Candle in Bayonet

[27thNCdrummer]

Gents,
I'm wanting to know your personal experiences with putting a candle in your bayonet.
Whether it turned out well, whether you had to spend a couple hours cleaning the thing out,etc...

[Parault]

Andrew

I purchased one of those bayonet candle holders so if I remember to bring it,I don't have to worry about cleaning out the edged weapon,however if I forget(which in most cases I do) the wax is not that bad as you think,if you keep a watch on it,and clean it while it is still soft. If you leave it on the you can clean it fairly easy. I have never had a problem with it.

[Duff]

The wax is not that big a deal. I just stick it it the campfire in the morning for a few minuets and it all melts off.

[Poor Private]

WOOW, what a coincidence. I used mine that way and fell asleep. I had to clean out the wax with a pocket knife the next morn. So now I am in the market for one of those smalll candle holders. I found out that if you lean or tip the bayonet a bit the wax drops on the ground instead of running down into your bayonet works.

[Parault]

James
I forgot about placing the bayonet near the fire. Thanks for the reminder. Done that a many of times too.

[DJCasey]

To avoid having to clean my bayonet after using it as a candle stick, I stick a peice of cloth over the socket before jamming the canedle in. That way the wax drips into the cloth rather than onto the bayonet. The wax picks easily off of the cloth and then I wrap the cloth around my cadles before storing in my knapsack. It helps protect the candles from breaking and if they melt a bit in the sun, it doesn't mess up my pack.

[cprljohnivey]

I use the paper from a pack of 10 rounds to shield my bayonett. Because the paper is stiffer than cloth, I can make a cone out of it that traps all wax.

[Gary of CA]

cprljohnivey - put a wick in it and you'll have another candle in the making.

[Secesh]

Mr. Casey,
That sounds like an excellent idea! Thanks for the tip. Best regards.

[Malingerer]

If you just give your bayonet/candle a distinct lean, you'll find that the wax drips down onto the ground instead of down your bayonet - no need for a holder and one less bit of junk to carry around.

[pvtbigbottom]

Personally, I do not like to put it in my bayonet. If you melt some of the wax onto a rock, or log it makes a fine candle holder. Much better than carrying something else Taking up room.

-Chris Bottomley

[flattop32355]

Bayonet, rock, wood, log, bottom of a cup, etc. All make good candleholders without needing extra gear. The only thing better is using someone else's cup, bayonet, etc.

Tilting the bayonet while the candle burns or placing the socket in the fire for a minute in the morning if it gets waxed over are the fastest ways to get the holder useful for combat again.

My guess is that every way we could think of was used by the originals, depending upon where they were at the time and what was available.

Now we can begin discussing the merits of using two ramrods to roast chunks of meat over the fire as opposed to using one...

The struggle for knowledge is neverending. :)

[sgt sidd]

The Bayonet is a nice tool, digging, cooking, opening up tins, in a fight, using it for burying the dead, oh and it is great for a candle holder. Save on weight too. you will like it. It could be said it is a like a Army knife a tool that has many uses. Robert S Lanier