Here Is Someting You Would Never Expect To See

[albayo]

I received this a few years ago, but can't remember where it came from.
It’s a device Mandrel to take the dents out of tapered tubular steel scabbard for the No4 family of bayonets. I am not exactly sure how it is used.

With the amount of No4 bayonets and scabbards on the market one would hardly think the military would bother repairing the scabbards.
I guess it was a different time in history saving even a few dollars added up.

 

[mrclean89]

Haha sweet ! Thats awesome!

McLean

 

[1bighead]

I was in the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). Believe me, if there was a way to make things look better for parade by painting, sanding, oiling, or even straitening they'd invent something to do it... But, seriously, if your scabbard was all bent up you'd need a device to make it right again otherwise you'd have to jam it into a spare pouch or your (ouch) pocket.

 

[scott585]

they also made similar tools for FAL mags and Sterling C1 mags

 

[Quiet]

I'm guessing that for light dents, the sleeves would be inserted first, then the mandrel would be pounded in until it expands enough to push out the dents.

 

[albayo]

I have a mandrel for the lips of the Sterling mag, it needs the inside part to make it work.
I have one for the 20 round FN mag, and it has come in very handy over the years.
I have a mandrel for the British 1908 Mark I Cavalry Sword Scabbard.
Some SOB bent it probably using it as a pry bar, I don't know if it can be straightened and put back into serviceable condition.

 

[BCRider]

There was a time when we did not have a "disposable" mind set. Things were made and serviced as needed so they lasted for years and then only grudgingly discarded with a reluctant sigh.

Look at how few shops and craftspeople there are for repairing shoes, clocks, watches and even small appliances. Yet when I was a young'un such places were very common.

So to see a tool such as this which a depot or field armourer would have kept handy is not a big surprise.