A Productive Saturday

[Aragorn243]

I ask anyone that is over the age of 50 if they have military items. A lot of times people have them but just don't think to set them out for the yard sale. Asking triggers the memory. I haven't gotten much this way but a few items over the years. A Vietnam era shovel and a Garand stock. And both were just given to me. These two items today were two different ways than last week. Rifle came from a website for PA gun owners, the shell from an antique mall. I don't have pawn shops here, a big source I'm missing out on.

[browningautorifle]

I haven't gotten much this way but a few items over the years.

People will say "You're into this sort of thing"...and they give me little things. I have a curio dealer down town that I do piece work for and he even does that. I accept everything no matter what, you never know what they'll hand you. If you refuse anything, it may never happen again.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I ask anyone that is over the age of 50 if they have military items. A lot of times people have them but just don't think to set them out for the yard sale. Asking triggers the memory.

That is exactly how this happened. She seemed pleased someone had an interest and even threw in a personalized item with his name and unit. A wooden plaque in the shape of the flaming bomb.

[Aragorn243]

I've had numerous items given to my by people who have come to my presentations. The most significant being a Colt Navy revolver dated 1863. Most recently the WWI shell casings. I have another fellow who has promised me his 3inch navy training shell as he has no one else to give it to, no children. The yard sale guys do seem appreciative that someone cares. I also had those two buried in wet plaster rifles given to me, the Swedish M38 being the most memorable of the two due to the extreme restoration effort. Always pays to be alert and polite.

[Aragorn243]

Photos of the rifle will be in the Mauser section. Posting some additional photos of the Spanish knife in the blade section along with another bayonet I just got. Figure I'll post the shell casing here along with a Belgian WWII helmet I got last week.

[browningautorifle]

the shell casing

Neat way they used a 45-70 cartridge to prime it...wonder if it's full length? The Adrian is nice isn't it? Still a scarce helmet.

[Aragorn243]

The casing is not full length. I would estimate it extends inside the shell about 1 inch.

The helmet is really nice. It fits me perfectly and looks better on me than any other helmet I've worn.

[browningautorifle]

The casing is not full length

That would make it like the old firing system we had for one of our smoke grenades, the HC-C1A1... It had a .45 Colt cartridge to fire it. The cartridge was filled with lead and only had a small channel through the center containing FFFG black. It used a large pistol primer and would back out upon firing so you could hand remove it once cold. The originals were marked .45 GRENADE...no living example in my collection. These were a full size pistol cartridge though, that's why I wondered... Neat example.

I've heard the Adrian was a VERY comfortable helmet.

[Aragorn243]

Early start to the weekend due to Good Friday. Picked up a 1910 T-handle US shovel for $2 at a yard sale today. Estimate sometime after WWI since the handle is riveted.

[browningautorifle]

Picked up a 1910 T-handle US shovel for $2 at a yard sale today.

Well grabbed...