The Buck stops here

Here's a generic, off the shelf, non-even-old Buck Bowie knife and sheath. I include it here, as with several other items, only because it originally belonged to my grandfather. He liked this knife, although is favorite was an old, overly-sharpened, worn out old Navy K-Bar with homemade sheath that had the initial of his family name ("H") and an anchor embossed on it.

I'm not sure where that knife ended up since my grandfather's death and the subsequent family turmoil. I have this one, among many other mementos of his, including his dog tags and other things I've blogged about. I also have lots of memories of him - all good; so I submit that whoever has that K-Bar now, I hope you know and respect what it is you have and don't cheapen it with whatever it is that you think you know. I also hope you don't fall on it by accident (end of rant).

It's Fish Knife Friday #8

Here is yet another fish knife. Enjoy. I sure do.

Out of Africa 2

Like this piece, today's selection comes from Africa. It's a Tebu arm knife. This one's a bit smaller than the first one I blogged about, and may be a bit older. Anyway, the blade and scabbard are of higher quality workmanship. Sadly, a bit of the tip is busted off.

More stuff (someone) pulled from the (beach) #4

This big nasty is a 37 mm shell (don't worry, it's inert). It's stamped "LOT N14-2-1 1943 37 MM M51 B" on one of the ferrules (the "4" is italicized because it's not too legible - some fool appears to have used this as a tack hammer at some point). This piece was given to me many years ago by a benefactor who claims to have found this at an undisclosed location within Fort Miles, Delaware, now part of Cape Henlopen State Park. The problem I have with this questionable provenance is that the M51 B was an anti-tank gun, and would not really have any business at a coastal defense installation. Furthermore, I have seen no evidence that these were even deployed at Fort Miles, although mobile artillery may have transitioned in and out of there extensively. Anyway, I'm suspicious of this thing's reputed origin.

Regardless, check out the folks at FortMiles.org. This base actually captured a Nazi sub, so that at least should be worthy of respect, never mind that many of the old casemates are now sealed off and New Jersey tourists scramble all over the place like so many jogging vegan hipster fucktards.

More stuff I pulled out of the water #3

This is a 30 mm x 110 mm shell casing pulled from Chincoteague Bay in around 1992. The base is stamped: "1944 HP LOT 142 20 MM M21A1". It's hard to tell where this came from - probably not an aircraft since they were not shooting these big calibers out of aircraft until somewhat later, although surplus ammo may have been used later. The modern "Vulcan" on the front of an A-10 Warthog is 20mm.

Given the caliber and the length, this most likely came off of a Navy or Coast Guard gunboat in or shortly after WW2.

More stuff I pulled out of the water #2

I know I've been getting away from the weapon/weapon-related item theme lately, but I wanted to share some of the many things I've "rescued" from various regional waterways. Since I also collect old bottles, I'm throwing in the ones I've found at sea. We'll circle back to the weapon related stuff later, including some I've pulled from the water (or beach). As you'll eventually see, Flintlock's Arsenal is more than a collection of arcane weapons - it represents my own personal Wunderkammer.

Anyway, I found this bottle in an oyster dredge on one of Delaware's leased oyster grounds during a spat survey about 15 years ago. The side is embossed with "MAR-MAT Brand BEVERAGES" and "Millville, NJ" along the bottom. The image shows a waiter or bus-boy in traditional garb, and his features may be those of an African American youth (it's hard to tell due to surface erosion). I'm not sure of the date on this one, but it is probably pre-1950's at least.

More stuff I pulled out of the water #1

This is an old soda bottle, intact, from the former 1800's resort of Collins Beach, on the upper Delaware Bay. The hotel and resort were lost in the October 1878 hurricane, the effects of which being well documented here. The bottle is embossed with "J.E. EDWARDS" and "CHESTER, PA" on one side and a giant "JE" on the other, and obviously predates 1878.

This was taken from the beach at the site of the old hotel last year; there are a bunch of glass and pottery shards in the peat - a ton of artifacts (intact) would probably be found with a little digging. As a known site with surface artifacts, I was loth to take this bottle (as opposed to the "at large" things I find on the beach or bay), but it was literally rolling on the surface and would probably have been lost to the Bay at the next high tide. This site would probably benefit from the attentions of serious archeologists to document life on the Delaware Bay at that time.

A buddy of mine found a well-preserved brass gas lap fixture at the same spot, which he kept. I'm not sure I would have, but who knows?

You would need a canoe or kayak to get to this spot, and if you go, I encourage you to disturb as little as possible.