Removing the Finish on the Seitengewehr

[grenadierwerner]

I have been told that to properly remove the finish on this handsome bayonet (courtesy of herr Dunn; best $50 I've spent in a long time), it must be soaked in vinegar.

Do the wooden grips need to be removed from the blade, or can it all be placed in the solution as a whole? If not, I will need advice on how to disassemble the weapon.

[Hoffmann]

Hmmm...I don't know what the vinegar might to to finished wood. I removed the grips the couple of times I did this, never occurred to me to try and leave the wood on. I did a quick Google and found this:

"DO NOT...I repeat... DO NOT use vinegar on a wood floor!! I own a cleaning company and am well aware of the damage this method can cause. Vinegar is acidic and will slowly eat away at the poly coating, or wax coating, or oil, whatever your floor is sealed with."

Hope that helps.

[grenadierwerner]

Thanks for the heads-up. The question I had, though, was how to take the grips off the blade; it seems they're riveted on, though it faintly appears to be a screw, save for the inner circle/