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Bayonet Collectors’ Network |
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Sources of Information on Bayonet Collecting Books are important, and something that you can’t do without. Hands down, they are the best insurance against making a bad purchase. Although there are exceptions, bayonet books tend to be published in small numbers and prices go through the roof, once they go out of print. Get ‘em while you can is the order of the day, when it comes to books. That said, there are some very affordable bayonet books available today. If you are just getting started, Bayonets From Janzen’s Notebook, by Jerry Janzen, is probably the first book that you should buy. It covers about 1,000 bayonets from all over the world, arranged by country. It is no longer in print, but can still be purchased very reasonably from Dennis Ottobre. If you are just starting out, buy this book while you can get it. It was my first book and has paid for itself many, many, times over by helping me avoid bad purchases and clueing me in to some really good finds. There are many other books, some focused on one country or type of bayonet. I list what I have in my reference library, on my Library page. There is also a tremendous amount of information available on the Internet. My links page contains a listing of links that have been most useful to me over the years. The 98k Bayonet Collectors’ Network (BCN) is a very innovative collecting organization that uses e-mail and the Internet to overcome many of the obstacles imposed by distance. Founded in 1996 by John C. Jacobi, the BCN began as an organization focused around collecting of the German SG84/98 III bayonet used on the WW II German Mauser Kar 98k rifle. The BCN has since branched out to encompass international bayonets and includes collectors from around the world. The BCN publishes a daily e-mail digest of member posts of questions, answers, and discussion of collecting topics. The e-mail digest is currently compiled in Australia and sent to members worldwide. Although the BCN has broadened its scope, a continuing project that dates from the very beginning is to re-create the production record of the SG 84/98 III bayonet, through collection and analysis of maker and serial number data. Members report serial numbers observed at shows and other places and they are loaded to a database in Slovakia. To date, over 12,000 serial numbers have been collected. An example of the results (from 2002) is available on the BCN public site. Current research is available on a members only site. There are no dues. The only requirement for membership is participation. The BCN enables any collector, anywhere, to learn from some of the leading bayonet collectors and historians. The BCN has been a phenomenal source of information and I treasure the correspondence that I have received from leading authors and collectors on pieces in my collection. If you think that I overstate the part about leading authors, look for the BCN logo next to the author’s names on my Library page. Where to Look for Bayonets One of the fun things about bayonet collecting is that bayonets can turn up just about anywhere. If you have done your book-work, you can recognize the gold nuggets when you see them (not every gold nugget comes labeled ‘gold nugget’). There are regional differences that impact the venues in which one is likely to hit pay dirt. I’m on the west coast, in Northern California, so the examples below reflect that. For example, no pawn shops. In some areas, pawn shops are very fruitful. In California, few pawn shops have FFLs anymore due to the onerous additional State licensing. No guns = few bayonets. Gun shows aren’t reflected as prominently as one might expect. Well, gun shows in my area don’t seem to be as fruitful for me. While they aren’t all that fruitful in terms of acquisition, they are a great extension of my book-work. I hit as many shows as I can and practice identifying what I have read about. Here are some examples of my good finds in a variety of settings: Antique Shops and Antique Malls Some of the most valuable bayonets in my collection have come from antique shops and antique malls. Often these venues are known for high prices. However, they also yield some real nuggets. For example:
Gun Shops Gun shop owners often obtain bayonets and other items that are outside of their area of interest (or expertise). They do their best to price them right, but sometimes overlook those gold nuggets that I mentioned earlier. There is a gun shop that I frequent regularly that specializes in old military firearms. You would think that they wouldn’t overlook much. Try these out:
Distributors and Importers Strange things can turn up among the ordinary pieces received by importers and distributors. They get so much stuff, that it’s impossible to cull out all of the sleepers. For example:
Gun Shows I’m in an area where gun shows aren’t the best. However, sleepers do turn up at gun shows. Also, sometimes exhibitors do bizarre things when they get punchy from sitting there too long. For example:
Other Collectors Other collectors are a great source of hard to find bayonets. You won’t walk away with a sleeper, but you can really add some nice pieces to your collection at reasonable prices. This is where networking really pays off. For example:
Flea Markets/Swap Meets Occasional gems turn up here as well. For example:
On-Line Auctions, etc. Much of the glitter has come off of eBay and other on-line auctions. Unfortunately, eBay is becoming a vehicle for the proliferation of fakes being manufactured in India, China, and Afghanistan. However, if you wade through all of the chaff, there are still some gold nuggets to be had.
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