Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2024

[Aragorn243]

Inside grip is pretty narrow. It's uncomfortable for me and I don't have huge hands. I could use it but it's tight. There is a reinforcing rivet with washers.

[Aragorn243]

Not motivated enough to go hunting this weekend so hit a couple of antique shops instead. Didn't find much, an IDF tool pouch of some sort that I can't figure out exactly what it's for. Possibly a rifle as they seem fairly common.

Same place had a WWII mess kit, galvanized steel which puts it in 1942 but I couldn't find a marking on it anywhere. After about an hour of looking at it and rubbing it at the house I did find a very faint mark I can't read nor can I match it to any known examples. The US is the only part that can be seen clearly and possibly an O or a C below the U. Might be one I haven't seen yet. I compared to Vollrath, TACU Co and Knapp Monarch but the letters don't line up even close. Markings do not show up at all in photos, even the US. Basically they are filled with the galvanized metal.

Last is a leather holster I had made for my little Austrian pistol. Met the guy at an arts and crafts festival a couple months ago and sent him some photos of original holsters. He finished it a couple of weeks ago but because of my wife's health issues, I couldn't pick it up until yesterday. He got it close. The brass pin isn't correct and I think the magazine pouch is to far forward but it looks nice and I don't plan on carrying it anyway. It's a little sloppier than I like, the magazine pouch area has some cuts and threads that are a bit awkward. For a one off, it's OK.

I've been waiting on a phone call about some bayonets at another shop, I guess I'll have to head up there this morning and see what's up. One's an Italian Vetterli I wouldn't mind having but this guy tends to be on the high side with most items but occasionally he's ridiculously low. Hoping for the later.

[Aragorn243]

The bayonet trip was interesting. They still didn't have prices on them and it was almost two weeks since the first time I asked. They called the "owner" and turned out he wasn't the owner so they had to track down the right guy. The one guy that is the most disorganized in the entire co-op who never answers his phone. They called, he didn't answer. Guy hangs up and phone rings immediately. It's the owner, not exactly sure what we are talking about but asks for photos which are texted. Hangs up again, shop person says it's the first time in six months he's actually talked to this guy. I wander around the shop for 15 minutes waiting on the price and he comes back almost ridiculously low so both come home. $150 for the pair so long as I took both. Each is worth more than that on today's market. More in Bayonets.

While I was gone, another Finnish shovel was delivered to the house from Apex. This one WWII. They almost completely missed with the SA stamp.

[browningautorifle]

$150 for the pair

As you say, cheap at twice the price. Guy hung up to try and look them up but had no idea.

I had a Kropatschek bayonet for years as about the first of my collectables. Bought it when they were worth exactly nothing and no one could tell you what it was. There was no internet to research on either. Now you can't find them.

As for the full length Italian Vetterli, that's probably the first example I've seen uncut. Always cut down and quillon cut with short leather scabbard. Nice piece...nice catch.

[Aragorn243]

The Vetterli's with scabbard are going for $400 now. This doesn't have a scabbard but without around $300 and I needed one for my second Vetterli but wasn't willing to pay that.

The Kropatschek bayonet I didn't need, already have one but I was missing the scabbard. Couldn't pass it up for that price.

He should have known what the Vetterli was. The shop guy said he had it on a rifle that was there, but they put it in the case because they were afraid someone would stick themselves with it. I figured he wouldn't sell it separately as the shop guy reminded him of this over the phone. The rifle was still there, I checked. He wants $800 for that but the tag did not say with bayonet.

[Aragorn243]

Last weekend of Deer season, got nothing, saw just slightly more than nothing. I saw the most deer in my little family group for the season, a whopping 4 over 3 days.

I did manage to get to one antique mall this weekend along with a gun show.

Just a WWI mess kit, 1918 L.F. & C. at the antique mall.

But two pistols at the gun show. One I had orders off Atlantic, a Bulgarian Makarov. Shipped it to Mike. Turned out to be a pretty nice one. Some wear but most of the finish is very good condition. While sitting there doing the paperwork, I asked Mike if he had anything I might be interested in and he mentioned a weird little pistol I might like.

Turned out to be a Walther Model 4 which somehow, I never realized existed. It isn't military marked but has black handgrips which were standard military. It's also an early one, Type 2. Now the search for a holster and spare magazine begins. The search for the Makarov holster is right here in my house. I know I have one somewhere. Probably find the Model 4 holster first.

[browningautorifle]

Neat little pieces, yes I've seen the Walther before. Not too often though.

[Aragorn243]

Actually found holsters for both in my safe last night. The Makarov holster is correct, the Walther holster will do for now. It’s an unmarked one that had a Browning FN 1910 in it. I have a unissued Luftwaffe holster for that so I moved it.

Fits perfectly but is a little long, maybe half an inch.

[Low & Slow]

For the Browning Model 1922, I'd imagine. I like the Walther.

[browningautorifle]

Actually found holsters for both in my safe last night.

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