Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2024

[browningautorifle]

The dye might have worked better if I had soaked in stain before I glued them?

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.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

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.

Upon further examination I think the distressed look hide the flaws.

[browningautorifle]

I think the distressed look hide the flaws.

I think the slight wear looks good.

[Flying10uk]

The slots in the handle could be truer.

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".

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.

[browningautorifle]

I can't remember at this time of the night, sorry morning, if the cross section of these handles is round or oval.

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.

[Low & Slow]

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.

















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.

[browningautorifle]

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".

[Aragorn243]

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.

[Aragorn243]

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.