Alright folks, let's dive right into this bayonet attachment thing. Yeah, I figured I’d try putting one on my old rifle today after digging it out of the safe. Simple enough, right? Boy was I wrong at first.
First Try - Big Mistake
Grabbed the bayonet still covered in grease, saw the ring at the base. Looked obvious! Tried shoving that ring over the barrel and twisting. Seemed fine... until I actually tried giving it a little wiggle. Flopped right off! Didn't lock properly at all. Felt like a total rookie. Scratched the darn finish near the muzzle trying to muscle it too.
Stopping & Actually Looking
Took a breath, put the rifle down. Examined the bayonet properly. Noticed two key things I totally glossed over:
- The blade had a funky slot underneath – looked like a puzzle piece.
- The locking lug on the rifle itself, right below the front sight, had a matching shape I hadn't even registered.
Gotta pay attention!
Cleaning the Mess
First, cleaned up my dumb scratch. Then cleaned both contact points:
- Scrubbed out the bayonet's slot and locking ring with solvent and an old toothbrush. Old grease clumps fell out.
- Wiped down the rifle’s bayonet lug carefully. Found some dirt packed in there.
Clean surfaces matter, lesson learned.
Getting It Right
Tried again, but deliberately slow. Did three crucial steps:
- Started by angling the bayonet so that funky slot slipped UP and OVER the rifle's lug. It clicked slightly.
- Pushed the bayonet back STRAIGHT towards the stock, not twisting yet. Felt it slide firmly onto the muzzle itself.
- Then twisted the ring clockwise. Heard and felt a distinct, solid CLICK.
Jiggled the rifle – bayonet didn’t budge. Solid.
Final Thoughts
Don't be like my impatient first self.
- Align the slot over the lug FIRST
- Push STRAIGHT back
- Twist LAST
Forcing it does nothing good. That locking lug is the secret. Cleaning decades of gunk helped too. Feels solid now. Just takes a sec once you know the trick.
