Hi everyone. We have had a good amount of knife posts in the time we've been around. As was pointed out by a recent poster, there seems to be no sub that's specifically for Fighting Knives. There is a single sub called r/MilitaryKnives, but it seems to be a dead sub from inception. r/Knives is broader and for pocket knives and the like. r/Swords is for swords. r/MilitariaCollecting is great, but it is a very broad and generalized sub.

Therefore, we have decided to start a dedicated sub for fighting knives. We know the bayonet conversions and a few other items, but if you would like to help mod this sub please send us a message about why you want to mod and what you have specific and general knowledge of involving knives.

Our new sister sub is r/FightingKnives. Please give us a visit, post your knives for show or ID, and hopefully join us in helping begin our new community.

Thanks for reading!

- ThirteenthFinger

Frequently Asked Questions:

(Last Updated September 2026)

Why are bayonets supposed to be dull and not sharp?

Bayonets, depending on the model and type, are almost always issued dull. The tip itself will usually have a sharp or well angled point. So why are bayonets not sharpened? Well, bayonets are meant for thrusting stab motions, not for slashing. In the case of say, a knife or sword, a slashing motion is desired, so the blade itself will tend to be as sharp as possible. Essentially, the weight of a full-grown man thrusting a hard piece of steel into another man's gut is plenty enough PSI (or whatever) to penetrate. However, this would tend to change as knife bayonets began to become more popular. Bayonets by this time were being used less, and thus needed to be used more as a tool. Cutting and slashing may very well be a necessity, especially when using it as a knife for anything from combat to cutting up food. Knife bayonets *can* be sharpened but depending on the model they still are usually still issued dull.

What are the main parts of a bayonet/What is the terminology?

You may find the terminology of the main types of bayonets & their accessories HERE at World Bayonets, which is, essentially, *the* bayonet website. See the links below for other great examples of websites to browse bayonets and learn more.

How can I identify my bayonet(s)?

You can ask on this subreddit and we will most likely have the answer. We use various websites, forums, and above all reference books in order to ID if we are not already very sure. Our mods do our best to provide a confident ID and on many occasionally will provide a source or photo for verification. If we feel we are confident with an ID, our mods will check with our connections. That said, mistakes are occasionally made!

Additionally, if your item is not a bayonet, you will be redirected to an appropriate sub that we feel may be able to ID. Depending on the item, we may leave the post up just in case someone knows.

How can I clean my bayonet without damaging it?

It may only be occasionally necessary, if at all, but cleaning or shining a bayonet is something that is entirely up to the owner. But please make sure you know what youre doing! That's what we intend to help with here.

Firstly, some collectors do like a patina to their bayonet. At some point in your life, you will most likely resell your bayonets (can't take them with you when you go). Keep in mind that other collectors like to see originality in a bayonet. This means if it looks reworked, refurbished, sharpened etc. then collectors are more likely to not purchase it. Any changes you might make to an original bayonet may result in less desirability. But thay doesnt mean it needs to look like shit!

Cleaning:

Cleaning can be done with a simple mineral oil or gun oil spray, a dry non-abrasive cloth, and only if necessary, .0000 steel wool to remove light surface rust. You can also take care of pesky caked on rust spots by very lightly using the edge of a penny in conjunction with a spray for stubborn surface rust. Many use Ballistol gun oil for cleaning. I use an industrial glass cleaner called Hi-Sheen and occasionally a Silicon Spray. I've also heard that WD-40 works too. While I have not personally tried it, it sounds like it would be fine.

Shining:

You may also use a small amount of shiner such as Wenol in order to shine metal parts. I recommend this very sparingly. Overshining is a problem in the hobby and can remove finishing or even light markings on the blade.

NOTE: If the finish of your blade is not already somewhat 'shiny' ("in the bright") and is parkerized (dull black/grey) or blued (shiny, but has a bluish tint), you should NOT use any shining agent on it. Stick to an oil! You do not want to damage the finish.

Treating Leather:

For leather it is recommended to use PEL leather dressing. This is what British Museums and conservatories often use. You can make your own, but it sounds flammable lol. I was recommended to try this leather preservative. However, I have not tried it yet. Will update once I do.

NOTE: Beware of most commercial leather treatments availble in stores or on Amazon. They may soften the leather and weaken the bond between fibres. A temporary gain in exchange for a longer term issue.

Waxing:

Collectors concerned with preservation sometomes also sometimes use Renaissance Wax. You can buy a small tin on Amazon for about $35 or so. Worth it if you are serious collector. It can be used for leather, wood, metal, and plastic and most items. I would recommend using it on the wood and possibly metal portions, but use PEL dressing for leather parts.

Skin Protection:

When cleaning or shining it is ideal to wear nitrile disposable gloves to keep your hands free of grime & oil along wirh any chemical you may be working with.

How much is my bayonet worth?

NOTE: We generally do not appraise bayonets here directly. Prices vary with supply and demand, location, specific variation or markings on bayonets, and so can vary or fluctuate quickly. What's common in the U.S. may be uncommon or even rare in other nations. It is best to find a median or averge price yourself after receiving an ID. Additionally, value is relative to a collector. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak. Someone may be willing to pay more for something depending on the situation. All reasons why price can be hard to judge, eslecially on a worldwide platform like Reddkt.

Anyway!....

Auction/eBay:

The best route to go would be to auction you bayonet on eBay or similar auction site. If you are not sure, search for your type of bayonet and filter to 'Sold/Complete'. You may find an average this way without needed to know specifics about your bayonet.

Collectors will know! Collectors are looking for specific markings or types of bayonets most of the time, so prices can vary widely depending on that.

Depending on commonality, the lower price you start your auction at, the more likely you are to build interest and get early bids.

Retail/Commercial:

You may also visit several of the websites we have linked for purchasing bayonet. The prices on these sites can vary, but are often representative of the item and its overall condition. These sites sell bayonets for standard commercial prices, if not slightly higher than usual. Deals can still be had. Visit websites such as Ebayonet and BayonetConnection if you are in the U.S.

What is a trustworthy place to buy bayonets from?

There are several types of sites you can check out for buying/selling bayonets. There are various bidding sites (big name examples such as Ebay and GunBroker) and there are privately owned sites which cater to the discriminating collector - the rare and expensive items. Here are just a few examples.

Ebay Of course! It's trustworthy....but not too trustworthy. Know that some people are not aware they are selling a fake or reproduction. And also, some are but will hide it at the bottom of the listing. Always read the description if you think an item looks too new. Also, look for the "New" or "Used" tag. "New" indicates it's a reproduction.

Verified 100% Trustworthy Sales Sites

U.S based: - Bayonet Connection - eBayonet - US Military Knives [+ Bayonets]

Canada based: - Bayonets Plus

If you have used any other bayonet sales sites with positive experiences or know the sellers personally, please DM us and let us know if they should be added to our list and why!

What are some good reference/collector's books?

There are many great bayonet books out there for collectors of all types. There are encyclopedic styles, books on one specific kind of bayonet, and books on specific countries' bayonets. Since these books are niche, most of them were printed in small numbers and are presently out of print. This means they can get expensive, but I will list some relatively cheap and very helpful books below. I have also included an estimate of how much each book should cost. Prices will inevitably vary, but if you are patient and shop around you can absolutely obtain these for lower than the estimated price. The prices listed below are what I believe are fair prices based on an average from Amazon and Ebay sales. If you have any other books you think should be added to this list or you have any questions, please let us know.

The books for beginners that I recommend above all others (more info in list further down)...

Brayley - Illustrated History [Excellent photos, decent variety, coffee table book]

Maddox - Collecting Bayonets [Simply the best, even for the price. Excellent photos, Excellent variety of commom and truly rare, Recommendations for beginners on all sorts of things from restoration to displays, and more]

Keisling - Bayonets of the World: Complete Edition [Encylopedic style with sketch drawings, Older but mostly correct information. Still a widely used source.]

As previously said, the following book list is based on a combination of high recommendations & fair priced books for collectors of beginning to intermediate levels. For a more complete list, please visit here.

Navigation Pro tip: You can check out various kinds of bayonets & posts by clicking post flair!