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Some vintage in need of restoration....

pmclaine

pmclaine

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Nov 6, 2011
    35,009
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    MA
    Got tasked by the wife with ripping down some shelves in the in-laws garage.

    It's now our rental property. MIL lives there but she is aboout 75% dementia gone now.

    Well had to move a bunch of shit and came across some stuff that needs my care.

    1st - Some nice harness leather straps marked "Proprty of US Postal Service".

    image.jpg


    Don't know what they were for, Closures look like old school TQs. I'll give them some Pecard and I guess they could be bedroll straps at some point.

    2nd - A good condition M-14 ammo Pouch. He was in the USMC, 6th Marines, just about the time the M-14 replaced the Garand but top is marked M-16 in marker so guessing it will be from his Coast Guard days....

    image.jpg


    image.jpg


    3rd - He had cases of 4oz glass jars. Probably got them from Polaroid...Figure I can put lubes or solvents in them and soak shit maybe.

    image.jpg


    Already doing same here with others.

    image.jpg


    4th - This almost makes me cry....

    image.jpg


    KA-BAR. Betting he grabbed it when he left USMC. Sheath actually looks in great shap but securing strap has been eaten by verdigris. Handle in great shape but moldy. Metal is all rust, looks like he sharpened the shit out of it on a grinder....

    image.jpg


    Gonna give it some Kroil to see if it can lift the rust....

    image.jpg
     
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    roostercogburn98 said:
    What about some evapo-rust for the metal

    Small jars like that work well in a setup like this.
    View attachment 7764854
    Click to expand...

    I hit it with the Kroil and a brass brush.

    I think evapo rust or naval jelly would kill the parkerizing and bring it to bare metal.

    Appears the parkerizing is still intact under there. Having cleaned it up a bit it appears the blade may be still NOS.

    The cross Guard is cheaper metal than the blade...it will probably be "in the white" when clean.

    Pommel appears to have some deeper pitting but park again looks intact.

    I coated the handle and all the metal with Pecards and I'm going to let the leather soak it in and let the grease penetrate the parkerizing for a few days than I'm going to hit the metal with some ballistol and a bronze brush to try and clear the rest of the rust.

    May come out way nicer than it's condition lead me to think.
     
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    USPS straps likely were used for bundling mail.

    Sorted mail for a loop was pulled out of the sorting case. Then strapped with one of them. Then placed in a tray. Repeat.
     
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    packratt said:
    USPS straps likely were used for bundling mail.

    Sorted mail for a loop was pulled out of the sorting case. Then strapped with one of them. Then placed in a tray. Repeat.
    Click to expand...

    USPS used to use some great leather. The strap on the old school carry bags looked quality.

    They seem overkill for bundling letters but hey it's only tax payer money.

    Think a mouse chewed the edge of one...I'll need to Grease them up.
     
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    I always like the canvas ammo pouches. I think I still have some that I bought later off Ebay.
    M1956 gear I think it was, as opposed to M1967.
     
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    We used those pouches to hold SLR L1A1 20 round mags. I still have a couple on a belt order set up for bush stalking. Better rifle, in my estimation, for going bush and crawling through mud BUT the M14 has a better reputation for performance in nice clean range conditions.
     
    FIL KA-BAR top mine bottom.....his may look better

    image.jpg


    Mine did get beat with 3/8...while at JEST Platoon members thought they would try throwing it...dicks

    image.jpg


    Mine is circa 1984 commercial sales. His issue. Mine big USMC, his small

    image.jpg


    Trade name...

    image.jpg


    Gonna have to clean up his sheath....mine isn't much better...

    image.jpg


    The family....

    image.jpg
     
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    packratt said:
    USPS straps likely were used for bundling mail.

    Sorted mail for a loop was pulled out of the sorting case. Then strapped with one of them. Then placed in a tray. Repeat.
    Click to expand...
    Yep, that's exactly what they are.

    GOOP hand cleaner does a great job cleaning leather and softens it too. Goop has a real high lanolin content so its good for leather.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: sandwarrior, lash, Mr. Z and 3 others
    Who is my leather man on site to get that strap rebuilt?

    Surprised how thick and stiff the strap is. It's never been used.

    This was a NOS knife when it was stuck at the bottom of that Craftsman tool box holding all his fishing filet knives.

    Likely it got to sit with salt water.
     
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    pmclaine said:
    Been watching this series....



    KA-BAR steals the first scene.
    Click to expand...


    Damn!

    Perhaps Warner Brothers has someone on this site.

    Those videos for the old TV show "The Lieutenant" have been up all week.

    Stars Gary Lockwood as an Annapolis grad First Lieutenant looks to be I need 5th Marines judging by Cali location and French Fouragerre.

    Been some good shows.

    One I tried to link to had Eddie Albert as a guest star.

    Appears Warner Bros told YouTube to take them down.

    Striking in your face Patriotism of the show was good to see. As well KA-BAR, M60 and M-14 had supporting roles. One I watched last night had reservists play a scene and they had Garands.

    If you can find the one I linked to Eddie Albert and Gary Lockwood get into a shooting Comp with M-14 on FA firing two rounds bursts hitting a tin can......so not based on reality even if cool.
     
    • Like
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    I find it interesting that in your "Family" picture that the male side of the snap on the retention strap is on the right on some of them and on the left on others.
     
    pmclaine said:
    Got tasked by the wife with ripping down some shelves in the in-laws garage.

    It's now our rental property. MIL lives there but she is aboout 75% dementia gone now.

    Well had to move a bunch of shit and came across some stuff that needs my care.

    1st - Some nice harness leather straps marked "Proprty of US Postal Service".

    View attachment 7764828

    Don't know what they were for, Closures look like old school TQs. I'll give them some Pecard and I guess they could be bedroll straps at some point.

    2nd - A good condition M-14 ammo Pouch. He was in the USMC, 6th Marines, just about the time the M-14 replaced the Garand but top is marked M-16 in marker so guessing it will be from his Coast Guard days....

    View attachment 7764829

    View attachment 7764830

    3rd - He had cases of 4oz glass jars. Probably got them from Polaroid...Figure I can put lubes or solvents in them and soak shit maybe.

    View attachment 7764831

    Already doing same here with others.

    View attachment 7764835

    4th - This almost makes me cry....

    View attachment 7764843

    KA-BAR. Betting he grabbed it when he left USMC. Sheath actually looks in great shap but securing strap has been eaten by verdigris. Handle in great shape but moldy. Metal is all rust, looks like he sharpened the shit out of it on a grinder....

    View attachment 7764850

    Gonna give it some Kroil to see if it can lift the rust....

    View attachment 7764851
    Click to expand...
    Try electrolysis.
     
    pitspitr said:
    I find it interesting that in your "Family" picture that the male side of the snap on the retention strap is on the right on some of them and on the left on others.
    Click to expand...

    The top three are actual KA-BAR products. I'm guessing WWII contract, mine is 1980s and the clean one is recent to within the last ten years.......looks like all those have the snaps the same orientation.

    The bottom is an Ontario low bid contract from the 60s up until that style knife was replaced with the combo bayonet knife.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    pmclaine said:
    USPS used to use some great leather. The strap on the old school carry bags looked quality.

    They seem overkill for bundling letters but hey it's only tax payer money.

    Think a mouse chewed the edge of one...I'll need to Grease them up.
    Click to expand...

    I had a thought..........I have a dirty mind LOL
     
    pmclaine said:
    Got tasked by the wife with ripping down some shelves in the in-laws garage.

    It's now our rental property. MIL lives there but she is aboout 75% dementia gone now.

    Well had to move a bunch of shit and came across some stuff that needs my care.

    1st - Some nice harness leather straps marked "Proprty of US Postal Service".

    View attachment 7764828

    Don't know what they were for, Closures look like old school TQs. I'll give them some Pecard and I guess they could be bedroll straps at some point.
    Click to expand...

    Should you come across/find the bag, hit me up. I’m looking for one too upsize and make a saddle bag.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: pmclaine
    pmclaine said:
    Got tasked by the wife with ripping down some shelves in the in-laws garage.

    It's now our rental property. MIL lives there but she is aboout 75% dementia gone now.

    Well had to move a bunch of shit and came across some stuff that needs my care.

    1st - Some nice harness leather straps marked "Proprty of US Postal Service".

    View attachment 7764828

    Don't know what they were for, Closures look like old school TQs. I'll give them some Pecard and I guess they could be bedroll straps at some point.

    2nd - A good condition M-14 ammo Pouch. He was in the USMC, 6th Marines, just about the time the M-14 replaced the Garand but top is marked M-16 in marker so guessing it will be from his Coast Guard days....

    View attachment 7764829

    View attachment 7764830

    3rd - He had cases of 4oz glass jars. Probably got them from Polaroid...Figure I can put lubes or solvents in them and soak shit maybe.

    View attachment 7764831

    Already doing same here with others.

    View attachment 7764835

    4th - This almost makes me cry....

    View attachment 7764843

    KA-BAR. Betting he grabbed it when he left USMC. Sheath actually looks in great shap but securing strap has been eaten by verdigris. Handle in great shape but moldy. Metal is all rust, looks like he sharpened the shit out of it on a grinder....

    View attachment 7764850

    Gonna give it some Kroil to see if it can lift the rust....

    View attachment 7764851
    Click to expand...
    Good old stuff.
     
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