Flea Market Finds

[Heavington]

Found some WWII enfield spikes, WWI era collar insignia, Vietnam medal bar and a marksman medal. The guy I usually buy coins from had an unsearched bag that he handed to me to search, I was able to find a 1907 Canadian 5 cents. My first silver from junk bins!

[Flying10uk]

Could we see a close up picture of the socket part of the bayonets showing the markings, please?

[Heavington]

[Flying10uk]

The first example, N67, is made by Singer of Clyde Bank Scotland and the other two are of Canadian Long Branch manufacture.

Has anyone ever seen a Canadian Arsenal and a Long Branch markings on the same socket of a No4 MK2 bayonet? I have never seen it and I don't believe that a bayonet with such markings would exist. However, it was recently suggested to me that such a scenario was possible and perhaps other Forum members may have views on the likely-hood of this that they may wish to share, please?

[Surpmil]

Found: 1200 round .303 boxes, 'Vickers' water cans, Alex Martin No.9 sight, three Ross Rifle Co. Bore gauges in their leather case, L.E. firing pin tools, Textbook of S.A.1929, Hdbk of Arty Instr 1914, that's all I can recall at the moment. Other good books of course.

Missed or left behind: possibly live 18 Pdr. shell, half a dozen butt socket screw driver blades, side of a WWI German aircraft, and who knows what else!

[CINDERS]

Whats the go with possible sale of possible live ordnance to the general public if it is of WWI vintage I should say it would be of doubtful stability imagine the affect it detonating in the crowd at a flea market..........

[Surpmil]

Whats the go with possible sale of possible live ordnance to the general public if it is of WWI vintage I should say it would be of doubtful stability imagine the affect it detonating in the crowd at a flea market..........

That's why I didn't buy it, even though it was by a local manufacturer and was probably brought home as a souvenir by someone who worked there. The driving bands were unmarked, but it does seem doubtful anyone would keep a live shell sitting around for 90+ years, especially since they were almost certainly not filled locally. The nosecap was in firmly in place so there was no way for a layman to tell. I did point out the possibilities to the seller.

[Flying10uk]

Care does need to be taken when buying "inert" ordinance at militaria fairs and other outlets to be sure that the item actually is inert before buying. Don't assume that the item is inert just because the vendor says it is because they don't always know what they are talking about. Carefully examine the article before the purchase and if in any doubt don't proceed with the purchase.

[Doco overboard]

All kinds of things get dredged up or fouled in the nets off the coast of DE. Once in a while there will be a mustard gas release at the Seafood plant! Wouldn't surprise me if something wound up at the flea market.

[Flying10uk]

You should normally be ok buying from well known reputable dealers but you need to be more careful about buying from private individuals at flea markets and militaria shows.