Reproduction Pattern-1908 Bayonet Frog.

Another view

The reverse side.




All right, I could use some imput on this. The bayonet is the photo was a chunk of rust with no grips, grip screws, and scabbard. I bought it very cheap and pieced it back together. There is nothing "original" about this bayonet at all. It is made by Sanderson, which I believe to be one of the more common makers of the Pattern-1907 Bayonet. It has serveral date stampings, 1923, 1927, and 1935, I am uncertain of the original manufacture date, but I have a hunch it was made during the Great War.

I submerged it in vinegar to help with removing the rust. The rust came off fairly easy, but the vinegar left a darkend metal finnish. It looks like bluing to an extent, this discolouration is easy to remove with 0000 Wire Wool. Should I leave the finnish as is?, or remove the finnish and return it to how it would have looked following the 1935 reworking? From what I have read, bayonets made during the Great War had the blade with no finnish (except for an inch or so near the hilt) and the hilt, pommel, cross guard, etc blued. In between the World War the bayonets were reworked and some had the whole blade blued. Anyone know more than I do about this?
Mark

i take no offence at any flags , i always appreciate the posters explanation of its origin and his intent ,