up cracking/busting in the open channel for the front sight.

What I always did was use Blue Dykem Layout Dye inside the socket to see where it rubbed the most and used a half round file to get the majority out. Candle soot does the same thing, but takes too long to get the inside coated. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UF9oyOBFL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Then I used sanding "cartridge rolls" (on a mandrel) turned by an electric drill for finer adjustment/removal of metal. http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...e-rolls-mandrels/cylinder-rolls-prod8876.aspx


Then I sawed a single slit down the end of the largest wood dowel (or broom handle) I could find that fit inside the socket, so I could wrap strips of Emory Cloth in the saw slit and around the dowel. This can be turned by hand with various grits of emory cloth to polish out the inside of the socket.

Gus

 

[Heelerau]

Gus, thanks for that, I had been cogitating about using a wooden shaft with coarse wet and dry. The precise problem is as you say, and the pat 53 bayonet only needed adjustment on the muzzle end, so the slots for the front sight were not an issue, whereas the Bess bayonet has the problem on the slotted end. I will try the large wooden shaft before I resort to a file. Thanks again.

Cheers

Gordon

 

[Heelerau]

Gus, some judicious filing with a fine chainsaw file, and some 800 grit wet and dry wrapped around the brake hone, about an hour and it fits nicely, just have to hit the underside of the bayonet bend with the heel of your hand to loosen it, and it shoulders nicely up to the bayonet lug. My mate will be ever so pleased !!

Cheers
Gordon

 

[Artificer]

Good for you.

Gus

 

[Heelerau]

Gus I should put a couple of pictures up, I reckon these Indian made bayonets are good value for money and might even be ok in a nasty scrap. [URL=http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/heelerau/media/P1020160.jpg.html]

 

[Artificer]

Years ago, a member of our unit had had some problems with a Jap Bess and had disassembled it, lost some parts and could not fix it. He told me he would donate the gun to our unit for a "Loaner Gun" for newbies, IF I would take on the job of fixing it. To make a long story short, it only needed a couple of parts and I fixed what was wrong. So we presented the gun to the Unit, together. The one thing he did not have was a bayonet for that Bess. So I purchased an India Bayonet for it.

Well, the socket on that bayonet was TOO large in diameter for the Jap Bess and was way too sloppy/loose of a fit. So I began working on silver soldering some brass sheet metal into the socket to tighten things up. Before I got to it, though, someone donated a bayonet that fit.

The reason I mention this is because it is a crap shoot with the India Bayonets on whether or not they are going to fit. So it is best to take one's musket or rifle musket along and actually try the fit before buying, if at all possible.

I do realize you don't have that luxury, though.

Gus

 

[Heelerau]

Gus a couple of years ago I bought 4 Pat 53 bayonets with scabbards, plus one extra scabbard for Pat 53 bayonet with Indian markings on I got as a kid. I had to go through the 4 bayonets to find the one that was the best fit, one was ver loose the others various degrees of tight. At $45 Australian at the time I thought they were excellent all the same. But yes if I was in the US I would bring in my musket to find the best fit.

Cheers

Gordon
Lets hope our mate that started this thread worked something out !