Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2023

[browningautorifle]

It looks great in the scabbard.

Yes, it looks clean.

[Low & Slow]

My M65 has gotten a bit rangy, but still sees service. Typically, this is when a fuel pump goes out in the winter. Car tires have never touched the interior of my garage. Too many motor bikes and tool boxes for any hope there.

[Aragorn243]

I've seen Marines marked like that in days gone by.

I think you are right, pretty sure the guy was a Marine. According to my research this morning, this was common practice in the Marines, the Army was using nameplates over the pockets. The Marines commonly wrote on the back or stenciled them on the back and sometimes above the front pockets but this was less common. They often had the USMC emblem stenciled onto the left pocket but generally not with the jungle fatigues.

I hit the antique markets this morning with some small success. 1943 dated first aid pouch and a belt that has seen better days but is complete, no markings. One guy was selling everything he had for $1 and I picked up a complete USMC green uniform, one of the more formal types, pants, jacket and belt. I also got a blue USMC coat but discovered some heavy damage to the back when I got it home. for a dollar, it will display OK because you can't see the hole from the front. Mouse got into it it looks like. Found a Saudi Arabian Liberaion of Kuwait medal complete in it's box. I missed out on these by about a week arriving in country just a little too late. I received the Kuwait version which isn't as nice, so nice to find it for my collection. A couple of books and an Auburn Rubber half track toy. Next weekend is their military show. Not expecting much, they only had two guys show up for it last year and this year is looking bad for this place.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I am glad I am not competing with you locally. Did find a nice digital cammo canteen and carrier along with a very nice pattern 37 canteen and carrier this weekend.
Even a blind nut can find a squirrel occasionally.

[Aragorn243]

I got started a little early this weekend. Stopped at two of the antique markets I hit from time to time and found a US Navy blanket in the first one and a British whistle in the second. I could find nothing on the blanket other than a few example of some that were sold, no time frame or era. Posted on Facebook and a collector got back to me on it. I had three say it was from the 1960's but the collector corrected them. It's pre-WWII, he didn't narrow it down any better than that but I'm happy with it. The letters were sewn on prior to the war, printed on after it started. These are sewn. It's covered with stains but no moth holes or tears at all. The whistle is post war unfortunately but for $8 I wasn't going to pass on it. They are selling the repros for close to $50. It does work. I had to get some cobwebs out of it and I sanitized it first. Odd thing is, I've never seen or at least noticed whistles before and now found two in about two weeks.

[browningautorifle]

Cold water wash and hang dry that blanket?

[Aragorn243]

Cold water wash and hang dry that blanket?

I did that last night. It is a little whiter, as the top photo is after washing. The big oval stain is not shown in the top photo as I have the other end showing with the full Y. It is faded and less pronounced but still there. There is a pink stain about the size of a softball on it that was not affected at all and a rust stain which you can see at the bottom left of the second photo that was unaffected. I can get that out with lemon juice so not worried about that. I need to research some stain removers with wool first.

[Aragorn243]

Total bust today. The "military show" at the antique flea market did not have a single vender show up. Existing venders had nothing new to offer. Going to that and then traveling to an 80 house yard sale that actually only had 3 completely gutted my morning.

[Flying10uk]

Does anyone know the significance of the number "C.N.19886" on the whistle? Obviously it is some sort of identification number but for what?

[browningautorifle]

"C.N.19886

Is actually CN1986, a typo? Anyway, it refers to the MOD number and the year of production is there 1954.

1953 brass British military whistle
British military whistle. 3 1/4" brass. Stamp-marked with the Ministry of Defence broad arrow and J. HUDSON & CO / BIRMINGHAM / C.N. 1986 / 1953. C.N. 1986 refers to the MOD department and 1953 is the year of manufacture -- the most important year of the 20th Century.