After picking up the new Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle last month, I started doing some more research about the gun and its accessories, the bayonet in particular. I found it quite interesting that the Soviets issued the rifle with a bayonet, but no scabbard! It seems that they expected that the bayonet would be installed on the rifle at all times. In fact, the rifle was even sighted in with the bayonet installed and as such, if the bayonet is removed, the accuracy suffers. I however, wanted an authentic Cold War or WW2 looking Soviet scabbard for my belt and bayonet...................
So, I made one myself! I used period techniques and replicated the style of scabbards that would have, or could have, been used by the Soviets during this era. I couldn't be happier with my results!
I decided that the easiest and most accurate style that I could fabricate in the shop, would be the typical canvas over wood style of the 1940's and early 1950's. This would also match the age of the rifle quite well.
- I started off by carving out the blade channel from two matching pieces of mahogany wood.
- Then, I used a hand plane and tapered them to the outside shape, with a wall thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- I glued the two halves together and then did some finish work on the wood.
- I tailored and sewed a canvas cover over the wood.
- I then painted the canvas with thinned oil enamel and then finished with a second coat of "full strength" enamel.
- I finished it up with several coats of ultra-flat, green spray paint.
- I riveted up a leather scabbard frog and added a leather cord to secure the bayonet.
- As a final touch, I stenciled a Soviet Red Star on the scabbard to give it that "real" Cold War feeling.
I designed the scabbard frog so that it would hang from one of the "D" ring belt loops on the Russian belt. The leather hanger loop has a floating rivet-stud that buttons through a button hole in the back portion of the loop. This allows the scabbard to be removed, or moved, easily and it also gives a nice "swing" which allows it to fall to the side when sitting. With a bayonet this long, you definitely do not want it to be attached too rigidly! Overall, I cannot think of anything I would change........ I got it right on the first try!
Here are some photos of the scabbard, scabbard and bayonet, and the entire belt rig:
I am currently looking for a set of brown leather "Y" strap suspenders to use with the belt rig, but until then, I'll be attaching my East German, nylon "Y" strap suspenders as a fill in......... as an added bonus, I can also attach my East German combat pack to the "Y" strap "D" rings. Here are a few pictures:
The "one thing" that I have been missing in my Bundesgrenzschutz camo uniforms, is a pair of camo pants. The originals are extremely rare and when they do show up on sites like eBay, they can go for very high amounts. I would love to have a pair of originals, but until then, I have been on the lookout for a pair of BGS camo BDU pants from the modern company, Sturm Mil-Tec. These are a new made version that look like the originals on first glance, but upon closer examination, you can see that they are actual made to a modern BDU pattern.
I picked these pants up off of eBay for a super low price, and they were in new condition! They even look and feel crisp and unwashed. Until I find an original pair of BGS camo pants in my size, and at an affordable price, these will definitely do. This pair is a size "Small", but they fit me perfectly with a 31 inch waist and long inseam........ a rare combination! The camo pattern is crisp and the colors match my original BGS camo's perfectly. Since my camo jackets cover the top part of the pants, it will not be noticeable that they are new made BDU's, and since they are not originals, I have the option of wearing them out-and-about town! If you can find a pair of these Mil-Tec pants, in any pattern, I would highly recommend picking them up. I know I will be on the look out for additional pairs!
Here is a shot of the pants on some "Summer Grass"......... they blend in nicely!
With all of that said, here is an album of more detailed photos:
And to finish things up, let's take a look at some historic photos of BGS troopers wearing their camo pants:
