Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[Aragorn243]

Finally had some time to photograph things from last weekend and the new stuff from this weekend. Last weekend first, I guess some of this is from two weekends ago.

The Civil Defense helmet:








I believe this is just an address stamp of the previous owner:



I got this WWII web belt at the same antique complex:







The WWII USMC lower pack (rucksack)









Sleeping bag cover:







The Vietnam era USMC upper pack (haversack):











My two eBay purchases:













And today's finds.

I thought I had all these dummy rounds but never saw this one prior to today:







And this final item I did some research on to ensure it's legit. It is an experimental canteen cover that was never issued although a fair amount of them seem to have been made. These were made in the 1970's and after trials surplused out. Same type material as used by the entrenching shovels of the time. I had carriers like that when I was in the service in the 80's. I guess it was fine for the shovels but not for the canteens.















And lastly, not quite sure what it is, if anything. Said to be a US Navy blanket but most I can find are white with blue trim. WWI era blankets were blue but if this is WWI, it's extremly well preserved. Seller said it came from his neighbor who had a bunch of Navy stuff. For $5, he had no reason to make up a tale but I can't find anything firm on it. If anyone has any good information on it, let me know. It's the right size and construction seems consistent with other military blankets I have.

[Aragorn243]

I now suspect I have the largest strecher collection in my small town. Another $20 find, probably could have got it for less but was so shocked at the asking price I just paid the man. This one is at least dated, 68 so it's Vietnam era. Same company but different in how they are marked. Picked up an African spear of some type also which I posted in the Edge Weapons forum.

[Aragorn243]

Kind of a slow day but I found a couple of interesting things. People did show up for the yard sale day but I found nothing there until almost the last table where they had a heavy equipment pack. Not exactly sure what it's called yet or how exactly it's used. I've seen a few at the WWII weekend but this is the first I've seen for sale. Normal yard sales after that just turned up some regular stuff, biggest purchase was six boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells at $5 a box, also got a few military books. Stopped at a surplus store and picked up a Mirro 1956 canteen I didn't have. Next antique shop I found a cool 1930's-40's toy train engine and then at the last stop of the day hit the jackpot with a few more books and possibly the holy grail of canvas water buckets. Can't even find an example of one anywhere. What appears to be an unissued USMC 1944 collapsable water bucket. Army buckets are pretty common and I've found one USMC marked bucket but not like this one. Same place had a CSA grave marker. I'll get some pics up tomorrow. Usually Sunday Antique fllea market in the morning first.

[Aragorn243]

Saw lots this morning but most of it was more than I wanted to pay. Guy I bought the dummy 3 inch shell from last weekend had some canteen covers and mess kits that were cheap, three covers for $8 and a WWI mess kit for $3 and a 1942 mess kit I didn't have for $5. Hard to beat those prices. He promised to bring more next weekend.

[browningautorifle]

Don't know how I missed that dummy 3"50 last week. That's nice.

[Aragorn243]

These seem to be called all sorts of things but molded plywood equipment packboard seems to be what it functionally is. I found a mint one today for a lot more money and thought about it but this serves the purpose of being a decent example of one:







This is the USMC canvas bucket. I still have not found one like it. Construction is much different from the Army types:









This is the type CSA grave marker I'm familier with but I believe they have been phase out to a smaller round one that is similar to other wars markers. I suspect it's to make them less conspicuous:





And two of the books I got. I love these as they have great photos of the uniforms and equipment:





I got two smaller books headlined Normandy with different sub battles outlined, Cherbourg and Utah Beach/St Mere Eglise and a travel book on Normandy

I like toy trains and this one caught my eye as a streamliner, from the 1940's, pretty good condition, it's about 12 inches long:





And the covers, three different periods. The first in 1941 Baker-Lockwood, the second post war to mid 50's Concord and the third 1963 DSA numbered













And finally the two mess kits: