By Collin Buckles
Buying a Mosin-Nagant is a very exciting experience. However, finding out that your bayonet does not fit your rifle can put a slight damper on the celebration. Here are some very simple steps to get your bayonet to fit perfectly in less than 10 seconds without any power tools.
Supplies needed:
1. Shop rag
2. Any sort of hammer
3. A sturdy metal corner (such as the base of a bench vice) . . .
Procedure:
Step 1: Holding the bayonet by the blade place the open end of the cylinder at the base of the bayonet around the edge of your sturdy metal corner as seen in the picture below.
Step 2: Place your shop rag over the base of the bayonet to prevent any scratching.
Step 3: Lightly but firmly hit the cylindrical base of the bayonet with the hammer. Center your strikes as much as possible to the corner so that the bayonet opens up evenly.
Step 4: Every few strikes check how the bayonet fits in your rifle.
Troubleshooting:
If you open up your bayonet too far and it fits loosely on the rifle, do not worry. The bayonets seem rather ductile and are very forgiving. Simply lay the base of the bayonet on a flat surface and hammer it closed until it fits correctly as shown in the picture below.
Finally, now that you have your bayonet properly fit onto your Mosin-Nagant, it will most likely shoot much more accurately when using iron sights. Just a warning though; you may also find yourself stabbing cardboard boxes in your backyard because a bayonet is not simply attached to a rifle and ignored. Enjoy!
