I would think almost as easy as rolling a cigarette?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapper740
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I would think almost as easy as rolling a cigarette?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapper740
The rust on the metal parts is coming off mostly with steel wool and a brass brush. The barrel requires some solid work scraping it off. So far no major pitting found but it did a job on the finish.
Not much to be found this weekend. Picked up a Vietnam era 1966 cap (hot weather) never issued and a 1954 US MIRRO canteen with a 1953 US BE CO cup and a cover that I think it 1963. The DSA numbers never seem to fit the description fully. This one is early 60's for sure as it's DSA 1-1036-63-E. Guide says the 1036 is where the date should be but that's impossible so it's probably May of 1963.
These caps must have been issued for a long time as it was the first cap issued to me in ROTC in 1982. I think the actual military was in the woodland camo by then but we got the leftovers.
I was out of town all week but stopped at some antique places I like to hit on the way home. Picked up three mess kits I didn't have, a 1942 Leyse, a 1943 Wire and Metal MFG which is unusual in that I believe it is tinned or galvanized steel rather than stainless or aluminum. Looks a little rough because the coating didn't last. The third is a 1944 E.A. Co. I also picked up a set of WWII utensils with only the knife dated 1944. I got two elastic helmet bands, one without cats' eyes and one with two cats' eyes. Both marked but not dated. Both also have the soldiers name on them. The last military item is a 37mm AP shell from 1943 which is different than the others I have. It has a pointed aluminum cap on it, peened in place. It needs some serious cleaning. Non-surplus but still military I made out great with some very unusual books. Armored Trains, An Illustrated Encyclopedia 1825-2016, Naval Institute Press, a three-volume set of The German U-boat Base at Lorient, France, Shiffler, The Devil's Garden, Stackpole, which is about the fortifications at Normandy with before and after photos and the last book is Last Days of the Luftwaffe, Frontline, which has a lot of photographs I've never seen on the very late and experimental aircraft of Germany. I've seen photos and drawings of these planes but not these photos. And finally, three diecast toys, a fuel truck and an ambulance I didn't have, I believe these two are Midge toys which have open bottoms and the last I'm not sure what it is, a jeep type vehicle. This one I already had but it was cheap. I really should stop buying the books, but these are really nice, it's one of my life's biggest weaknesses.
Like this one?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
That's the one. I can't get the top off though, it's peened in place.
So a friend hooked me up with another local auction that does them online. I cleaned up the military stuff last night. Not yet sure what it is that I have but I didn't pay much for it. One coat has the 3rd Marine Amphibious Division patch on it. A WWII Techical Sergeant shirt from 2nd Army which was a training army stateside. What appears to be a complete WWI or post WWI uniform with collar disks. And a bunch of shirts from The Army Anti-Aircraft command. I believe they are from 1950-57 time frame, red with yellow trim AA and a missile in the middle. Some shirts that look early Vietnam era. I think I got two coats, six shirts, six pairs of pants, six hats, a bag of buttons and collar disks, a duffle bag and a signal corp bag.
This batch of uniforms I’m going to need help with. The hats are mostly tagged and range from 1947 to 1951 so I’m assuming most of the uniforms are Korean as these items are all marked with the same laundry number. The 2nd Army shirt is 1944, no date I can find on the WWI type uniform and the buttons all belong to that, one collar disk is WWI, the other is later and shiny. So I have some sewing to do. There is a belt which I think has the guys name on it but difficult to read. Unusual buttons on two pairs of the pants so might be able to date them by those.
The unusual buttons are 13 star buttons. Silver with 13 stars for the original colonies. Seems conflicting information on whether they are US Army or USMC or both. Time period seems to be WWII but I'm thinking these are also Korean era. I'll probably start a new thread for these when I get a chance to start taking pictures and posting them. Still can't figure out the time frame on the Army Air defense patches either but 1950-57 seems to be where most people are saying they belong.
This week's haul is small and partially unknown. The first item is some sort of sleeping bag. The yard sale seller said it belonged to her father, that he was big into buying surplus from Eastern bloc nations and suspected this might be Romanian. I can't find anything like it. It has buttons instead of zippers and is more like a blanket with a hood than a sleeping bag. I didn't open it up figuring I'd find markings after getting it home but there are none. I only paid $2 and it's a nice warm blanket for camping if nothing else. I couldn't figure out how the buttons even worked until laying it out for the photos. I see now that they are double layered on the side or possibly the middle based on the hood location. There is a draw string at the hood area, and it is slightly off center. Now the bottom buttons up I still haven't figured out. It comes in a separate carry "bag" that has a handle on it. I would not want to have to get out of this in a hurry if I had to. Assuming the buttons probably go on the inside, otherwise you'd never get out of it.
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The second item I picked up this morning at the antique flea market for $10. It is a British Brodie helmet made by BMG, Briggs Motor Bodies sometime between 1940-45. The last numeral of the year is either obscured, missing or I don't know the format. I see a 194 that's it. There could be a 3 there but everything else is struck so deeply and not really anthing in that spot but a vague possible outline. I'm wondering if the 1 above the 194 is the final year. Doesn't quite make sense as I've seen other BMB dates and they follow normal formate like 1942. The Facebook "experts" are telling me they believe this to be an Israeli re-issue, the paint for Israel is original and the strap is a late WWII strap and appropriate to the helmet. So it's just missing it's liner.
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The third item I got from SARCO. Not quite sure what to make of it. They state is is a Spanish Civil war artifact so that means the shell should be an original M-30 Czech helmet, but it's obviously been re-painted and has a new liner in it. So did SARCO do this or did Spain do this or is the entire thing a reproduction? Not really happy with it but it is an example of the type I guess.
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So, this one sure took long enough to surface. i spent about three years looking and hunting... Then after success dealing with Mombasa Kenya, they went into hiding for a month after some attacks on Government agencies and public communications... I thought they maybe had been done in. Anyway, here are the Maasai Lion spear and the Maasai small game spear, in order.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
Slim pickings this weekend but I did find a couple of small interesting things and I found a suitable spear shaft and fit it this weekend to the spear tip I got a month or so ago.
The first item I found is a 1917 German Gemeinde Bottrop 10 Pfennig Kriegsgeld coin or token, not sure which. As there are many of these from different cities, I assume they are tokens of some sort to be used for city services maybe but not sure. Some sites say they were legal tender coins for general circulation. They have been demonetized so are no longer legal tender coins. Not really surplus related but I like to get wartime coins and currency.
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The second item took some research and negotiating. The seller wanted more than I wanted to pay but I got her down to $10 which seems a good price from what I can see. It's a veterans lapel button for those that served in the 1st Canadian division in WWI. Kind of like the US "wounded duck" from WWII. Most of these that I've found are the same as this one but some have the name, unit, etc of the individual stamped between the lines as an added personalization. I haven't determined if this is a Canadian button or a British one as more British served in this division than Canadians I believe and most of the Canadians were French Canadians.
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And the spear. The shaft is an 8' 1 1/8" handle, for what I have no idea. Got it at a hardware store. Knocked the metal screw cap off, shaped both ends into a Roman hasta spear. I haven't figured out how to fasten the tip to the shaft. It fits tight but if you stabbed something with it an pulled back it would probably stay in whatever you stabbed. Any suggestions? glue, epoxy, some sort of sap might be more appropriate. Total length is about 8'6" with the tip attached. Shaft is tapered at both ends.
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Araldite is a very strong adhesive if used properly and can be used to join a number of different materials together. My preference is the original version, slow drying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Araldite - Wikipedia
never mind , i give up on this forum
I think the last number is a 3? However, sometimes they put the date right on the very end of one of chinstrap clips that are riveted to the helmet shell. To see it, if it's there, it's best to unclip the chinstrap and look on the end of the clip farthest from the rivet. If the date is on the clip and not obscured by paint it will be very small.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Could be a 3, I really can't see much of anything there.
As for this weekend, hit more yard sales than usual but found nothing. 95% of the sales were Mennonites and they typically don't join the military or collect military. Flea markets I picked up two US WWII canteen, cup and cover sets, nothing unusual I think but I didn't have two of the three components in each set. The one canteen cover has Iwo Jima inscribed on it with an AF prefix service number so I suspect it was post invasion. AF being Airforce or Army Air Force. So not likely a Marine canteen. The other thing I picked up was a Swedish 1907 Browning holster. I've been watching that for over a month wondering what it was and finally figured it out Sunday. Seller had it marked Luger of course. I got it cheap, they aren't expensive holsters, a bunch of them hit the US surplus market a few years ago. Now to find the pistol. Stamped Crown with I25.
Full Service Number on the canteen is AF11350329 if anyone has access to a database.
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Flea market dealer had about a dozen of these. Most were post WWII but found these three that appear to be WWII or earlier just based on the images. Old tanks, ships or planes that didn't even exist.
The one plane is labeled "Flying Fortress" and is two engined with the propellers behind the wings. Battleship looks like the Nevada class and the planes are biplanes on the Navy case.
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One of the biggest community sales turned into a huge bust for military things. I found a couple items at other places. A GAR grave marker and two WWII period photos of US Navy ships. Another yard sale produced the models and the pick cover, I also got two mess kits from the same guy. One is dated 1982, the other is undated but he thought it was from Vietnam era, it's marked US WYOTT. Today I hit the jackpot with my Holy Grail of machetes, a DAH MK III with scabbard. It's a little rough but most are. I'll post more photos of that in the Blade Forum.
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Picked up a WWI canteen I didn't have on Sunday, a U.S.-1918-T.J.W.B.M. CO. made of aluminum. That makes five different manufacturers of the seven for 1918. Previous years were not dated or marked to my knowledge. Could have gotten one of those also but passed due to cost. Nothing yesterday. I passed on a big community sale and went to a sports memorabilia auction where I got nothing. First time since we started going to this about 10 years ago. They didn't have much and what I was interested in sold very high.
It's the 1st Canadian Division formation patch. The system was introduced after the 1st Division was already in France (arr. early 1915) and was designed to permit easy ID of the wearer's formation at a glance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
You can see the whole series here
The 5th Division was broken up for reinforcements in the UK and never got to France.
The First Contingent from Canada was about two thirds British-born, but French Canadians were about one man in 33, sorry. ;) And the same was true in WWII. In both wars serious crises arose over conscription and hostility to it among Franco-Canadians when it was introduced late in both wars.
Two small items today, a 1943 German 10 Pfenning coin and a US 1945 MASSILON AL. CO mess kit, one I hadn't had. A third item can be loosely connected in that it is a commemorative souvenir to the cornerstone laying of the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston. I didn't go out early and wishing I did because where I got the coin and Bunker Hill item, they had a table full of little things for a dollar or two each. Hard to tell what they sold before I got there but I rarely find someone selling antiques for low prices like that.
Also got a pair of digital camo combat pants that should fit me for $1. Something from yard sales, flea markets and antique shops today. Mess kit at the antique shop was the most expensive at $6.
$6.00! How can you afford to put gas in the truck shelling out that kind of cash?
But if you had got there earlier you might have seen someone else buying up all the things that you would like just in front of you. It's really annoying when that happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
That's the pessimists view LOL, I have the optimists view of getting all the good stuff first. It has happened, it is annoying but it's incentive to go earlier.
Alas, my season seems to be drawing to a close. I did get a few things cheap at the antique flea market Sunday. Nothing super exciting but there is promise of more next Sunday as the guy said he would bring more. I picked up a US 1944 pick that was covered in concrete. I wire wheeled it, didn't like doing it but couldn't figure any other way to get the concrete off. I then spray painted it. The handle is marked but faint. US and PLUMB I believe, the pick head I couldn't quite make out. DIAMMOND something, possibly CALK. Two complete canteens, one cover looks like 1951, they both have 1956 Volrath cups, both canteens are from 1945 and duplicates to what I already have. The last item is a small pouch marked US 1945. All pretty common items but I basically named my price, $32 for all of it. Yard Sales are becoming few and far between and one of my regular antique flea markets closed for the season.
I found a unit marked WWI canteen cover at an antique shop Friday. It's dirty and has some paint on it that I'm hoping I can get off before taking some pics. Came with a web belt but it is also dirty and I see no markings on it. Need to get some dish soap and wash both by hand.
Canteen cleaned up pretty nice. It had been covered in grease and paint. I did nothing special to get rid of the paint but the soap and water seems to have removed most of it. I did have an extra WWI canteen I put in it but no cup yet.
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And Today I picked up this 4.7 inch shell. Never encountered one of them before. I believe it was a US designed gun developed in 1904-1906 that the US adopted in 1906 and then only used in limited numbers in WWI because European shells and guns were already there and easier to supply. They remained in stock until 1932. I located a surviving gun in Saxton, PA which is close enough to my hometown I will have to go find it when I see my parents next.
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Found a photo of the gun online. They restored it four years ago so it's in pretty good shape. New wheels made for it out of treated oak near where I live now. Small world.
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Is it just the date that is stamped on it that differentiates a WW1 cup from a WW2 example?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Nice casing, finding the projectile could be a task...
Yes, WWI and WWII cups are the same. Very early ones have no date. 1918 is when I believe they started dating them, the canteens anyway, not sure about the cups. They didn't change until the 1960's sometime when the folding handle went to a pair of wire handles. WWI cups were still being used in WWII and they didn't make them every year. More in an as needed basis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
I have WWI cups but they are already with matching canteens an covers.
We went to the local Farmers/Flea Market yesterday as it's the last time I'm really able to go for about three months as my rifle coaching starts next Friday. There is a little antique shop there and outside vendors that I occasionally pick some things up from but nothing this week. My wife likes the auction, I usually don't because it's mostly a junk auction but again, occasionally they have something. This week I found a box of books under the table. Mostly tanks of WWII so I figured I'd sit and see if I could get them as the one tank book on German Panthers was a $45 book used on Amazon. The same lot grouping had a bunch of models which I wasn't super interested in because they were the wrong scale and/or mostly helicopters. The wife decides to go get food and while she's gone they get to the lot grouping with the books. Models get sold, no one is bidding on them, books come up I get the box for $1. They just keep bringing the models back and I have them piled on both chairs beside me and on the floor and I'm laughing to myself because I know what my wife will say when she gets back, and she doesn't fail me. First thing was "I knew I shouldn't have left you alone" and then the expected "how much did you spend for all of this." I wasn't really sure because it was pretty rapid fire and at the end the auctioneer would just look at me and say $1 and I'd nod and it was over, but once she got back and could guard this hoard I went to pay. With bidders' fees and taxes, I paid $18 for 17 model kits and a box of books on WWII tanks. There were two additional models of tanks which turned out to be missing most of the parts but the other 17 are all there. There was also a nice magazine ad for WWII War Bonds I might just frame.
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That's a pretty decent price.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
OUTSTANDING Buy! That lot of books should have a value of around $175 US.
Nice buy on the models also.
ENJOY!
Later 42rocker
I am still finding things despite the lateness of the season. An indoor antique mall we only get to a couple time a year had a mess of canteens and accessories and I picked out a few I didn't have in my collection. The first is an undated canteen which means it was made between 1910 and 1917 as 1918 is when they started marking them with date and manufacturer. The second is a WWII cup and a Vietnam era cup I didn't have and a nice Vietnam era Canteen, cup and cover all of which were new for me. I needed a second Vietnam era canteen for my early war combat setup which I'll show in another thread.
Then today I found a 5" dummy cartridge MK5 38 caliber shell at the local flea market which is still open despite the cold. Haven't seen one of these before and limited info on the net about them. IMA had one that was painted red from 1985 but I suspect this is a bit older than that. The guns have been in use with the US Navy since 1934.
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Nice catch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Stopped in an antique shop yesterday I only hit a couple times a year. Found a WWI mess kit dated 1917 which I had but they only wanted $5 for it and it had a 1917 knife in it. So I grabbed it. Looked around didn't see anything else so went back and went over this guys booth with a fine tooth comb and found a second WWI mess kit that sounded empty. Also $5. This one was a manufacturer I didn't have and dated 1918. I then notice the "sale" signs on the booth, 25% off. So I got the two of them and the knife for $7.50. I get home and am opening them and recording the information and I find a fork dated 1911 in the other one. It was jambed tight so didn't rattle around. Decent day.
1917 L.F.&C. and 1918 T.J.W.B.C. CO. Knife is L.F.&C., Fork is R.I.A.
I wound say you are lucky, but I know better. You are diligent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Saw this one at a local antique store. I don't think it's particularly old since it has a drawing number on the bottom.
Attachment 134355
Attachment 134356
-E-
I believe that is 1966 production, DSA 100 with no date following.
I remember seeing a US army "collapsible canvas bucket" for the first time in the late 1970's and being amazed and fascinated that it would actually hold water without being a rigid metal bucket. The chap who had it owned a wartime Willys Jeep and sourced the bucket as an accessory to go with his Jeep.
The old canvas water bags were a common accessory in N.A. The small amount of water they "wept" when filled helped to cool the contents by evaporation I understand. I have one, but have never used it. Pioneer Brand was the best known one in Canada I believe.
Especially hot days, the water was off warm, not cool. But better than coffee warm.
A few hangers on at the flea market this morning. One fellow has this interesting looking scabbard with an attached leather hanger on it. Not a frog as it isn't separate. I know I've seen them before but can't remember what they go on. I ask the guy if he knows what it's for and he said he thought it went with a Hopkins and Allen bayonet which I actually need the scabbard for. So, I look it up and nothing comes up for Hopkins and Allen, but French rolling block is a match. I think I need the scabbard for this also, so I get it for $30.
I get home and start digging for bayonets and find the French pretty fast and it has its scabbard.
A little disappointed I get on the computer and start looking for the Hopkins and Allen scabbard and find several examples right away. I never have trouble on the computer but always have trouble on my phone finding things.
It's the same scabbard and fits perfectly. I guess these scabbards were made separate for the US export bayonets by a different company, they are unmarked. In a twist, the French rolling block bayonet is a little on the rough side but the scabbard is in much better condition, this scabbard is a little rough but the Hopkins and Allen bayonet condition matches the scabbard of the rolling block so they are now paired appropriately.
I used to see those water bags hanging off work trucks all through the '50's and '60's in Vancouver, B.C. Jones Tent and Awning also made Bell tents for the Canadian Army.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surpmil
Hit the outside flea market again today and two big indoor shops. Only purchases at the outside market. Nothing major today, a 1950 OD Army overcoat with wool liner for $10 and two rusty mess kits for $10 for the pair. I think both will clean up and I needed both. Both are 1942's which I'm light on, one a US LF & C and the other a US TACU Co. Saw a third 1942 but they wanted $48 for it and I wasn't going anywhere near that high.