Brittle bayonets! (1 Viewer)

[Major Busgen]

A constant worry I have is the fragility of bayonets on lead figures. One figure toppled over yesterday and ended up with his bayonet at a 90 degree angle from his musket!
Is there anything I can do (such as using spray varnish) which will help to strengthen bayonets made of lead?

 

[Obee]

You are lucky that it didn't break off, so it isn't brittle!

The higher the lead content results in a softer metal, so they bend when damaged.

You can't strengthen them with paint, just be careful

John

 

[Major Busgen]

You are lucky that it didn't break off, so it isn't brittle!

The higher the lead content results in a softer metal, so they bend when damaged.

You can't strengthen them with paint, just be careful

John

Thanks John. Seems like I'm just going to have to be extra careful with them.

 

[mikemiller1955]

the challenge of soft thin weapons bending...
is always a concern for collectors...
especially if you handle your figure a lot for wargaming or playtime pics...
it's usually the first damaged piece on a figure...
bayonets...swords...daggers...axes...scabbards...

the problem with a weapon designed from a thin piece of metal...
is that it bends easily...
and when the metal bends...
it begins to lose it's integrity...
once the integrity of the metal is compromised...
a few more bends back to it's correct position...
and it just breaks off...

after that happens...

these are very tough repairs...
as they are so thin...
and there is usually not enough girth in the broken connection to drill and insert a male pin...

super glue can only do so much...

I prefer weapons...swords...bayonets...spears...even rifles to be a sturdy durable mix of metal...

not sure if this is cost effective...
but whenever possible on swords or spears...
I would prefer steel...
but that may be too expensive...
I don't know...

also on swords, axes and spears especially...
I prefer the weapon not permanently attached...
but included in the foam packing as a separate cast...
that can be inserted in the figure's hands once unpacked...

these are less apt to break...
and these ship better too...

if the manufacturer prefers to offer them permanently attached...
I also prefer they are a little over sized to help them in traveling...
I don't mind a beefy weapon and actually prefer that as they are less prone to bending...

 

[Empire MM]

A tip I was given and have found to work for me is, should you get a bend, straighten it out steadily over a period of a few hours rather than in one movement. This usually works for me.

Our bayonets are quite sturdy, it is something I wanted to add into our figures, but, I have slightly bent them transporting the masters around to dealers etc but they come back perfectly each time.

Hope this helps in some way.

Malcolm. :salute::

 

[johnnybach]

Some of the smarter manufacturers cast in arms holding rifles/bayonets/sabres etc., with a "harder" mix of metal (i.e a higher percentage of tin). This also applies to manufacturers who sell replacement parts.

As I actually enjoy repairing figures that have been broken, I often buy them that way (usually very reasonably priced too), and then purchase suitable arms to replace the arm holding the broken part - as it's much easier to replace a complete arm - than tiny pieces - like a bayonet on the end of a rifle - or a sword blade, pistol etc. Sometimes you can get away with (say) a hand with a pistol ( drill into hand and stump of arm - then pin & glue), but it's often easier to replace the complete arm with new cast-in weapon.

I buy mine at a very reasonable 40 pence each from GILES Brown at Dorset Soldiers (UK). If I can't describe the piece - I just send him a picture by e-mail. I usually ASK him for the harder mix of metal - and he will supply them this way at no extra cost (still 40p each). Once the offending part is removed - and the new one fixed in place - then, it's just a matter of re-painting to match the existing piece - or if the paintwork is poor - a complete strip and re-paint.

I believe that there is also a supplier in the USA who sells Britains spare parts - in a similar way - so it may be possible to repair them with parts from there??? Maybe Brad will know????

Then - just take care not to knock 'em over again!!! jb