Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[browningautorifle]

For $25 I couldn't leave it.

I'm with you there. Too bad about the drive band though.

[Aragorn243]

Not sure what era this is. The emblem does not have a chain which appears to make it WWII era through the early 1950's. It is a screw back and unmarked. The cap has an actual hole with sewn edges around it for the emblem. Material is wool. $5 at local Friday farmers flea market.

[Aragorn243]

A bit bummed. I'm working out of town this week and we made the trek up yesterday and stopped at one of my favorite antique malls. I only get to this one a couple times a year and it's been since last fall that we made it there. They moved their primary mall and the military guy that I've bougnt a lot of things from pulled out completely and is now selling only on eBay. This guy had it all, munitions, uniforms, bayonets, knives, helmets, gear, etc and he was reasonably priced on a lot of it. So this place went from having a lot of military to almost nothing. I did find another version of the US Civil Defense helmet I didn't have. Completely different suspension system. Manufactured by BF McDonald Co I believe although it's tag is missing.

[Flying10uk]

So this place went from having a lot of military to almost nothing.

Probably still worth looking at if you're passing. The antique mall that I visit only ever has a few military items but sometimes I find something that I want.

[Aragorn243]

Yes, I'll still stop. It's a series of three antique malls all within sight of each other. My wife and I actually bought a lot between two of them, only two were military items. She got a lot of figurines, I got several old toys. Stopped at one today, got a Misha Olympic mascot bear. I've had a cartoon since high school that I cut out of the newspaper with cute little Misha turning into this big hulking Soviet bear that I think says something about enjoying the olympics "OR ELSE". I found it very amusing and 44 years later, I'm pretty sure I still have it in a keepsake box. My wife is convinced I bought it for her as she collects teddy bears but she lucked out by not going into this one. I'll probably "loan" it to her.

[Flying10uk]

Yes, I'll still stop.

The antique centre that I visit fairly regularly has a few military items and occasionally I'll buy something. One of the dealers had a Victorian, slate, mantle clock, extremely heavy, on his stall which I had been watching every time that I visited. After a number of visits and a few months of watching I noticed that the dealer had reduced the clock to half price, a bargain, so I purchased it. I don't know what it is like in the US but in the UK Victorian mantle clocks, generally, are not that popular and, generally, do not command very high prices. I have always liked these types of clocks but they do tend to be heavy especially if like the slate example that I purchased.

Unfortunately the clock doesn't presently work but I am sure that it could be made to.

[Aragorn243]

Hitting the local antique shops up here in northern PA. Not finding much. Big score yesterday was a USMC late war rucksack (lower pack) No markings I can find, all faded away but in pretty decent shape. This is the type that has a large bag type mouth. I found a 1000 dealer antique mall about 2 hours away in New York and debating whether I want to make that trip. They say there are 5 military dealers there but the place looks expensive.

[Flying10uk]

I found a 1000 dealer antique mall about 2 hours away in New York and debating whether I want to make that trip. They say there are 5 military dealers there but the place looks expensive.

It's what items that the 995 other dealers might have that are not military dealers that I would be thinking about, not the 5 dealers who probably know exactly what they have and what they can get for it.

[Aragorn243]

We decided to save that one for the next trip up which should be in about a month. We want to plan the entire day if we are going that far. We stayed closer to the cabin. I found a 1945 sleeping bag cover that has never been issued. Dated 1951 so Korean war vintage. Long trip home tomorrow. Not thinking there are any shops along the route we are taking. I'm ready to be home. 9 days this time.

[Aragorn243]

Went an alternate way home today to hit a couple of antique malls I like. Against all odds, I found a USMC haversack, upper pack with nice clear markings. This one is Vietnam era, complete and in good shape. Even has the hook in the back still on it and I understand why most were cut off. I would not want that digging into my back. Other than that, I found a Marx large German soldier kneeling and firing what I assume to be a G43 and an interesting book about a WWII US Navy photographer. The wife found more than I did this trip. Some eBay purchases arrived while I was away. A WWI British entrenching tool, just the head and an odd 1945 machete scabbard. I'll get pics posted when I get caught up around here. Been gone 9 days and that's a long time for us.