A Productive Saturday

Yard sale season has officially started. Today was a bust until I got to the last house on the end and found a Victory Series Puzzle of the "Battle of Guadalcanal" for a $1. Produced in 1943, the usual propaganda type picture with tanks, jeeps, planes and explosions without a Jap soldier in site. Then it was off to the auction from hell to look at the worst selection of military firearms I think they ever had. Beat to crap, no bolts, no rifling, cut down. Before I left I spotted an interesting knife with those distinctive Spanish looks, similar to my recent sword purchase and the WWII Bolo Bayonet. Turned out to be a Spanish 1907 Artillery knife/short sword in excellent condition with it's scabbard. Got a time for it to be auctioned and headed off to a nearby Gun Show, met up with Mike, helped him ID a cut up 1905 Spanish carbine. And then picked up a British Turtle no IV helmet for $20. 1952 which is post war but still a decent example. Back to the auction and watched six guys bid up the knife. I waited till they were done and put my bid in and that was it, they were done. Brought the knife home and the Postal carrier pulls up with a box that turns out to be a WWII US helmet shell that I won on ebay a few days ago. Four military items from four different sources in one day.

Sounds like a good deal, a good day's haul of toys.

Busy weekend .Good work indeed.
Glad I am not competing with you.

Here's my little haul:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4cpsn7or-1.jpg

I like how even that deep into the war they still stylized the tanks, etc into something we never had.

US helmet on the left, British on the right.

Knife is mostly unsharpened. Held in scabbard by a mechanism similar to a Garand bayonet.

The blade's very interesting, never seen one like that. The drawings were done by artists probably at speed and with minimum attention to detail.

The knives aren't common from what I can find out. They were issued to engineers and artillery troops. Almost too small for a machete but makes a large knife. I was surprised that only the curved portion is sharpened, the flat portion of the blade is flat, not even close to being sharp. Probably wasn't used. This is the blade that their later bayonets were based on although this is larger than the bayonet. Handle has a good feel to it. Fits the hand well.

The tank is a very good sketch of a M3 Lee or the M3 Grant depending on country of service.

Offset main gun, small AT gun in a 360° turret with a MG in the cupola.

The tank has to be an M3 and I guess it isn't really that bad a representation. The picture has it all though, paratroopers, bombers, fighters, tanks, jeeps, very busy, very patriotic.

A productive Sunday this weekend started off picking up a very nice tiger striped Chilean 1912 Mauser long rifle and finished it with a US 3 inch field gun casing modified to a blank round complete with a primed 45-70 casing in place. Got some contact information from the person with the casing for some possible future items.

Rifle has beautiful metal except for one nasty scratch on the floor plate. All numbers match including the cleaning rod. Very nice looking stock that has more dings than I like but still pretty sharp. Has the original quick release sling attachment but no sling. Bore has not seen many rounds, crisp, deep rifling with no dirt or rust. Probably one of the nicest condition wise in my collection.

Your flea market/garage sale success stories insired me to stop at a local garage sale this weekend on a whim. Looked around and not much of interest other than a pretty nice camera tripod for $3. Things were a bit slow and the folks were very nice and we talked for a few minutes only to find out that the woman & her late husband were both retired Airforce. I asked if they had any military items that did not have senemential value to which she replied " I threw it all away". My heart sank at that and I was about to leave with my trypod when she asked me to wait a moment. She came back with a box full of Airforce rank & unit insignia & patches she had not disposed of. You just never know.

I ask anyone that is over the age of 50 if they have military items. A lot of times people have them but just don't think to set them out for the yard sale. Asking triggers the memory. I haven't gotten much this way but a few items over the years. A Vietnam era shovel and a Garand stock. And both were just given to me. These two items today were two different ways than last week. Rifle came from a website for PA gun owners, the shell from an antique mall. I don't have pawn shops here, a big source I'm missing out on.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I haven't gotten much this way but a few items over the years.

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People will say "You're into this sort of thing"...and they give me little things. I have a curio dealer down town that I do piece work for and he even does that. I accept everything no matter what, you never know what they'll hand you. If you refuse anything, it may never happen again.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I ask anyone that is over the age of 50 if they have military items. A lot of times people have them but just don't think to set them out for the yard sale. Asking triggers the memory.

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That is exactly how this happened. She seemed pleased someone had an interest and even threw in a personalized item with his name and unit. A wooden plaque in the shape of the flaming bomb.

I've had numerous items given to my by people who have come to my presentations. The most significant being a Colt Navy revolver dated 1863. Most recently the WWI shell casings. I have another fellow who has promised me his 3inch navy training shell as he has no one else to give it to, no children. The yard sale guys do seem appreciative that someone cares. I also had those two buried in wet plaster rifles given to me, the Swedish M38 being the most memorable of the two due to the extreme restoration effort. Always pays to be alert and polite.

Photos of the rifle will be in the Mauser section. Posting some additional photos of the Spanish knife in the blade section along with another bayonet I just got. Figure I'll post the shell casing here along with a Belgian WWII helmet I got last week.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5ndp58j0-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...pscwzwnu-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ebqeo20a-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8adlrxp6-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qsc7dat8-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...jwxwr81w-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

the shell casing

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Neat way they used a 45-70 cartridge to prime it...wonder if it's full length? The Adrian is nice isn't it? Still a scarce helmet.

The casing is not full length. I would estimate it extends inside the shell about 1 inch.

The helmet is really nice. It fits me perfectly and looks better on me than any other helmet I've worn.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The casing is not full length

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That would make it like the old firing system we had for one of our smoke grenades, the HC-C1A1... It had a .45 Colt cartridge to fire it. The cartridge was filled with lead and only had a small channel through the center containing FFFG black. It used a large pistol primer and would back out upon firing so you could hand remove it once cold. The originals were marked .45 GRENADE...no living example in my collection. These were a full size pistol cartridge though, that's why I wondered... Neat example.

I've heard the Adrian was a VERY comfortable helmet.

Early start to the weekend due to Good Friday. Picked up a 1910 T-handle US shovel for $2 at a yard sale today. Estimate sometime after WWI since the handle is riveted.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Picked up a 1910 T-handle US shovel for $2 at a yard sale today.

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Well grabbed...

Broke a ton of Yard Sale rules today. Was lazy, didn't leave the house until 9:30. Just drove around without any newpaper, etc. Went back to yesterdays community sales to see if any new people set up for Saturday and found that hardly anyone from yesterday set up. Went to a Church rummage sale which are generally complete busts, this one was and then just took off in a random direction. Spotted a tiny sign that said yard sale but at 20 mph that's all it said. Came on a second, figured I must be going the right direction, then a third but still can't read any of them. After a mile, I decided to turn around and head to an antique mall instead but something said keep going so I turned back onto the path. 3 miles no signs, then spotted another one, stopped and read this one to find out the address and the road was only a quarter mile further. Took off down this road for a mile and found the sale. Nothing but crap. Younger woman with her young daughter playing cards. Just before I left, I had actually turned and went toward my truck I turned around and ask if she had any military items. She said yes, she just got something yesterday and put is somewhere. Had to search to find it. I see a plastic bag with what looked like ARMY showing through and I figure it's a sweatshirt. She pulls out a WWII era Welcome Home banner that's 3'x3'. She said she didn't know anything about it and I didn't either, I asked her how much and she said how about $5. Now I really don't know anything about these but figured that was a good price. No holes or tears, pad printing is a little faded but all in all very nice. It's all wrinkled up so I need to figure out how to flatten it without messing it up. So that's my story, added an old US ARMY armored car, Tootsietoy I think and a metal WWI toy soldier that I paid 25 cents and $1 for respectively. So kind of a weird haul this weekend.

Another productive Saturday with a bit of disappointment mixed in. Started off with the purchase of the year that has nothing to do with military stuff. Bought a box of older, probably 50's with a few pre war mixed in Lionel train cars for $4.00. Two engines and 17 cars. Right after that was what I thought was a cool purchase. Asked a fellow if he had any military stuff and he showed me this small flag. Said it was his fathers from WWII and came off of a US Navy motor launch. It is a small flag with a small pole that would fit into a mount. Trouble is, research is telling me this is a Yacht flag, not a US Navy flag. It has the normal stripes and then a circle of stars with an anchor in the center. It's still neat, I just don't think it's military. After that I picked up a pre WWI US heavy machete, Collins type I believe, with a partial scabbard. In the evening, I really got a good deal on two Civil War Don Troiani prints, one at $55, the other at $90 at a benefit auction. The first depicts the 8th PA cavalry charging at Manassas, the second is at Gettysburg and it "Decision at Dawn" with Robert E Lee and his staff. I'll try to get some photos up of this weeks and last weeks treasures soon.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Bought a box of older, probably 50's with a few pre war mixed in Lionel train cars for $4.00. Two engines and 17 cars.

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What a super deal...

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I picked up a pre WWI US heavy machete, Collins type I believe, with a partial scabbard.

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That's going to be interesting.

Yeah, I felt like a thief walking out of there with that box of trains. They need some work. Looks like poor storage. Some rust on some of them and plenty of dirt on them. Heading off now to the antique markets, see if I can add to the weekend.

Found a second Collins macheti/knife today and got this one on the cheap for $20. I've never noticed these before except in a few dealers cases and now have two in two days. This one is slightly different from the first. The first has a metal cap between the handle and the blade and is unmarked. This second one is marked on the blade although somewhat hard to read except the model number which is 1005. It does not have the metal cap. It is in a little worse condition than the first and has an edge piece of the handle missing. These things are on the scary side, 15 inch curved blade that is over a quarter inch thick tapering down to a sharp edge. I'll get photos in the edged weapons section soon.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I'll get photos in the edged weapons section soon.

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I'll be looking for this...I'd better get mine out too then. I can show Bear the one I lifted from an Arctic Toboggan when we exercised together.

Combined most of the items from the past two weekends. Not sure where I put the metal soldier, seem to have lost it already. It will turn up eventually. The small flag is what I was told was a US Navy motor launch flag. These were officially recognized by the US Navy in 1939 but I believe it to be civilian, a Yacht official flag. The knives will be detailed better in the blade section. The shovel had a bubba rope attached to the handle but for $2, I'm not going to complain.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cdno91yr-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...xw0o0r50-1.jpg

Here are the two prints I won at the benefit auction:

http://www.prints.com/imgage.php?f=d...432&ln=Troiani

Don Troiani - Charge of the 8th Pennsylvania - Signed & Numbered Print

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The shovel had a bubba rope attached

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Looks like it was to hang it up...I have a shoelace through my entrenching shovel handle for the same thing. But they had a hole for that.

The weekend is off to a good start. Picked up a 5" short (clearing round) casing dated 11-1944 and a True Temper US machete dated 1945 with scabbard this evening. Both at an extravaganza event at one of the local antique malls. I first was a bit disappointed in the shell casing as I was investigating it and reading it's supposed to be 27 inches long and this one is a little over 16 so I figured it was cut. But further research led me to what is called a clearing round which was used in an emergency and a couple of them were permanently kept with the gun when the gun was fired. If a full charge failed to go off, these needed to be rammed in quickly and fired to clear the round that was in the barrel before it got too hot and cooked off it's high explosive. I must say I would not want to have to use one of these. The base of the shell had some corrosion that left it a bit pitted but most of the markings are clear. Says "SHORT" right on it so that should have been my first clue. Machete has the light olive green handle rather than the black. This is a typical machete, not one of the massive heavy blade beasts I got last weekend. This is extravaganza weekend at all the antique malls and flea markets so I have hopes of getting more. Photos at the end of the weekend as usual.

Today was not good. Nothing other than a couple of WWII books at the yard sales. Outside antique extravaganzas partially rained out and no military items at all that I could afford. One dealer had all kids of stuff at some of the highest prices I've ever seen and I know my way around bayonet values pretty well.

I did decide to go back to the place I bought the shell casings yesterday as I knew he had a couple of others so it wasn't a total bust. I picked up a 37mm anti tank casing and a 105mm artillery casing both from WWII. I still have tomorrow, hoping the rain stays away.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

37mm anti tank casing

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Would this be a little short guy? They're like the 2pdr aren't they?

The 37mm is small compared to the other shells I picked up this weekend but does not look like a 2pdr. It looks like a very large rifle cartridge. Imagine a 50 cal shell that's about 8 inches long. I'll get some photos up soon.

I went out this morning to finish up the extravaganza shows but came home empty. Saw lots of stuff but I either had it already, it was not in a condition I would like or it was too expensive. Saw a nice air warden German helmet for $125 which was tempting, especially as they were being discussed in the other thread but with what I already bought this weekend with the shells, figured I better not push the wife too far. A guy also had a 6 inch brass naval shell which I thought was nice but the price tag was considerable.

What I was really hoping for was a new rifle but there were not many, just a few Arisakas, one Martini Henry and two 1873 Springfields.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

does not look like a 2pdr. It looks like a very large rifle cartridge.

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Rimmed I'm thinking, anyway when it appears, I'll compare the one I have...for interest sake.

Photos of this weekends shell casings. They are as earlier mentioned in order of size from smallest to largest, a 37mm anti-tank or HE round, rimmed dated 1942, a 105mm howitzer dated 1944 and a 5 inch short clearing round dated 1945. I have included a 50cal round for size comparison. All are US.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ahtdruom-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...gymfwdtf-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...zoyzjjhx-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eevj6oym-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bjn3wy67-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...oawsug9z-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cvduexam-1.jpg

The 5 inch round has a couple of interesting features. The first is it has "FLASHLESS" stenciled on its side. The second is it's long primer. You can see one hole near the top but the holes run the length of the primer. I believe this would be to more uniformly set off the powder charge in the shell.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...j28azggm-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...zoymuknt-1.jpg

The 5 inch shell base has all sorts of information on it that does not show up on the photo due to the mottled condition. There is only one small area which I can't read. It also has the ordnance symbol like the other two.

Machete will be in the edged weapons forum

---------- Post added at 10:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Rimmed I'm thinking

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Yes, this one is rimmed. There is another version which is nearly identical but is semi-rimmed. This is an anti-aircraft round and somewhat rarer than this type.

Yes, that's the one I have, with projectile... It's like they made them all at once. I haven't seen any far from the date mine is made.

They had to have produced them the entire war as they were used by the light tanks in particular. The little anti-tank guns were probably almost useless against the Germans mid war but still could have taken out the Jap tanks. The projectile is nice. I'm thinking about making wood projectiles for mine. I need to find someone with a lathe first. Diagrams with dimensions would be nice also. I've found some but not all.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I'm thinking about making wood projectiles for mine. I need to find someone with a lathe first. Diagrams with dimensions would be nice also. I've found some but not all.

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I'm at that very thing, I have a small lathe and will be using aluminum to make a projectile for an Aden 30mm and a 37mm anti aircraft gun we used back about 25 years ago. I have cases but no projectiles. The Aden is easy, the other will be proprietary. Guess I'll have to trot them out after... If you look at Collector Source you see a wood fuse that was made probably by base workshop to fill the need for drill ammunition. This 37mm, I was lucky back in about '78 or so when I had a spare Rarden casing and traded it for the complete 37mm (Staghound I think)with about $30 CDN to cover the lack of projectile. I kept my 30 Rarden with projectile...traded a WW2 UK para helmet for that one. That deal still hurts...

I have an odd little projectile that I have no idea what it is. I've had it for years, was in my Grandfather's stuff but he never served in the military so not sure how he got it. It's bigger than 20mm and smaller than 30mm. Might be 27mm but I can't find anything on something that small. I'll have to post pics and maybe someone can tell me what it is. It was never fired, expansion ring is intact. Appears to be solid but with a different colored tip on the end. It's about 73mm tall and 26.5mm in diameter

It looks like a Japanese 25mm anti-tank round but they are only supposed to be 24.5mm in diameter.

More like a 25mm then. We have cannon like that in service today. Pics may help and we can figure it out.

I too have one...a 20mm projectile that came from Egypt some decades back and was given to me by the DCO of my Battle School when I was teaching recruits. He found it in a spot that looked like there'd been an explosion of ammo and it was lying intact in the desert sand. After our discussion about non drop safe 20mm ammo on that other thread, I'm wondering if I have something I should take to the range and shoot at distance with a .308...

Here it is. I measured the diameter with the same ruler so not the most accurate reading in the world. Looks like 26.5mm to me but I can't find anything other than very modern "vulcan" type stuff and I know this isn't that. I've had it for over 30 years and it was just in my Grandfathers junk box. Looks just like a Japanese 25mm anti-tank round. Couldn't find anything else similar. But as i said, seems to be too large.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8glrgvdz-1.jpg

It's like nothing new for sure. Looks like an older anti armor projectile...very much like what the Japanese had.

Here's the 20mm I wonder about, no doubt a 20, beside a live .50 but I wonder if it's safe. Maybe one of the ammo guys here will know better. Here's the base of it as well, it contains a tracer element I'm sure.

Mine appears to be a solid shot but I don't get the different top. It is not even so can't be screwed on. I can see it being harder maybe. Just odd.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

the different top.

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I thought that looked dissimilar. Wonder if it's tungsten over steel?

Top has no rust, bottom does.

Tungsten won't rust, we found projectiles from .50 AP after a winter out on the range. The .50 ball core is steel and was all completely rust covered and almost unrecognizable. The AP cores were perfect...

You think it could be a core drilled down into the shell?

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

a core drilled

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I can't say whether they drilled it in or just swage it in...maybe heat and shrink fit?

Today was a complete bust. Gun auction from hell in the morning with only getting bids in on one rifle and way over my limit on a Ross MKII. I didn't get it. I did learn about a Japanese rifle called an 02/45 so I gained in knowledge. Yard sales almost non-existent due to bad weather and the lateness of my going due to the auction. I did however succeed in two online auctions. I won a brass 3inch US Navy shell casing which I was told after paying will be delivered with a shell they are not sure goes with it. So that is something to look forward to. I have no idea what it is but it must at least be close to fitting or they wouldn't include it. I also won a small Japanese pocket knife which has a single folding blade and a P38 type device for opening cans. Never knew they existed until blundering upon this one by accident. Photos will follow when I get them, hopefully sometime next week.

Picked up a few things over the past week, mostly from online sales. A 25 mm brass shell casing I believe is Japanese. A WWI 3 inch brass naval round casing. An M69 Romanian training rifles listed in the 22 rimfire section and a bag of German uniforms I was given at a yard sale. Turned out to be all modern stuff which was disappointing but I can't really complain, it was free. I also acquired a 3 inch shell to go with the casing but I don't have it yet, probably toward the end of the week. It's from WWII but I think it should still fit. Sales have been sporatic locally the past two weekends. A lot of rain and several family issues preventing me from doing much. WWII weekend coming up in Reading PA in two weeks. I usually pick up a few things there. Memorial Day weekend is good for sales generally also. Planning to hit the Gettysburg Gun show that weekend. Reading show is really nice if anyone is close enough to go. They will have the usual aircraft there, B-17 B-25's, B-29, Mustangs, P-40, Avenger among others. The odd ball this year is a P-39 that took it's first flight about a month ago and in the promo photos is still in it's primer coat. They promise to have it fully painted in correct scheme by the show. Look up Mid Atlantic WWII weekend and you should get a quick link to it.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The odd ball this year is a P-39 that took it's first flight about a month ago and in the promo photos is still in it's primer coat.

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That should be good. Can't wait to see...

My shell came today 3" 50 cal. Not in as good of condition as the photo showed (stock photo) so not real happy with the seller right now. Doesn't quite fit in the brass casing. It would if I forced it but then I'd never get it out again. I got it in 1/4 inch and thought I'd never get it back out again. Need to clean the base real well, has some rust (that's what I'm not happy about). I want it to fit snug but be able to take it out. Shell dated 1942, casing 1917 so a definite mix master. Will fill out my 4 shell case real nice with the three different types of training rounds I have.

I wonder if it's the right projectile? Clearly marked?

Yes, it's clearly marked. All but one section of the base. Markings in brass expansion ring and on the base. Also has spray paint markings. I think with some cleaning it will fit, I just don't want to force it.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

some cleaning

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Maybe some machine paper on a file against the lower part of the projectile, where it fits inside?

Probably going to work on it Monday. Have two busy days planned for the holiday weekend. I used a wetstone on it first and that took off most of the rust. There is also a very thin layer of oxidation on the inside of the casing. Wouldn't think it by looking at it but inserting the shell pushed it aside. Shell will go in about half an inch but is very tight. Full seat is close to two inches.

Catching up on Photos. This is the 3 inch 50 cal shell which I received this week. Couple of different views, not fully cleaned yet. Along with it is the 3 inch 50 cal casing I picked up a few weeks ago. I stuck the shell in it but did not seat it. Needs to go in another inch and a half.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...apcrpkoh-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...92uzycus-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hq9ovpsn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...znsrq4v1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...o8tkltqf-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mhxevod0-1.jpg

This next one is an actual productive Saturday piece from yesterday. The shell anyway. It is unmarked but a perfect match for the casing. 37mm US anti-tank round. The casing I picked up a couple weeks ago. It is not fully seated. There are indentations in the casing which line up with a notch on the shell base to hold it. It would take some force to get these to line up and snap into place. Needs to go another 1/8th inch. If it is possible, I'd like to put an expansion band on it. I assume copper or brass. Any ideas on how to go about it?:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2nm1kz6d-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tpsfkpna-1.jpg

And finally, what I believe is a Japanese 25 mm casing which I got off of ebay last week:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...oewuub03-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qkkbmmkd-1.jpg

Here they are all together for scale:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...i86t3yae-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Any ideas on how to go about it?:

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They were swaged on in tube form and then rolled to fit. Don't know how to match that. I was lucky, my 37mm was about perfect. Here it is, among it's friends.

Bit of a conundrum with the 3"50. It's correct so pushing it in is OK, but you can't just lift it out. I like mine that way.

I want to be able to get it out easily which is the problem. Probably going to be displayed and top heavy with shell. Looks like brass rather than copper in your shell. Not critical but would look nicer.

Let's try the other pic...hard for me to say what it is. There have been several examples that all look like this one, dated close and made by the same people. I can't say for sure.

Yours is actually a different projectile, just noticed. Maybe mine doesn't belong. Fits nice though so for now it stays.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

a different projectile

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Yes it is but yours is just a different type I think... Here's a link you should go through for a minute, you'll see what I mean. G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums View topic - Question about WWII 37mm and 76mm tank shells.

Finally had some success at the yard sales today. Picked up a reproduction 1851 Colt Navy 44 with it's box today along with another shell casing and shell. Not one of the high quality ones, probably from the early 70's, Italian made in Brescia for FIE. It looks unfired but I haven't had a chance to take it apart. Shell casing with preliminary investigation appears to be a 28/20 German casing from WWII. This is a squeeze round for an anti-tank gun/rifle. The shell is probably another type of 37mm this one with the expansion band but also fired although the shell itself looks undamaged but I can't find any markings on it. Got those two by asking if they had any military stuff. Couple of military toys to go along with the good stuff.

Today's haul. Did take the revolver apart. It has been fired at least a few times. Bore had a small amount of something in it that came out fairly easily. Concentrated in the first two inches toward the cylinder. The artillery piece is made by Marx. I think it is missing the firing mechanism but is complete other than that and for $2, I can't complain. Halftrack is a Matchbox by Lesney. I have several of these now, can't seem to pass them up without buying them. This is my sixth I believe. I collect toy cars and trucks in addition to the military stuff. Also got a nice Auburn plastic fire truck that wasn't played with. I don't often find them in that condition.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...kvlts2ru-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...yxp0ihej-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e2xljlcp-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nfvrdold-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...qdq3jcnx-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7knjgzjb-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Picked up a reproduction 1851 Colt Navy 44 with it's box

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I had the exact same thing happen a while back. Was down in a shop's basement and saw a styrofoam box up in the rafters. I asked about it and was told it was a "Pellet gun"...looked and it was a brand new Uberti 36 Navy cap and ball. Nice...you never know.

Someone gave me an old Uberti 1851 just like that one (a bit rougher though). Practiced by novice skills and brought it back to life.
Good haul!

I ended up getting another 37mm shell today, with the expansion bands in place. Must be the most common shell around, makes three for me. Also picked up come complete inert rounds, one is British and I haven't id it yet. The other is a US bofors 40mm. Fourth item is a Japanese WWII shell casing I haven't id'd yet either. Once I figure out what they are I'll post some pics.

I have Id'ed the various items.

I have used my facebook page as the host for these. Are they too big?

US 37mm anti-tank round, US 40mm Bofors, British 2pr Navy anti-aircraft, Japanese Type 41 75mm howitzer:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...52245400-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...26548406-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...83924798-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...33328050-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...88811620-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...59902058-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...96645022-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...33482963-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...86922548-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...40467414-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...01151449-1.jpg

Nice, that little 37mm is very clean. I have a fuse for my 40mm also, with internals. Those might be hard to find.

I swapped this 37mm in my casing for the one that doesn't have the driving bands. Looks much better. The internals in the one look like a centrifical force safety of some sort so the shell can't explode too close to the gun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The internals in the one look like a centrifical force safety

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That's right. Mine had all the little rattly bits when I found it but I think many are gone now. It's been since '87 when I found it.

I had a most excellent Saturday today. Went to the Harrisburg gun show, spent the morning with Mike at his stand and purchased what I believe to be a Mexican contract bayonet off him and a Portuguese Kropastchek rifle off another dealer who said it had issues. It is missing it's handguard but the bigger issue was the lifter not going down to pick up the next cartridge. I looked at it the best I could and it appeared the magazine spring plug might have extended too far and was holding it up. Took it apart when I got it home and still didn't work. Turned it upside down to see it better and an 8mm Mauser cartridge (live) came tumbling out and the lifter worked fine after that. So bigger issue solved. Came home to find an Italian M1 bayonet in a Priority Mail box sitting in front of the door. Opened it up and it's brand new never issued, very nice. Got it off Northridge International on Amazon if anyone else is interested. I think it was $65 with shipping so not bad.

I just learned that the rifle most likely never had a handguard even though the slots are there for the clips. Apparently, handguards were only issued to troops in the tropics.

Nah, looks like those that didn't have handguards didn't have the grooves cut either. So I need a handguard.

Bayonet photos posted in bayonet forum, Rifle photos posted in Blackpowder forum.

Keep hanging out with me an you will go broke with all the goodies you find:):)

Hung out with Mike again and found a couple of goodies. Picked out a nice looking Spanish 1916 stock Mike had with the Facist crest stamp nicely visible. I was not able to find a matching Facist crest Mauser to go in it. Nearby table had one in 308 I cam real close to buying but really shy away from those for safety reasons. Found another project rifle also, this one a Carcano that I am hoping has silver solder in the chamber, not a weld. It "appears" to be solder. Can't get it out of the stock yet. Really not in too bad of shape compared to more recent pick ups. Lot of surface rust but doesn't appear to have deep pitting anywhere. It's an 1891 that has been cut down. I can't fine a military conversion with a 20 inch barrel so I suspect this may be one that was specifically sporterized in the US to that length. I thought it might be a TS91/28 and I suppose I could make it one by cutting two more inches off the barrel but I doubt I'll do that. The stock is long enough that I can fit a standard nosecap on it and fit a bayonet. Today I found another variation of the 3inch 50 cal training shells. This one is similar to an earlier one that I have but it is painted solid gold except for the black stencil which identifies what it is. It came in it's own metal storage tube also painted gold. Few markings on this one other than a serial number but the tube is marked 1953 so it's of Korean War vintage. I also picked up a rather un-exciting US gas can, probably of Vietnam vintage. It's not dated and I can't find this exact model. Exterior in decent shape. Interior has light rust all over it. Any way to get rid of that? I wonder if a reverse electrolysis bath would work with suspending the rebar in the center of it?

Glad you were able to hang out an get all the good deals. All i got was a bag of parts off a customer for Enfield rifles. Did make an offer on a Egyptian Hakim but the guy got mad at me. seams i was no were near his 2000.00 asking price. I though my 10% off was too high. An I thought I could cut it up for a profit.

Hakims are going for about $600 at the moment. I had one of those discussions on Sunday. I actually found a Belgian Mauser carbine at a flea market. Eaglelord is probably now drooling. In any case, they had $375 on it which in normal circumstances I would have acted on. His best price was $350 but close examination showed a very badly pitted rifle on every single surface. They ran a steel wire wheel on the entire thing. The stock was in good shape and the bore was crisp but the metal exterior was just miserable. I told him I'd check my price guide and maybe be back. Peterson's lists a good rifle at $200 and considering this had zero finish left and in reality was in the negative numbers with extensive metal removal and it looked like CRAP, I figured this was about the max grade I could give it. Figured I'd offer $250 just due to never seeing them but reconsidered and went with the $200. That set the two of them off, "THIS IS A $500 RIFLE" "YOUR PRICE GUIDE IS CRAP". I just walked away. You guys have seen the rifles I've brought home, worked on and fixed up. So as bad as I would like to have a Belgian carbine to go along with my Belgian rifle (which remember I paid $95 for and it is in better shape) I had to walk away from this one. Some guys just won't take condition into consideration.

My finds are becoming increasingly bizarre I feel. Today I bought a US military stretcher. Probably the same model used for the first time in WWII but this is a much later one, possibly even post Vietnam. In real nice condition and it was cheap which is why it came home with me. Almost didn't fit in the car. Had to fold it up and put it between the drivers and passengers seats.

On a more interesting note but nothing I can really share yet, I found an Astra 400 today and set things in motion for purchase. It was a spur of the moment decision, mainly because I had enough points to make it a $50 purchase. Out of state at Delaware Cabelas however so it has to be shipped to the Hamburg Cabelas. Be a about a week till I can get it. Since it was spur of the moment and the first one I've ever seen or held, I know very little about it. What little research I have been able to do puts it as a 38XXX serial number in 1931 production with destination being the Madrid Arsenal (Army). Magazine does not match, it is not serialed. Condition is good, a few scratches I don't like much but crest is clear, grips are whole and it still has a fair amount of finish remaining. Proof marks all over it which the other ones lacked. Bore looks real nice. Everything seemed to function in manual tests. Research also says they are well made and accurate. It did have a good feel to it despite being somewhat unusual looking. They had two others there which made me think it might be a new surplus import, prices low also reinforcing that but no importer mark. Just marked "SPAIN" in small letters on the frame. The second one in 9mm Largo had broken grips on both sides. The third was 9mm/38 but was very worn, barrel crest being almost unreadable and reblued apparently. They also have an Astra 300 but it looked awful. Barrel looked like they tried twisting it with vise grips. Now I wait, I hate waiting.

Feeling lucky, found and ordered both a holster and a spare magazine for it.

[ATTACH]Attachment 85566[/ATTACH] I found these at an inside bazaar in Virginia not long ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doco overboard

I found these at an inside bazaar in Virginia

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I only got two of the pics for these. I'd like to see more of the 1902 bayonet...I'd probably be trying to resurrect it.

You have a good safe way to get rid of chrome? I have several I'd like to get the chrome off of without sending them out.

Attachment 85571Attachment 85572Attachment 85573
I think I read somewhere reverse electrolysis for chrome would change the parent metal But I cant remember to what extent or how detrimental the effect would be.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I'd like to get the chrome off of without sending them out.

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You COULD use Muriatic acid too...many do for removing chrome or plate professionally. Then a glass bead blast and parkerize.

The bayonet was nice, the scabbard had seen better days. Still a nice pair.

After this week I now know what it is like to have your kind of weekends. They're great :lol: A local gun shop decided abruptly to shut their doors with June 30th being their last day. At the end of it all I walked away several guns needing some love but all that will make good projects. First up is a military issued Helwan imported by Navy Arms, missing the recoil spring, guide rod and mag but looks like it will work. Already have the first two parts on order. Bore is pitted and rifling looks soft, nor am I enthused about shooting it, but I have some real light cast loads I'll try it with it as the locking block looks okay.

Second is a Steyr 1912 Chilean action and barrel with a random Mauser bolt that has a P14/M1917 bolt handle on it. Receiver has been reblued but was done very well. Has a .308 barrel on it that looks like one of the turned down two groove Springfields. Everything else is missing except the front sight post/assembly and rear sight block. I thought about maybe using it to build a hunting gun with but by odd luck I had a stock for it laying around in my basement, along with a bayonet lug, barrel band, and handguard. So I need a rear sight ramp assembly (have one), ejector box assembly (may have one that can work), trigger (may have one that will work), and trigger guard/floor plate/magazine assembly. I think if I throw out the 50s era low profile safety on the bolt I can get it to work, as in my experience those things suck, and right now it's binding up the bolt shroud/cocking piece. If not I'm sure Mike has the parts to get it running.

Last thing will probably get it's own thread, but I got an Italian Vetterli that was converted to 6.5 Carcano with about 40 years of dust on it and action still packed with grease. Stock is badly cracked and coming apart in the action/wrist area so I'll need to figure out how I want to approach that. At the moment I'm just cleaning it up externally. I've been looking for a Vetterli for awhile but shied away due to it either being rimfire and needing conversion (swiss), some really obscure cartridge (early Italian), or unshootable (6.5 conversions) but I couldn't say no to this one.

Was the flea market with the Belgian at "antiques capital USA", or as I like to call it "over priced junk capital of the USA"? I've found stuff in that area in the past but most of it is either junk or way over priced. Mostly photo stuff or the occasional machine tool. Never much luck on guns. I did pick up an H&R Sahara at a flea market there once, interesting little auto ejecting straight pull bolt action single shot 22LR that was a great study in making a gun as cheaply and simply as possible. Took a lot of work and TLC but ultimately rebuilt the action, refinished the metal and wood, and it came out looking like brand new, shot nice too. Sold it as it was worth more than I had in it, and the firing pin's method of resetting by using the rim of a new cartridge to push it back (because it almost never reset on ejection as designed) made loading a little too exciting for me.

Well my next show is Fork's in Allentown. Look me up just might have what you need. You guys find good stuff at house sales. All I find is work. Wife bought 6 milk crates of new floor tile. Wiat till she finds out I don't even know how to tile a floor :madsmile::rofl:

What gun shop closed? I hope it wasn't the one I got the Czech rifle from. The Belgian was/might still be at Renningers. You're welcome too it but I wouldn't recommend it. Seriously, negative numbers on the finish. and not just part of it, ALL of it.

Nothing to tiling a floor Mike. You can put it off for a while by telling her you need backer board. After that special screws for the backer board. Then adhesive, then a trowel with proper groove size which you conveniently don't know. This could go for months.

Wow now i know how to Tile a floor correctly

Renningers in Schuylkill Haven?

Not the shop you got the Czech from.

I have a love hate relation with Renningers of Denver. I rarely make in time to the outdoor market so can't comment much on that, but whenever I go inside I either find something I like and it's way over priced, or the stand isn't open/stand owner is MIA. Did score a real nice pair of Leitz binoculars there for $15 once though. Also have on occasion picked up other interesting small things, never any militaria. Neat place to go though when I'm in the mood to walk and get a little lost.

Renningers in Adamstown/Denver. Outdoor market is packing up at 10:00am anymore, drives me nuts. Beautiful day and people milling around and the dealers are packing up. Not all, the regulars stay until after lunch but you see them every week. I guess they get there at 5:00am or something like that. Very few firearms inside anymore. Ever since the Obama "must have an FFL license" scare, they have all dried up except for a very occasional one. I rarely even go inside. There is a lot of military stuff up the road where there are two shops on the west side of the road up on a little hill. Can't think of their names. Hard to miss, just keep driving north on 272. The Mad Hatter has some militaria also.

Big yard sales today but only "home front" items found and brought home.

I picked up a full box of OPA ration tokens. I have seen these before as probably everyone's grandma's junk drawer had a couple of them in them. Red or blue coin sized composite tokens. I just never knew what they were. These were issued in WWII from 1942 to 1945 as change for ration books or ration stamps. They are evidently fairly common today and very reasonable if you wanted to collect them. 20 some different varieties of blue and around 30 varieties of red, just differences in labels from what I understand. The really cool thing however is that no one seems to have full, unopened boxes of them so this might be a rare piece. In mint condition.

Second thing I bought was at the same yard sale. A box of WWII newspapers from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA. Not a lot of monetary value to these but really interesting to go through. Looks to be primarily the front pages. Headlines from the top of the stack include "Yanks Rip 17 Jap Warships", Where Reds, Japs May Battle", "Yanks take Leipzig". It's also interesting that German news is included. "On Razor's Edge, Goebbels Whines" Obviously they followed the German newscasts but never really thought about the Allies reporting it. The price of the papers went up from 3 cents to 4 cents at some point during the war. A 33% increase, wow.

Three weeks since my last post, I must be slipping. This weekend I found a Case XX USAAF survival machete in pretty nice condition. This one is the wood handled fixed blade with the metal edge protector. I'll get some photos up in the blade forum soon. Appears to have never been issued but just being exposed to the air caused finish loss and some light rusting. The blade edge under the protector is minty. I also bought a collector plate showing a pair of B-17 bombers flying over the cliffs of Dover. Normally this wouldn't interest me much but it was dirt cheap and originally sold by the POW veterans association. Antique shop where I got it says she has a few others so there may be a set of them. I also picked up off ebay a Greek M1 Garand bayonet finally. Make an offer deal. Still a bit more than I would have paid two years ago but under what they seem to be selling for so I was happy with it.

I honestly can't quite react to what I found this week. Quite by accident and it almost didn't happen. I have always had an interest in the Napoleonic Wars since I was a teen and had found a copy of "The Campaigns of Napoleon" by David Chandler shortly after I had married many years ago. Yesterday I stopped in my local used book store and another copy of it that I had seen on Monday was still there. I figured if it lasted the week and no one else wanted it, I would pick it up for resale, price was only $3.00 so easy to make a few bucks on it. It had a nameplate in it along with the handwritten name of the previous owner and I had spotted a few marks in the text itself so I knew it wasn't mint condition but it is solid and has it's dustcover. Today I sat down to check it out so I could get an accurate feel of the condition and I discovered that it is autographed by the author. I think many of you who read military history will be familiar with Chandler's work. This particular book is still considered THE book on the Napoleonic wars. So it isn't a gun, or a bayonet or any gear but this means a lot to me personally. Needless to say, it isn't going to be sold, and neither is my other copy, that one I keep to read, this one stays on the shelf.

Great find. I found a copy of Lost Moon by Jim Lovell (commander of Apollo 13) in similar fashion. I do not think used books in general will appreciate in value like firearms etc.. but are an absolute bargin most places. A friend gave me a US Army order of battle for the Vietnam conflict which is fascinating and has me searching for similar ones for WWII Etc...

I looked at the other three books I bought that day and a second one was autographed. This one was a B-24 pilot in the China Burma India theater. Low budget printing, still in typeset. I had a good day with Mike at the gun show yesterday. Found some ammo for my 9mm Largo. Expensive as all get out but now I at least have some. Also sat there at his stand looking at a handgun he had for so long I ended up buying it also. JP Sauer 1913 pistol with Imperial military acceptance marks. I had looked at all his handguns a few months ago but was looking for eagle proofs from WWII. Never really noticed the WWI proof on one of them until yesterday. Handguns have never been a priority for me but it seems to be mostly what I'm finding these days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Handguns have never been a priority for me but it seems to be mostly what I'm finding these days.

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What is the title of the B-24 book?. Same here with the pistol urge. Lugers, Nambus too high and to much to know for now but the CZs, Enfields & P-35s & P-38s are about at prices that are suitable to my budget. I want a Swiss Luger & officers dagger so bad I might just have to bend the budget.
Great thread BTW.

Keep hanging out with me an you might end up broke lololo. Seams I keep finding the odd duck stuff you like :D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mmppres

Keep hanging out with me an you might end up broke lololo. Seams I keep finding the odd duck stuff you like

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A likely pair. I have a friend like you & it's good to have a friend like you. Sets up shows and puts the things he knows I will be interested in aside for me and often at least covers his table fee. Always leave his table with a handful of books.

From China Burma India to the Kwai by Lt Col William Henderson. He signed it Bill Henderson. This one not personalized but it has a large nameplate on the front end and appears to have been donated to the library of a retirement home before it wound up in my used book store. Not that old of a book for that much traveling. 1991. Have not read it, I'm currently reading a book called "Boarding Party, the Last Action of the Calcutta Light Horse" A story about what is basically a "club" type civilian militia in India made up of well to do Englishmen, going into Neutral Gao during WWII to sink 4 axis merchant ships that were interned there. One of which was broadcasting shipping schedules to U-boats off the coast. Pretty interesting so far. I picked up a Nambu and an Enfield fairly recently. P-38's may have already escaped my budget, Lugers out unless I get really lucky. I would bend the budget for one of them but my bent budget might not be high enough. I definitely can't afford a "collector" class. I was just holding my Swiss officers dagger about an hour ago. Not to rub it in but I had to open the safe to put a title in for my daughter and decided to make room for the new pistols and there it was. I haven't checked recently to see how much they were going for now.

Making a note on Boarding Party sounds like my kind of book. Presently finishing up Ripcord Screaming Eagles Under Siege. It is a vivid and somewhat painful read about the sacrifices made by the 101st Airborne troops after the decision was made to pull the plug with some officers scrambling to get field time for the sake of carrier advancement at high cost to the guys behind the trigger. The daggers are a little pricey in general. I have only held the one I inspired a buddy to get from Simpsons. I think I should have been Swiss. BTW Sportsman's Guide has the Swiss cammo pant coat pack combo for $26. I think I remember you posting a pic of a set.
Very nice stuff.