M3 Scabbard restoration finished

[Guamsst]

It still has some blemishes and the black is too glossy I think, but overall it looks allot better I think. Should be a good display piece from a few feet away.





And the before photos












Barry, I couldn't find my packing tape and the post office is closed now. I plan to mail it out on Monday. Will let you know when it ships.

[Barryeye]

Guamsst. What can I say? You are a master of understatement. You took a scabbard that was close to relic condition and brought it back from the grave. I confess I thought it was a challenge that would stump you and I only sent it to you to confirm that. How wrong I was. I look forward to reuniting it with the M3 that it was probably issued with. Thanks mate.

[Dan Shapiro]

Looks good to me. Excellent job.

[m1ashooter]

Looks great, could you share the process of making it look like new.

[Barryeye]

This picture is a reminder of how the scabbard looked when I first got it. I must add that my own attempts to restore it prior to sending to GuamsstIMG_3629..jpg did more harm than good.

[Guamsst]

Ok, Here is how I did it.I bead blasted the entire scabbard including the cloth hanger with glass media. This removed all the paint, parkerizing and corrosion. I then masked off the metal for the throat of the scabbard and sprayed it a "parker" grey with duracoat. Next, I used grey spray can primer to coat the scabbard and soak the scabbard where it had the crack near the tip. once the crack and larger pits were pretty well filled in with primer, I sanded it back down until all the primer was gone except for in the low spots. After that, I used grey model paint and a toothpick to apply drops of paint to things like the holes from someone putting their initials in it with periods after the letters. I also beaded up the drying model paint along the seam of the crack and edges of the hole for the thong. Once these blemishes were overfilled, I sanded it again and re-drilled the hole for the thong. After that, I traced the pattern of the front ridge onto tape and then cut out a mask in the shape of the outside of that ridge. I then sprayed a heavy coat of primer into that masked are to build a false edge on the front of the scabbard. This isn't even close to perfect but gives a false impression that the ridge area at the center of the scabbard is still there. The ridge on the back was fine. I sanded it one final time then mixed a custom shade of OD green using a combination of Duracoat WW2 OD green and Magpul OD green. Next I cut masks for all the black tabs and duracoated them flat black. This was too flat though. Eventually I got some green clothing dye and mixed a batch of green dye in a coffee can. I had to entirely guess on this part. I found that when it looks "TOO DARK", it's perfect. It lightens up a bit after a good rins and drying time. Finally I hand painted the black tabs and rivets with gloss black. This is a hair too glossy but it's closer to original than the flat black was. I think that covers everything I did to restorify it.

If any of you try this, give the model paint a good week or two to dry before the final coat of green. It shrank a bit after coating and some of the blemishes returned. They are very faint, but it was dissapointing as the scabbard went from about 98% condition to about 94%. Not bad, but noticeable if you know what to look for.

I am just glad for the experience and you can bet I'll be on the lookout for cheap knives and bayonets with bad scabbards now. It wouldn't be worth the time as a single project usually, but if I can put it in line with a gun I am duracoating, it won't be a bad project to do again.

[m1ashooter]

Thanks for the restoring lesson.

[Guamsst]

Well Barry, it should be at an airport somewhere by now, waiting to go over the pacific. Hope it gets there. I miss looking at it and trying to figure out what else can be done with it. I feel like i reaced the end of my limits though.

Oh, and you don't owe me anything. I learned allot from the experience and that is priceless.

[Barryeye]

That is very kind of you. However your good deed will not be forgoten. I look forward to the day when I can return the favour. Thanks again.
Barry

[Barryeye]

IMG_0435..jpgIMG_0433..jpgIMG_0435..jpgIMG_3650..jpg
Guamsst. The scabbard arrived today and I must sincerely thank you. The pictures did not do it justice. I’ve put it beside my other scabbards and feel it would pass muster any day of the week. It looks like it has just been issued. You have a real talent and your attention to detail is to be commended. Thank you. I owe you one.
Barry

[Barryeye]

IMG_0435..jpgIMG_0433..jpgIMG_0435..jpgIMG_3650..jpg
Guamsst. The scabbard arrived today and I must sincerely thank you. The pictures did not do it justice. I’ve put it beside my other scabbards and feel it would pass muster any day of the week. It looks like it has just been issued. You have a real talent and your attention to detail is to be commended. Thank you. I owe you one.

[Barryeye]

Stuffed up on the pictures. Here they are.

[Guamsst]

I am really glad it arrived safely. As I said, I felt the few blemishes left on it were small enough to just leave alone and shouldn't be noticeable without a close inspection. I am glad you are happy with it. It looks good with the knife. Be sure to let me know when you get to show it to the guy you got it from.

[Barryeye]

I am really glad it arrived safely. As I said, I felt the few blemishes left on it were small enough to just leave alone and shouldn't be noticeable without a close inspection. I am glad you are happy with it. It looks good with the knife. Be sure to let me know when you get to show it to the guy you got it from.

First Sunday of every month we have our meetings and you can bet that the M3 and scabbard will be with me. He is a good bloke so I will try not to rub it in too much. He always has a box of unpriced odds and sods with him. Most of it junk but I don’t want to get on the wrong side of him. I’ll let you know how it goes. Best US$16.00 I've spent in a while.