Quote:
Originally Posted by Norman McCormick
Hi Jim,
On another note, your Lebel bayonet is a cut down version. The issue size has an approx 20 inch blade tapering to a needle type point. Possibly yours was cut down as a WW1 trench knife or maybe it was captured by tribesmen and reduced to more convenient fighting knife proportions.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.
I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!
All the best
Jim
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both comments reminded me of my 2nd trip to Morocco early 1980ies :
driving in a not second but sixth handed Simca from Holland to the Ourika valley, south of Marrakesh....a four day's drive.
On our way back to Sale a few parts broke..which was not that strange and could be expected☺
Waiting for spares coming from France or a Simca dealer would cost days and be expensive.
No problem as along the highway ( the Moroccan route 66) there were containers with some guys in it , repairing cars. From a simple can they manually would create excellent spare parts ( it brought us back to Holland and did function another 3 years).
This because they serve the local market cheap and being top mechanics and craftsmen: resourceful and inventive. As they and the local blacksmith have been doing for centuries.
Hence the recycling of cold weapons as well; be it broken or not or, creating daggers from swords is not that strange. and not expensive at all!!
Specially as it did function and meet the new purpose: defend against attackers or be weapon against unwelcome trespassers. A kind of remnant of 6 to 8 decades ago when the tribes bravely battled against the French and Spanish forces or even the local Sultan...