Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[MAC702]

Perhaps it's time to get your eyesight tested.

If it is 1962 it certainly doesn't look like it.

Apparently this was all hashed out six pages ago, and I did not intend to start it all over again, but the left side is clearly a straight edge and the top right has the end of the 6 exactly opposite where the 2 starts in the top left. It's clearly a 6. I can't even see the 8 anymore after noticing those.

[Flying10uk]

but the left side is clearly a straight edge and the top right has the end of the 6 exactly opposite where the 2 starts in the top left. It's clearly a 6. I can't even see the 8 anymore after noticing those.

Clearly it is not and clearly it appears to be an 8. However it is a poor quality ink marking that has clearly been "smudged" during application.

Nothing is impossible and "spare parts/components" are often manufactured for a product that has gone out of production but remains in use.

My French M1 helmet shell in unissued condition is clearly marked 1952, with no "smudging", and so is a nice early example.

[Aragorn243]

Another successful day. Most of it isn't confirmed military, but it's old and gun related.

Powder flask, likely from the 1850's-1860's.







Bullet mold, guessing 36 caliber, came from the same yard sale as the flask. Both could be for a Colt Navy setup but I have no proof of that. Bullet mold has a feature for unscrewing barrels and not thinking that would go with a Colt Navy but something earlier, single shot probably. Got the pair for $30 which seems pretty good. Both list for considerably more than that.







US Army WWI oil bottle, surprised this is the first one I've encountered.



US Army WWI pick head. WWII versions were dated with manufacturer; WWI only has the US mark on the side. $1.00 out of a junk bucket of rusty odds and ends. Cleaned up great.









US Army (airborne) wrist compass. Cheated on this one. I saw one last week at a yard sale for $100 which I knew was too high especially as it had no band. Got this on eBay for $30 and it came today. Works but no longer has liquid in it that I can tell.







And lastly, this is not military at all obviously but I love it. $5.00. 1960's Buddy L Wink Van. Was filthy when I bought it but wiped it down with a wet paper towel and it cleaned up nice.











We ended up with a pretty good haul, DVD movies, I got half a dozen military books, Christmas decorations and an antique cast iron toy, Desert Storm cards an old tabletop sander and the wife picked up some odds and ends I didn't keep track of.

[Aragorn243]

Rain last night, rain in forecast, very few out today at the flea market. Found a couple of things I didn't need or want but came home only with a book on the 5th Army in WWII. Might hit an antique shop this afternoon, depends on the weather. Heading to a car museum and Hershy Park. The book is nice, filled with photos I've never seen. The Italian Campaign seems to be one of the lesser covered areas of WWII. It's called Fifth Army at War by George Forty.

[browningautorifle]

I'd like to check out how well that compass, wrist works. I'd use a Silva for accuracy and the Taylor Model just to see. It would be interesting.

[Aragorn243]

I'm planning to check it out. I have a US lensatic compass I can compare it with. I'm sure that is accurate. It seems to be good as I know which direction north is from my house and it was pointing that way.

Today was a busy day but we did get to two antique shops. One had nothing the other had some books, I picked up a small book with a lot of German perspective photos in it from WWI. Most I've never seen before. The other items has only a slight military connection in that it's just a license plate from the WWI era. 1916 to be specific which the U.S. was not even involved yet. We did invade Mexico that year in search of Pancho Villa. I just thought it was a cool piece of history.

[Aragorn243]

Found an airmen's bag at a yard sale this moring with another airmen's bag inside. Asked for a price, they had to find the guy and he says he wasn't planning to sell it as he got it out of someone's attic while cleaning and as it had the guys name on it, he didn't want to disrespect the family. After assuring him I would take good care of it, was prior military and a collectdor, he say's $15. Turns out there's more than another airmen's bag in it. All is mid to late 80's stuff. Two airmen's bags, two rubber armband looking things with velcro, three airforce blue belts, two unused camo sticks, sand and light green. I remember these things, hated them. Hard to use, didn't want to come off, etc. Two ammo pouches, two first aid pouches, two 9mm pouches, a pair of suspenders, a set of airmen's coveralls and two sets of handcuffs, one still with all the packaging and the box. The other a bit rusty and not working but I got them cleaned up and working fine now.















Stopped at an antique shop I get lucky at sometimes and found a WWI French 75mm case dated 1917 and an MG34 ammo can used by the Finns. The shell has ink stamped markings on that are not real clear. Easier to see in person than in the photos, can barely see them in the photos. Only mark I can find on the ammo can is an R or an H on the one end near the handle. It's been painted several times.

[Aragorn243]

Nice find at the flea market this morning. Bulgarian M36 with original decal. Almost left it go as I knew I had one without the decal but glad I picked it up as that one has the Soviet star on the front. I did not remember that. It's still a WWII helmet but with post war changes.