I've stumbled into two original, uncut 1905 pattern bayonets, one with the 1910 pattern canvas/leather scabbard and the other with the later fiberglass type scabbard. Both marked SA 1918 and the fiber scabbard marked USN. The one in the canvass scabbard looks to still have factory grease (very old on blade). Both are very good, but wood is dry on handles, not much rust on either, both show much original finish, These are not repro's.
Question is the leather on the base of the 1910 pattern is dry. Will it hurt to use mink oil on it or should I just leave it alone? Also regarding cleaning/oiling, do or don't?
A friend of mines Grandad passed away, he was a WWII vet, his Dad a WWI vet and I'm assuming they came from him.
Advice, guidance needed and appreciated,
Thanks,
RD

__________________
Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I've never used mink oil, but I did see this:
Dry Leather Treatment | eHow.com

Try posting your question here, this forum is much more inline with the question you are asking.

U.S. Militaria Forum

Thanks, I'll check out those sites. I know that any extreme cleaning will quickly kill collector value but looking for info on light maintanence.
I couldn't believe it when She pulled out those two bayo's, hope my eyes bugging out weren't a dead giveaway. Also picking up from her several WWI era ('17 - '18) copies of 'Red Cross' magazines, one features on the cover a Medic carrying a german shepard with a Red Cross flag on its' back across a bombed out scene of 'No Man's Land', also found an old lead Soldier with the identical Medic and dog, this will make an excellent display. Can't wait to get back over the her house.
RD

__________________
Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I'd leave the leather and steel alone and get someone to appraise them in that condition before you do anything to them.
Untouched items like that are extremely rare now.
Photograph it and ask pro opinions on any treatments about leather,,but they'll be all over the map about it.
You want info on conserving the leather, and the rest of it, in it's present condition, not making it like new again IMHO.

One thing for sure is any normally applied treatment will not repair anything in the leather that is already damaged from age, extreme heat, sunlight, ect.
Many leather conditioning products make the leather look newer on face but at the cost of color change.
That's a big value deduction when it comes to an item like this as opposed to a leather sport coat from the mall.

Very nice find. Congrats!

The USN scabbard originally had a plastic practice bayonet in it of WWII vintage. Most all of them were broken, I guess while practicing, and many times an older bayonet found it's way there as yours did. I've only seen one of the plastic bayonets that wasn't broken. In other words, a 1905 bayonet in a plastic USN scabbard is not uncommon.