Nice find...?

[aptech77]

Look what I found a few weeks ago and the Knob Creek machine gun shot. It was in a glass case, at a surplus vender’s booth just outside the KC gun ranges grounds. He was asking $275 but I snagged it for $220. Good deal? The only problem is some of the leather washers have cracks. I was going to carefully fill the gaps with some clear RTV to hold everything together, or is it better to just leave as is. I have a piece of tape holding them in for now, so as not to lose anything. Opinions?

[aptech77]

More....

[aptech77]

Even more....







All clean....

[JBinIll]

Putting that tape on there is a bad idea.Leaves adhesive residue that is almost impossible to get off and if it sticks to the broken piece it can pull the loose pieces completely out.RTV is likewise a bad idea from a collectors point of view.

[sac troop]

This may sound stupid, but If I was going to try and preserve the leather washers. I would put some Elmers glue, (white), at the cracks. Wipe the excess off with a damp,(with water), cloth. If you ever need to reverse this it's easily done.

[aptech77]

^That's the idea I was going for with the RTV idea. Right now Im using low stick Scotch tape. It comes off very easy and hasn't left and adhesive behind.

[sac troop]

It's really a tricky thing. I've tried to research the best way to preserve leather and I've come to believe it's pretty much a case by case approach. I also think the best approach answer is outside my pay grade. One thing I'm pretty confident about is that it is a best practice to store the leather in a controlled environment. where it's not subject to lots of temperature and humidity changes. Also limit the exposure to UV light as much as you can.
Also if this piece was mine, read that as IMHO, I wouldn't put the blade in the sheath anymore, but store them side by side. The M8/M8A1 sheaths have a flat spring keeper inside them that rub the finish on the blade every time you put the bayonet inside it. With such a near NOS example I'd avoid the two from getting together. Great piece!

[aptech77]

^ Thanks. I agree and it is not and has never been in the sheath. I have them stored in my safe as pictured in the last pick. I covered the blade in a light oil and away she went.

[dave]

I got a M3 knife years ago with correct sheath and several washers were cracked to the point of being easly removed, leather very dry! Paid 30 bucks, cheap even then. I opened the cracks and used clear apoxy glue to seal them back in place. When dry, I used a pretty fine sand paper to get rid of overflow. It left the leather with the sort of rough look of the rest. I then used Pecards Antique leather dressing and have reapplied several times over the years. Have to look very close to see repair and even then "repair" is not obvious. Its the only one I've ever seen I would buy, because of price, not really a knife collecter but have a few.

[Tudorp]

I have one in my collection, altho it is issued. My leather is old and weathered, but not cracked all the way through the washers. To keep it from drying out any more, I treated it in leather conditioner. Same stuff they use for saddles and things. It will help keep it from drying out any further.

[Johnny P]

Just don't use Neatsfoot Oil. Not good for old leather.