Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[Flying10uk]

Are B.S.C. and IKEF not wartime Indian manufacturers? I'm not sure about the other 2?

[Terry Hawker]

Can't imagine that anyone buying a surplus Vietnam-era butt pack ever actually had to use one in the service. They were probably one of the most annoying pieces of load-carrying equipment ever foisted on an unsuspecting soldier. I heartily cursed mine on every trip to Fort Ord's beach ranges as it bounced up and down on my forth point of contact.

[Flying10uk]

B.S.C. = Bata Shoe Company

[Aragorn243]

I was in 1980's early 1990's and we were still issued buttpacks. Probably Vietnam era for all I know. I didn't keep mine but turned it back in. We actually used them. Had an Alice pack also but I can't remember ever doing anything with it other than moving it out of the way in the locker. We were issued all the basic stuff but as we were not infantry, we rarely used it. Went into the field once a year which was enough. We had big tents so didn't bother with the shelter halves. One year we spent two weeks in the field but that was the extent of it. Saudi was all in buildings.

---------- Post added at 06:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:29 PM ----------

Are B.S.C. and IKEF not wartime Indian manufacturers? I'm not sure about the other 2?

The one dated 1947 is Belgian. I doubt Great Britain made any after the war. A lot of new stock still out there.

[Flying10uk]

I doubt Great Britain made any after the war.

There are some about and I do have an early 1950's dated UK example with black painted steel fittings. When my late father purchased it many years ago from the local surplus store as unissued surplus stock it can't of been very old.

[Aragorn243]

First yard sale of the year today. Found an 81mm ammo case. Can't figure out the year. Was in the UK at one point.



















And something they probably couldn't make today. German Nazi soldiers made by Marx in 1963, my birth year. Officer looks like he has a swastika on his pocket but it's not clear. Probably couldn't do that back then either.

[Flying10uk]

Can't figure out the year.

In the absence of any other date stamped on the tin I would go with 1987, the one stamped on the base which I'm reading back to front, i.e. from the inside.

---------- Post added at 02:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 AM ----------

German Nazi soldiers made by Marx

We had similar in the UK in the 1970's but not by Marx.

Airfix apparently and still available new. A00705V WWII German Infantry

[Aragorn243]

87 is probably correct, I didn't notice that and was concentrating on the painted numbers. Airfix has been around a long time but they are tiny about 3/4 of an inch tall. These are two inches tall so more detail is present.

I have a lot of Airfix and probably half a dozen other manufacturers, but most are Napoleonic era. I do have some WWII but they are just what I picked up incidentally. I always say I'm going to sit down and paint them but haven't done so in a long time. I have thousands of them so maybe when I retire.

[Flying10uk]

87 is probably correct

Generally speaking with this style of ammo tin you'll see the date stamped on the lid together with whatever particular model of tin it is. Obviously in this particular case they have decide to stamp the details on the base rather than the lid for whatever reason.

This general style of British/Commonwealth pressed steel ammo tin with handles at each end, of which there are many variations, I assume were first manufactured during WW2 or at least WW2 examples are the earliest examples that I have seen.

Unfortunately now in the UK the surplus ammo tins tend to have the painted markings covered in yellow paint.

[Aragorn243]

The fun of eBay. I ordered a French F1 M1978 helmet and got this. It's a French M51. I was not happy, the F1 was in great shape and they rarely are and I got a great deal on it. After two days of back and forth of looking for the correct helmet, he determines he sent it to someone else and they are not fessing up to it.

So I am given the option of sending this one back or keeping it for the price of $30 with him refunding me the rest of the money I paid for the other one. Still not happy but I didn't have an M51 either so I accepted the offer. Never issued which is the positive. Can't figure out why it was made after the M1978 went into production. Or is the 1982 I'm seeing actually 1962? Looking at in this photo, I think it could be 1962.