Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2023

[Aragorn243]

I was at a parent's house of one of my team members this morning and just finished telling them I hadn't found anything interesting yet, crossed the street and found a M-1945 USMC haversack with some things in it. An unidentified British web pouch of some sort, 1958 pattern possibly? a 1945 US canteen cup, a civilian black canteen, an unidentified and probably commercial cover, and a cheap made in Japan web belt I threw out. I asked the guy how much and he said $5 but before I could say sold, he reduced it to $3. I didn't even bother looking at the contents so the WWII cup was a nice surprise.

The haversack after a hour or so of trying to read the DSA code by wetting it and putting under different lighting finally appeared briefly as it dried to just the right amount. I am 90% sure it reads DSA-100-67-C-4422 which makes it 1967 or Vietnam era.

If anyone can tell me about the pouch, I'd appreciate it.

[browningautorifle]

That looks like a gas mask pouch from WW2...era...

[Aragorn243]

Well I'll be, that is what it is. I never would have guessed. Wasn't having any luck in the pattern 58 stuff either. I guess that 2/45 is the date, not the 58. So now that we know what it is, what is the purpose of the tiny flaps with snaps at the bottom?

I just realized this is the fourth gas mask item I've gotten in the last month.

[jond41403]

Would that be for holding the little anti fogging canister? The little straps sewn to the side might be for the little canister and the strap at the bottom for holding the main gas canister and The mask just lay on top of it? I believe the pouch on the outside with a snap would probably hold the waterproofing kit.Just a guess though

[Aragorn243]

The snap on the bottom closes a little pouch roughly 2 inches wide by 1 inch deep by 1 inch high.

The snap on the bottom side releases a strap about 3 inches long. They would seem to be to secure something small that doesn’t need to be removed quickly or very often.

There is also a very wide narrow pouch at the back that is the same size as the bag back and a half inch deep.

[Flying10uk]

That would be the bag/haversack for the WW2 British lightweight respirator/gas mask. I have seen some people describe these as "airborne or paratrooper gas masks" but I think that they were issued more widely than that. It looks like you are missing the shoulder strap. The difference with this respirator to previous British service respirators is that the filter is attached directly to the face-piece.

It was normal to carry an anti-misting compound/paste with your gas mask, inside the haversack.

The pouch at the back of the haversack is for a packet of plastic eye shields to protect the eyes from sprayed chemical agents.

MKII Lightweight Gas Mask with MK2 Filter and Bag (Original)

Mk V. Anti-Dimming Compound Tales from the Supply Depot

WW2 British army Anti-gas Eyeshields MKIII (original)

[Aragorn243]

Got some decent stuff at yard sales this morning, all modern but also very cheap. Cold weather jacket, digital camo in my size for $5. Digital US medic bag with five MOLLE exterior bags, $5 and the deal of the day a folding cot, nylon and aluminum for $2. Antique stores were a bit more expensive 1965 Pioneer shovel US with cover for $54 and a 1943 canteen cover, 1944 canteen and 1953 canteen cup with a WWII unmarked (faded) belt for $27.

I didn't take notice yesterday but the cot is from 1966. It's almost as old as me.

[Aragorn243]

Had another day of cheap stuff. Most interesting is a US 1942 Jungle Hammock in decent shape but some of the mosquito netting is torn. Has a repair kit inside that I might use to fix it. Second item I got from the same guy I'm not sure what it is. It looks like a US shelter half but it has a Chinese or Japanese tag on it. Probably post WWII as it has both ends. It has a tag sewn on top of another tag, maybe a refurbishment. Vietnam or Korean era Chinese maybe? Romanian AK-47 four pack magazine pouch and another unknown item, a very large pack of some sort. Looks British or Dutch, no markings I can find, quick release snap on one side. Also got a Berthier bayonet. They had $60 on it which I passed on initially because it was on one of the first tables I passed. Went back at the end to make an offer on it and a guy was of course looking at it. They offered it to him for $45 and he actually refused, he wanted it for $40. I jumped in and gave them the $45. I'll post that in the Blade section.

[browningautorifle]

There was a time that hammock would have been handy for me. The aluminum camp cots were gold for a while where I was until the CDN military bought thousands for us in the field. Yours is about perfect.

[jond41403]

I believe you're shelter half is at least somewhere around the Korean war era simply because it has the buttons instead of the snaps which they went to later. I have one dated 1951 that looks exactly like that except for the Chinese patch.hth