The parts came for the Big Bang cannon. This is their 155mm model.
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Printable View
The parts came for the Big Bang cannon. This is their 155mm model.
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I went to the WWII weekend yesterday but they have a flea market there so I did manage to get something. Two 30mm dummy shells, one is mostly plastic but both weigh about the same so they are weighted down. First I've encountered with the "shell" intact. I have a few spent casings somewhere.
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And my usual Sunday haunt turned up this Civil Defense NYPD helmet. Don't know much about the history of it, first I've seen. A few are listed on the internet but no information on when they would have been issued, during the war or after. I posted more photos in the gear section along with the names of two patrol officers it was issued to.
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Functioning rounds for the Gau 8. I have one here too, among the 30mm examples...
Yard sales were rough yesterday. I bought two books, a token from the 1939 World's Fair and some Winnie the Pooh collectibles for my wife. Hit two antique shops later in the day and nothing but unanswered questions. I found a weird US Navy hat, it was a fuzzy brown wool flat or duck hat with ear flaps. Searched multiple ways for it and nothing. Should be blue, shouldn't have the little symbols on it and shouldn't have ear flaps. Best I can determine is it was made for the Civilian market. Found some British Civil Defense arm bands but they were post war 1950's so for the price they were asking I passed. Today, another minor mystery, a Spanish Civil War gas mask. This does match multiple examples found on the internet, but I have my doubts these were actually from the Spanish Civil War. German made, German style, no markings whatsoever on them. Mask in bad shape. Price was cheap but with the mask it the condition it is I opted not to purchase. I'm still thinking it is likely post war.
I did find a couple of things at the flea markets today. A Vietnam era field cook set with the tag still on it. This is essentially unchanged from the WWII Mountain Troop cook sets. These were not issued individually, possibly one per squad but not sure on that. The small stoves will fit inside them.
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And I found a Russian toy I didn't have. I have quite a few of this type that I don't remember where or when I got them. I find them interesting in that they are so plain and simple yet durable at the same time. These are like our toys were in the 1950's and always makes me think about what it was like growing up under Soviet control.
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Didn't find much new but went back after some things I had researched and I negotiated decent deals on them. First is the Parachute seat I found over a month ago. It was still there.
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Next is the Spanish Civil War gas mask I'm still not sure about but I got it cheap.
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New items, a pair of Japanese shell casings.
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Is the seat cushion a floatation device too? What caliber are the Jap cases? The right one looks like a 25mm by 163mm...like this...
The left one appears to be 37mm or close to it. Right one could be 25mm. The seat cushion is not a flotation device. It's filled with horse hair. Best I can figure is they were used by pilots and bomber crews, not by parachutists.
I thought maybe they would do double duty, if you go down in water you have an improvised float...Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Let me know if you want to part with it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Here's something to help you ID those Jap cases... https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA...85-5-Japan.pdf
I think the 37mm might be WWII I.J.A. 37mm for the Type 94 Anti-Tank Gun...
I agree it's an anti-tank shell. Found a nearly identical one on a website for that. Hard to believe they were using this till the end of the war even though it was ineffective against Shermans. They had a 47mm but not very many of them.
Yep, pretty small. Might be OK against installations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
The Japanese infantry certainly fell afoul of the US 37mm loaded with canister shot at Alligator creek on Guadalcanal.
All antique flea markets today. The small flag I can't find anything on. Was listed as a WWII platoon flag which sort of makes sense. The canteen is Dutch Cold War. Bought it more as a curiosity than anything else. Rubberized canvas c.over by the look of it. The foot lockers came as a pair deal for $100 which seems very reasonable considering they are officers footlockers with locks and their keys along with the usually missing trays. Multiple layers of paint, possible unit logo on one. Inventory paperwork glued on the one. The dealer purchased them directly from the man's daughter who said he served in Europe in logistics. The dealer was from Virginia so pretty sure I found the guys grave at least, bronze star recipient. Very little other information on the net. He did have two daughters, is buried in Leesburg VA, died in 2007
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The leather straps even appear intact.
One is broken at the one end but is all there. I've been careful not to pick them up by the straps. I don't think they are very strong. The one was made in 1940, the other in 1930. The 1930 has the broken strap.
It looks like you have a partial L.M.S. (London Midland Scottish) Railway luggage label, from the UK, stuck to the end of your trunk. This label would be pre 1948 and "nationalisation" when LMS became part of British Railways.
Steve you must have a very big house to store all this stuff in. I already know that you have a wonderful understanding wife.
Yes, that's definitely a British No. 1 Mk V Signal Pistol that fired the 1.0 calibre Very cartridge. The 1.0 calibre Signal pistols were most commonly issued to ground troops while the Signal pistols that fired the 1.5 calibre Very cartridge were mainly reserved for air bases and aircrew. Most every control tower had a 1.5 calibre firing Signal pistol on hand.
Technically, the footlockers aren't taking up any new space. I filled them with smaller items. Most things are in the kid's bedrooms, one of which is still usable with 10 minutes of moving things around. The other is just a walkway. I have a den also but most things in there are on the ceiling. The plan is to finish the attic and move all the military stuff up there. I don't keep it there now due to the heat. Other than three wall hanger rifles and a couple of small odds and ends, I have none of this downstairs outside of my small office. My wife's collections rule down here.
Today's pick up includes a 1907 US Cold Weather cap. These were in use from 1907 till near WWII. The design also was used for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) caps between the wars but these were in a dark green. This is an early model with the tie straps.
What makes this a little more interesting than usual is these were issued to the Polar Bear Expedition into North Russia at the end of WWI. The only US invasion of Russia and one they haven't forgotten.
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Next is an early WWII mess kit by Vollrath Co, dated 1942. This is kind of interesting in that it has a stainless base and galvanized upper. Inside is the complete utensil set, another early piece, the 1941 L. F. & C. Bakelite handle knife, first year of production. The spoon and fork are undated, the spoon is a silver plated SILCO, first silver plate I've come across.
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I used to carry a US issue knife in mess kit, don't know where it got to. Used to see them around but no more. I wonder if the silver plated one was swiped from an officers mess? The cap has design like the helmet hats.
Actually, the silver plate was the official production during the war. I guess tin was more important to the war effort than silver. I didn't know that until today to be honest. It's in the official nomenclature. Prior to the change they were tinned. We made nickels out of silver during the war also, at least for one year. And they made pennies out of steel for a year. I also got a book called Hitler's Armed Forces Auxiliaries, An Illustrated History of the Wehrmachtsgefolge 1933-1945 by Lepage. I haven't been able to really look at it but it looks nice from what I can see. It covers the driver's corps, the construction corps, the people's militia and the labor service, not high priority assets for most books on the German military.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I got a grouping of Ballantine books for less than $1 each and a Chassepot bayonet for $81 complete with serial matched scabbard. I'll post that in the blade thread. It was 35% off. I didn't really need it but I couldn't pass it up for that price. On the positive side, it is a different manufacturer than the one I already have.
Update on the Silver War nickels. There were made from 1942 to 1945. Best way to tell them in on the reverse as there is a Large P, D, or S above the dome. Also, in used ones the nickel looks darker. About 40% silver also.
Interest fact if you find a 1943 without the mint mark on the back, it's counterfeit. Not made with part silver either. A Very Good counterfeit by the way. Very interesting story.
Later 42rocker
Engraving turned out well
Fairly pleased with the result. Pleased with the distressed handle. The slots in the handle could be truer.
HOH, That looks great! Good work--
Yes, very nice. Very close to original. Here's mine...Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
Turned nothing into something. The handle taper/flare at the pommel is off and the handguard at the blade has a gap though not loose. The engraver matched the font and placement very well on the new handguard though slightly shallow. Very rewarding project which I hope to repeat if I can find another donor. Ka-bar is to be congratulated for providing the rehab kits at such a reasonable price.
It looks really good. How exactly did you polish and cut the leather?
Built a jig an(essentially a long tang with no blade) waxed the tang to ease installation and removal and glued and clamped the disks together with crazy glue. I then sanded it down on a 1" table top belt sander (Harbor Freight) with increasingly fine grit taking frequent measurements to ensure profile matched that of an original sample . Final sanding with jig held in a vice using 1" sandpaper alternating sides. Relief cuts using a chainsaw file. The groves are the weak spot must be a better way to increase precision. The ability to take the glued handle of and onto the jig is very helpful. Died the leather with alcohol based leather stain. The dye might have worked better if I had soaked in stain before I glued them? Finished off with a coat of beeswax and buffing with a strip of towel in the same manor as the final sanding. I hope this proves helpful to others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
I don't think so, I've done a couple and that stain can give problems. It looks fine. Maybe try staining again if you NEED to make it darker.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
Upon further examination I think the distressed look hide the flaws.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I think the slight wear looks good.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
I doubt many people could get those slots much better by hand filing. The only way to get them perfect would be to machine them. You should see the results of some people's "attempts" at "precision hand filing".Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
I can't remember at this time of the night, sorry morning, if the cross section of these handles is round or oval. If the cross section is round then, theoretically, it should be possible to turn the slots on if the handle could be SAFELY mounted in a lathe. For something like this care needs to be taken to ensure that the workpiece is mounted firmly, securely and safely in the lathe before any attempt is made to machine it.
The one I show pictured is unused and it's oval. Got it from a SEAL in 1978...we were on the USS Alamo. Oval...the grooves would be done with pantograph.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
Probably not particularly rare, but for $5.00, couldn't pass it up. There's continuity through the head, and the base, but some corrosion at the switch to head contact. Should clean up and function.
Day was almost a disaster but it all worked out in the end. I was looking at a really beat up US brass flare pistol that looked based on the French model and then went up the line and up and down the next two rows when I realized my phone was missing. Thought maybe I left it in the car but memory telling me I messaged someone while I was walking earlier. Backtracked and no one saw it. Finally asked a fellow at the one end and he said a nearby fellow in the nest isle said something about finding one. I went over and talked to him, he said it was lying in the pathway about 10 ft from the flare pistol table. He told me a fellow from the office took it so I was off to find it and they did have it. Not sure what happened but I was wearing a loose t-shirt and I think I must have tried to slide the phone into my front pocket while I looked at the pistol and when I walked away, my shirt had been pushed into the pocket and I then pulled it and the phone out without realizing it.
Looks like a 1942 date on the belt.
After that, I resumed shopping which by that point was just negotiating for a 1944 machete with belt. Not the best shape, pretty rough actually but this may have been wartime expediency rather than post war misuse.
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And yesterday, I did find this weird key. I doubt it's military but any help figuring out what it went to would be appreciated. Made of brass with a steel chain.
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Looks like a type of "Chicago clock key" for watchmen. https://parsimonyshoppes.com/product...clock-key-rare
The scabbard is marked to match the machete so I suspect it's a wartime expendable. Mine is canvas too for my "Collins".
A watchclock key does appear to be what it is, thanks. Never heard of them before. I haven't found an exact match but pretty close. As the watchman made his rounds, these keys would be at certain stations, this being #4. He'd insert the key into his clock and it would mark a paper with the time.
Got an early start this weekend with an antique shop I haven’t hit in about a month. Picked up two army toys and a pair of US Navy binoculars for $27. They don’t look great but the lenses are still good. They are loose however. I suspect they need new gaskets to tighten them up. Anyone ever do that? I did some exploratory investigation and everything is stuck at the moment. It’s the middle piece, not the focus, they work great. I’ll get some photos up tomorrow. They are Mark 28 Bausch and Lomb 1943 7x50.
As far as tightening these, I did some research last night and I believe you take the end off that has the two round holes in it with a special tool and there is a tightening screw underneath it. Anyone ever do it? I'll probably have to make the tool unless my son in law has one. The tool is also used for cameras.
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The Ambulance is a Tootsietoy which were pretty common toys I had a lot of them when I was a kid but they were hand me downs. I don't think they were still making this larger size in the 1960's. The Horn Truck is made by Thomal, it's plastic. The first I've owned. Plastic toys aren't as collectible so their prices are generally lower but by the same token, not many survive so they are rarer.
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Just as you think, the outer ring of the lens unscrews and the cap of the center. You have to make a tool in both cases. The center has a second double ended screw pivot. I doubt they were gassed as that didn't come for years after so a complete strip and clean will help. I do optics for a local curio shop, they aren't too hard...40TPI screws and such...Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Found the smaller binoculars today but not marked miliary or dated. I'm sure they are as they were military model numbered. The lens were crap however so I left them.
When I need a tool such as this I normally make it by cutting a slot in the middle of a suitably sized flat screwdriver blade. The 2 resulting prongs can then be rounded off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
I also use the same method to make a tool for the special round nuts that have 2 slots in, like what is found attaching the grips on some bayonets.
Something new today. Initially walked past it as I have two of these already but the next time I walked past, I took a closer look and saw the zipper. Mine don't have zippers. Mine are 2nd pattern and this one is 1st pattern. The previous owner did some research on the names, there are three although I can only really make out two of them and one of the two is the one there is no information on.
I suspect based on the manner in which the names are on it that it was initially used during the Aleutian Campaign in the Pacific before being reissued for Europe. These initially went to the 10th Mountain Division. I can't find any concrete evidence of that however. I have located a man with the initials S. W. Barrows who served in WWII but no further information and no idea if he is the same man this was issued too.
The main differences between this and the 2nd pattern is the pouches and the wire frame and attachment to the frame. The 2nd pattern has a tubular frame and a different type of pocket and the pouches are different with no zipper.
The tie was in one of the pockets and I'm assume is WWII. It has no markings that I can find.
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I believe this is a WWII US Navy Sea Bag. No markings that I can find, I see what could be the remains of markings but they are so faint I can't tell anything about them, they could very easily be dirt. What's odd is there are roped sewn into the base on the inside. I wonder what they were used for. Other than the dirt, it looks unused which might explain the lack of markings. For $2, I wasn't going to leave it.
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Flea Market today picked up a like new WWII ammo box. This is my second but the first isn't anywhere near as nice as this one.
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Very cool! I love the flaming bomb logo
Good news on the Binocular front. I took them to my son-in-law today and he made a little tool for me and got the front screw cap off. That didn't exactly help fix the problem, but it did allow me to figure out how to get the hinge apart. With both ends off I could tap out the center pin and found that there are two plastic washers in there that are essentially disintegrated. So, replacing these two washers and greasing the pin should allow me to tighten it up using the normal screw covers.
I had a set of those from the local flea market a few years back. They were a nice glass for the time, with very good colour transmission I thought. Heavily built of course and a rather limited FoV. Very similar overall to the REL 7x50s. B&L sold them after the war as a civilian model, no doubt using up the WWII optical spares and stocks on hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Son-in-law 3D printed me a set of new washers. I put them in and it's nice and tight now.
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The old washers were pretty much gone.
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And this is what the central hinge looks like.
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Today is a rainy forecast so not many dealers out. I did find a Dinky Recovery Tractor for $5 which is a good price. It's in good condition other than missing it's hook. They are available, I just need to find one that they don't want an arm and a leg to ship.
Yesterday was a decent day Yard Sale Saturday at the one flea market and I found some nice items.
The first is a WWI entrenching pick. Undated with US marked on both the handle and the pick head, standard WWI markings. WWII picks are all dated with the manufacturer. $20
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Same guy had what looks like an unused Vietnam era flashlight which will fit nicely with my Vietnam gear set up. The early ones have no protective ears on the switch. Starting in 1973 to the present they have the protective ears to prevent the switch from being turned on accidentally. This is a GT Price which was one of the first producers of the new flashlight. As these are undated, the ears are important for period determination. Has batteries and works. $5.
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A fellow near the end of his selling who I've bought things off of for years had some WWI dog tags, $20 and a fork, $2
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My big purchase of the day wasn't military related. but very nice. I have collected many things in my life, most started prior to my military collecting and these include toys obviously but one I haven't shared before is milk bottles. I've never gone crazy with them like the military stuff and for the most part kept to local dairy's where I grew up or where I live now. This one isn't far, sort of in between those two locations but the type, condition and price combined for the perfect storm of I had to have it. $40. Proper display of these is to fill them with something white. I've used cotton balls which isn't the best and white pillow stuffing which is cheaper and works great. Haven't gotten any yet which is why the logos are hard to see. I tried to take them so they were not superimposed on each other. Milk bottles in the US were heavily affected by the wars. WWII especially as there are very few surviving bottles from the pre war time period as they were all recycled. Wartime bottles all have propaganda messages on them which are pretty cool, and it makes them very expensive. I do not have any wartime bottles. Post war, they were round, like this one and then in the later years before going to cardboard mass produced cartons, they were square. This one it either late 40's or mid 50's, not sure on reading the date as 48 or 55 but I suspect it's 55. This is only my third gallon milk bottle. The other two are from my local boyhood dairy, one I dug up in a farm dump when I was much younger, the other I paid an arm and a leg for a few years ago.
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Here's the truck I got today. Just realized it has a driver. Didn't notice him until I looked at the photos.
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This one was pretty easy. Charles G Binder, Company F 303rd Engineers 78th division. Pvt 1st class, overseas May 26, 1918, to July 13, 1919. Enlisted Rochester NY Nov 21, 1917. Born in Philadelphia, PA approximately 1890, he was 27 years 5 months old at enlistment. World War I campaigns – Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, and Lorraine.
Middle name Godfrey, moved around a lot, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Married Lillian Elizabeth Sullivan after the war.
Someone took some trouble stamping those tags by hand. Any descendants of Mr. Binder on Ancestry?
Very nice Scammel recovery vehicle with the REME badging intact.
No, he's a dead end. He married but no children that I could find. He's listed several trees as the husband of a sibling of the primary lineage of the tree so it is possible he had children but they weren't considered relevant to the tree creator.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surpmil
I did manage to find a replacement hook and string for about $12 with shipping included in that so I'll have it restored shortly.
Slow weekend. Nothing Saturday, today a 1916 37mm round and a sling that I believe is or is very similar to a Swedish sling minus the quick release. I have seen similar types on other rifles and this will likely wind up on the "new" Italian Vetterli when it is here and cleaned up.
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Saturday was a complete bust again. One yard sale due to rain. Did better today. Started off at my usual antique flea market. Picked up a 1945 US mess kit with fork and spoon that I didn't have. Then a German 1943 canteen cup and finished up with a cast iron steam engine. I've been casually collecting them since I was a kid. Don't find them very often so it's a small collection. This one is pretty small, about 5 inches. Most that I have are much larger with bodies about 10 inches long and booms a foot or so. After the wife woke up we went to Hershey and hit four antique shops in that area. Two had nothing but I found the bayonet, a 1854 Lorenz Austrian, probably used during the US Civil War in the first and the 1950 dated M-1945 Cargo bag and the WWI 1918 W.S. Co. mess kit with complete utensil set at the other.
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Next weekend Hillsville, Va. annual Labor day flea market and gun show. Venders all over town for 3 days
Another slow weekend, just a canteen set. I have the cup and cover already but it is a really nice cover. I had intended to just buy that as it was sold separately by a second fellow but needed the canteen and the cup came with it. Set was $25.00 total so not bad.
Almost forgot, I did get a WWII gas mask cloth tin for $1.00.
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Nice clean canteen cover.
Happy HuntingQuote:
Originally Posted by shadycon
Yeah, that yard sale sounds pretty awesome but it's a five-hour drive and we have a crap load of stuff going on all weekend. My one big community sale is that Saturday, the one I bought the mint No 4 Enfield at years ago. Haven't gotten anything that nice since, in fact the past couple of years has been a complete bust. Monday is the big sports auction I go too. Looking at a Jim Palmer autographed Jersey this year. It's a benefit sale so we look to spend a couple hundred at it.
If you go, post details. If it's really good, I may make the trip.
I'm trying to talk the rest of my house into going. Not too far for me. Kids are sold on going, but no word yet from the one with veto authority.
Slow again this weekend. Yesterday I bought a spoon, a 23" spoon. BICO no date so likely after the 1960's. At the big yard sale I mentioned above I found a guy with some WWII official military photos. I bought one of them. Kind of neat, would be an entire new thing to collect but they aren't exactly cheap so I'm not really going to pursue it. Average price seems to be around $10 a pop and while that is a lot less than many of the other things I buy, there are probably tens of thousands of these photos out there. So, if I find one, I like, I'll get it but otherwise, not actively pursuing. Having some photo uploading issues today so they will come later. It's a photo of a crashed Italian plane in the North African desert.
I made it down to hillsville with my boy afterall. Headed over to the gunshow portion certainly. If any friends here want to grab lunch coffee etc, hit me up.
I went yesterday morning; only saw 3 carbines. 1 restored $2k. 1 plainfield $1400, commercial M1a1. Good turnout .
The highlight was spending a 4.5 hr road trip and a whole day with my son. He found some good Atari games to add to his vintage gaming collection, and some old baseball bats. He uses the older wood ones for pickup practice with friends. Balls don't go as far means less picking them out of the woods when they go over the fence.
The gun show part was thoroughly disappointing. I saw a field grade garand, Springfield, 50% finish on the receiver, with a new CMP stock, and a price tag of $2600, and a pre-64 winchester featherweight clearly heavily molested and refinished for much the same price range. Ammo/powder vendors haven't gotten the memo that the pandemic is over, and all the mad rush of the last 3.5 years has subsided the demand this cycle. I didn't see anything on tables that isn't regularly seen at my local cabala's.
None of the surplus vendors had anything older than 1990's. I was hoping for a couple odd 03' parts, usually easy to find at such a place in a bin among other bits, to get ready for an upcoming project. But nada.
You still see that here with some guys still asking $400/$450CDN per thousand primers...Quote:
Originally Posted by ssgross
Militaria in general, and WWII and Vietnam collectibles in particular are drying up. For years I did the rounds of First Mondays here in Texas and always found something interesting and reasonably priced. For those who are unfamiliar with the term 'First Monday' towns in Texas have large Flea Markets that are open the weekend of the first Monday of the month. In major metropolitan areas like Dallas-Fort Worth there are 'First Mondays' every weekend somewhere, usually on non-fiirst monday weekends. I used to do the rounds: Canton or Weatherford on the first First Monday, Bowie on the second Monday, McKinney on the third Monday, Denton on the fourth. The weekend where I didn't bring something home was rare but in the last 5 years things have changed for the worse. If you do find something of interest the price and or condition is ridiculous. It's gotten so bad that I've gone from going to Flea markets on a monthly basis to only going once every couple of years because I won't pay the hugely inflated prices I negotiate them down too.
Regards, Derek
It is definitely not the same anymore, but what is !
Thank you for the review of the flea market. I won't be making the drive next year. My weekend was pretty much a bust. It's not just firearms that are drying up, it's anything surplus related. I know ai post a lot of pick ups over the summer but I bust my butt to get them. I'm hitting antique flea markets, yard sales, antique shops every weekend and rotate between 5 different key areas in a 50 mile radius of my house. And when traveling outside that range, I hit any shop I go past that's open. We had rain yesterday, so I missed out on my usual Sunday flea market that I almost always find something small. Next weekend is the 1st Saturday flea market at the other antique flea market so I'm hopeful for that. I hit four antique shops today and these are all large co-ops and all I found in these four shops was one Army green wool blanket of indeterminate age, with holes and a flare gun I almost bought but decided it was too far gone to restore, especially for the price they were asking. I passed on the annual Labor Day flea market that is town wide on a nearby town to got to the annual Hospice Sports auction, but I got nothing of real note there. Prices were way down except on the people I wanted. I did get a signed photo of a former Penn State football player but that was a spur of the moment purchase, not something I really wanted. Jim Palmer signed Jersey $250 where there are half a dozen online for $85 delivered. Rocky Blier signed mini helmet for $275.00, Lambert signed large photos for $375 and $450 each. Willy Mays signed photo was the star of the show for $2000.00. I momentarily thought about getting in on that one before I decided my budget really didn't support that decision and my wife who went on a short mission to get food would be returning. They had a Caitlan Clark photo THAT WASN'T SIGNED, that sold for $275.00. My last hope was a Jerome Betis framed photo I was going to shoot my charity budget on but it went for $150 over that. We usually try to spend $200-300 here, today was $90.00 and $40 of that was on food.
A little better luck this weekend with more "normal stuff. First last weeks spoon.
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Last weeks photo:
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This weeks yard sale item, a small USN pin with a weird backing I can't find anywhere. The pin resembles a safety pin.
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An antique shop find, an early 1910 shovel, most likely WWI vintage, no date.
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And today's flea market finds, a second early Vietnam undated pilots' knife and a child's book from WWII. I find it interesting that they still show cavalry on horseback when the last unit was in the Philippines which would have been eliminated by 1943.
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The spoon looks like our standard cooking implements in our mess halls...unchanged with time. The pin, wonder if it's a retirement pin? We have one very similar given to sailors of certain ranks on retirement. Meant to go with civies.
Not a bad day today. Two items, neither expensive, both something I didn't have. The first is a British No4 MK2* spike bayonet made by one of the more common manufacturers but one I didn't have, P. S. K. (Prince-Smith, & Stells). The second a US "General Purpose" bag, nominally for ammo I believe but doesn't seem to have an official function I can find.
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Yes, a mag bag. Lots of Thompson mags were packed ashore in those.
What was hilarious as I did not recognize the bag as I've never seen one before and I asked the seller what it was for. Without hesitation, "it's for a tent". I just looked at him and repeated my question and he elaborated about it being for a pup tent. Now I know he said that because the one very legible word in it is "TENT". I simply said OK and offered him less than he was asking, made the deal and left. I wasn't in an argumentative mood that morning. I've bought a few things from this guy before, he's not an antique guy but comes out on yard sale days to set up.
I was delighted one day while rifling through a pile of gear for sale at a Flea Market to find an emergency pattern carrier for the British civilan gas mask. At $15 I thought it was over-priced but the chance of finding another one in Texas was rare so I bought it since i was working on a Home Front/Dad's Army display. When I paid the seller he remarked, "I wondered if anyone was going to buy that German bread bag." I just kept my mouth shut and walked away with my prize.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Regards,
Derek
Slow weekend. Only thing remotely military is a a "tootsie toy" (not positive on maker) artillery piece missing half its tires. There were a couple of guys out with stuff, but they wanted ridiculous prices for things, and I didn't even bother trying to make a deal. I'm about ready to make one of our longer antique runs but this weekend I was just tired out and stayed close to home.
I actually found something at a yard sale today. They advertised Vietnam mementos, and I didn't see the ad until 9:30 this morning so figured everything would be gone. Turns out it was just a yard sale from last year with the same stuff that didn't sell then but they did have a web belt and a bunch of books. I bought the belt and five books that looked interesting. Belt is marked US, could be from WWII as while I can see where the manufacturers mark is, I can't read it. Its in great shape and definitely has that been there done that look. Good price at $3 for the belt and $1 each for the books.
Today was one of those days that doesn't happen often. And oddly enough, it's at the same antique flea market it happened at two other times. Rare bayonets. First was the reworked cruciform spike bayonet, then the Chinese Type 97 short bayonet and today a Winchester commercially sold 1917 bayonet. Not a lot known about them because no records kept of them apparently but these were apparently left over after WWI and were sold to police departments with Model 97 shotguns with bayonet lugs. Very clear Winchester mark but no date or acceptance marks. It's also unissued. I suspect the seller figured it was a reproduction and I had that concern as well but I looked it over very closely and it's the real deal as far and I can tell. In any case, it was $35. Same guy had the 1965 mess kit and I had just negotiated it for $10 when I spotted this on his table.
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Earlier at the bigger antique flea market I found an interesting shell. I haven't researched it much yet so no real idea what or whose it is. Appears to be dated 1938 with a 1939 fuze with Arabic or Hebrew script on it. Looks to be 75mm. Beyond that, no idea. Did various image searches with no luck.
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A little googling shows there was a 75/22 gun made by Schneider for export, but with Arabic markings could be Syria (quite possible given the French role there), Egypt or perhaps one of the North African states (Algeria/Morocco, French again) The Spanish had a 75/22 mountain gun which was probably just the Schneider, but they were in control of Morocco long after 1938 and it seems doubtful they would put Arabic markings on their shells - the Spanish have a bit of history with the Arabs. ;)
I posted on the other thread about the shell. German made for Afghanistan. Rheinmetall-Borsig is the manufacturer. The odd "square" in the circle is their logo, I'm assuming the second circle is the location Borsig as this is not their main plant. That I have not found, the first I have. There's a Facebook group I belong to and they usually identify things in an hour or two but this one took longer. Not sure what gun it would be for. They had a mountain gun in WWI that was primarily for export, and it would make sense for Afghanistan.
Beautiful weather this weekend, complete opposite of last weekend. Bought a couple of things I didn't need but the price was right and the condition was hard to pass up. The first is a British made machete scabbard which is marked with the broad arrow but has the US hook system.
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The second is a very nice 1910 US haversack from a maker I've never encountered before. This makes my third of this type but this is the best condition. I've bought from this fellow before and he gave me a good deal on it.
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And my new item for the week, I thought it was for a horse gas mask from WWI (it isn't dated) but turns out it's for a WWII gas mask which I'll now have to locate. Not sure for how long they carried these, am going to look through photos to see if I can even see them taking them into combat.
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I don't usually post books as I probably buy 25 a week but these two seem appropriate. Both came from a local re-uzit store that benefits the World Mennonite Charities.
The first is a WWII cookbook which is going in my collection as Home Life, the second is on a topic I never even realized existed until I found the book. It's also apparently out of print and rare.
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Starting to feel burned out so didn't even go out yesterday. Wasn't going this morning either but changed my mind at the last minute. Nothing great but what I got was cheap. $30 US M5 bayonet, edge needs cleaned up, a $10 No4 MKII with scabbard and frog and a $5 toy artillery piece. Part of not going out was having the demilled SMG to work on.
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Nice clean #4 spike, Singer Machine...
The yard sales are coming to an end, my one antique flea market is shut down for the winter. Hit a pair of indoor antique shops today. Found two toys which I purchased and a training rifle that I did not. Figured I better research it first.
The toys, the brown one is a Manoil, the red one is unmarked but a US company of manufacturer as I was able to find the exact model only in a different color (blue)
On the training rifle It looks like a cross between the Army Victory Training rifle and the Navy Mark I training rifle. It has a metal rear sight, but no bayonet lug. The buttplate is marked
MADE IN USA
PARRIS-DUNN CORP
CLARINDA IOWA
What I believe it is is a model made for civilian groups, drill teams, ROTC, etc that was produced during WWII but after the military contracts were completed in 1943.
Total production is around 37,000 of the Victory model, 300,000 of the Navy model in two separate contracts and 200,000 of these civilian models. As such it is borderline for my collection, definitely home front, ROTC connection to the military, rarer than the Navy model, in fact I can hardly find a reference to it and only one place has it well photographed. The kicker is they have it in a Model 1904 scabbard dated 1918 that the leather is soft and flexible unlike the rock hard one I currently have. It isn't perfect some weird kind of deterioration on it, kind of like a pox of some sort but no cracking and like I said, it's soft. The rifle at the very latest would have been made in 1948 as they moved the company in 1949 but it appears it would have been WWII as they started producing cowboy guns at the end of the war.
So, I may go get that in the morning after my regular antique run. I'm going to look it over closer anyway. The navy version has a trigger that works, the Army doesn't, not sure if this one does or not.
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Thee book on POW Money and the money are very interesting and rare to find. Enjoy
Later 42rocker
I did go back on Sunday and bought the training rifle in the 1904 rifle scabbard. Negotiated the price down 15%, not a huge amount but by my reckoning the two items are worth what I paid, plus I just plain wanted them. Who knows when I'll run into another of the civilian models, probably next weekend, but I've never seen one before, they are always the Navy model with the exception of the Army model I have.
Here's the scabbard and a cold war canvas holster I got for an Italian M34/35. The rifle I'll try to find my old thread on the Army and Navy versions and put it with them.
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Interesting pieces this round... So, this is a 1903 saddle scabbard?
I think it's officially an M1904 scabbard because it's made for the 1904 McClellan cavalry saddle. But it is for the 1903 Springfield. There are at least two variations of these, I have one of each. The other has a metal ring half way down on the bottom. Not exactly sure what it's purpose it.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
This ring?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Yes, that's the ring. The straps are narrower on this model also. Probably two different manufacturers, I know mine are two different.
Out of town all week, gives me an opportunity to hit some places I don't get to often. So far I've gotten a 1966 starched US Army fatigue set complete with all patches. A 2nd Lieutenant in the infantry with an infantry school "Follow Me" shoulder patch. I also picked up something I've been watching for 18 months. I made an offer for it way back then and was refused. 18 months later, they accepted. Not quite military but is it a CCC marked oil can. I've posted some other CCC stuff here over the years. It was run by military officers but was officially Civilian (Conservation Corps) It was for young unmarried men and provided work during the depression, mostly in parks where they made trails, dams, and other improvements. My interest in the CCC stems from my grandfather being a member although he lied about being unmarried. He needed a job. We are also near Elk Country in Pennsylvania so we went there yesterday afternoon. Saw 2 large mature bulls, 1 immature bull, 19 cows, 3 whitetail deer and a coyote in the same field at the same time. No idea if any of the photos turned out or not. I did have my good camera but things were still rather distant and lighting wasn't ideal. Today we are off in the opposite direction and a few more antique shops.
Hit a lot of antique shops yesterday and today without a lot of finds. An unissued 45 pouch from 1942 in a nice khaki color, an unissued compass/1st aid kit from 1969 and a Civil Defense Auxiliary Police badge which I have not been able to locate an example of so while I assume it's from WWII, it could be from the 1950's Cold War era.
My "good" camera gave me about 100 totally black screen photos of the elk so I'm not a happy camper. That leaves me with half a dozen so/so ones from my phone. I know what I did wrong, dumb mistake for low light, I had it set on sport mode.
I saw a lot today, hit the one place that always has a lot of military stuff but they didn't have anything interesting enough to pay what they were asking for it. They didn't look like anything new had been put out since the last time I was there 9 months ago.
Slow on the photos this week, been busy. The uniform would have fit me back in the day, not now, nearly 55lbs heavier now than then. I was a nice 165 back then.
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Forgot the ECW, CCC marked oil can. The ECW was the Emergency Conservation Work Act under which the CCC was established. The CCC camps were run and administered by the US Army but they were not really set up to be paramilitary organizations. They had rules and they did calisthenics, but they did not do military drills or weapons training. A lot of the clothing was styled after military uniforms but not all and not exactly.
This can is marked ECW with metal stampings around the rim. It was established in 1933. It is marked vertically CCC in green paint down the one side.
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