What happened to my bayonet?

[TexasJack]

This bayonet was stored in a safe, in a house. It has not been subject to any heat or any substances that I know of. Something has reacted with the handle (Bakelite?) and warped it. I do have Zerust anti-corrosion sticks in there, along with desiccant pellets. Anyone seen this before?

20250117_165529c.jpg

[M&J]

Ouch.
I've seen other plastics deteriorate to be head scratching as to the "why".

From Zerust

Zerust products protect against rust by releasing an invisible, non-toxic, non-reactive and odorless corrosion-inhibiting vapor. The vapor protects metal components by preventing corrosion for up to five years.

There must be some component in that vapor that does not play well with Bakelite or similar plastic materials.

[TexasJack]

That's the only thing I can come up with. There are plenty of other things in the safe to damage - plastics, varnish, etc. - but those old plastics may be different.