Flea market, auctions and yard sale finds

[labradigger1]

Bought 3 large frame martini actions from a flea market in OH this weekend. 2 are mk IV Enfields and I’m guessing the engraved one is as well.
Pricey sum of $110 for all 3.
All 3 don’t seem to have ever been 303’s, no markings for such and all have regular extractors. One has the small cocking indicator.
None appear to be Khyber Pass variety’s to me. Not many markings left on the engraved action.
The two blued actions took about 3 hrs ea to uncrud who knows how many years of hardened grease, still not clean but are much better than when I received them.
Now for calibers, I’m thinking 218 bee, 219 zipper and 38-55 or 357 super mag.

[pworley1]

Nice find. Keep us updated on your projects with these.

[john.k]

Very few,virtually none of the Mk 1V s were converted to 303.......looks to me like someone bought them to practice engraving on......For conversion to HP rounds,a 303 would save you the work of bushing the block and reducing the firing pin dia.

[eck0313]

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!

Those will make for nice projects. I’m biased, but would build a nice 30-40 Krag on the engraved action!!

[marlinman93]

What a great find, and price! That engraved one will be fun to inlet the stocks to!

[pertnear]

Build a .219 Zipper for sure!

[nagantguy]

By chance was that Ohio swap meet anywhere near Lima: did they also have coon dog trials? If so I was there also and found a long wanted item for a price I could live with; it was a great weekend!

[pietro]

.

The scalloped rear edges of that engraved Martini is very unusual...…….

It smacks of Scheutzen rifles made in a very small European (Germany, Austria, Bavaria, etc) shop, and might had even been built from scratch by the gunsmith - which would explain the lack of markings.

Although YMMV, if it were mine, for conversion, I would first have a good engraver chase the worn engraved scrolls & scenic panels.

Stocking with the scalloping will prove to be interesting...………………………………



.

[marlinman93]

It wouldn't be unusual for an engraved action to be polished smooth first before doing custom engraving. So the lack of markings may only denote an old action that was later customized and engraved.
Had it been done for a factory, all markings would have been retained.

[Minerat]

Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

Thank you.

[labradigger1]

By chance was that Ohio swap meet anywhere near Lima: did they also have coon dog trials? If so I was there also and found a long wanted item for a price I could live with; it was a great weekend!

Rogers OH. Flea market

[labradigger1]

.

The scalloped rear edges of that engraved Martini is very unusual...…….

It smacks of Scheutzen rifles made in a very small European (Germany, Austria, Bavaria, etc) shop, and might had even been built from scratch by the gunsmith - which would explain the lack of markings.

Although YMMV, if it were mine, for conversion, I would first have a good engraver chase the worn engraved scrolls & scenic panels.

Stocking with the scalloping will prove to be interesting...………………………………



.
I’m pretty good with wood. Looking forward to this one.
Engraving looks to be amateur done, left side of action has what appears to be a HF, more than likely the engravers initials. Just to the rear of the lever pin screw in the pics.

[labradigger1]

Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

Thank you.

I read back through the responses and I am not aware of any offers to buy or sell in this thread. Btw, none are for sale if that is the question.

[labradigger1]

Build a .219 Zipper for sure!
More than likely zipper will be one built. I also bought a lot of loaded zipper cartridges when I bought the actions. You know how it is, have the brass, might as well have a gun for it too.

[labradigger1]

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!

Those will make for nice projects. I’m biased, but would build a nice 30-40 Krag on the engraved action!!
I do enjoy krags but already have a couple now.

[jugulater]

Looks like the cocking indicator on the engraved action has either been installed incorrectly or been modified, definitely strange.

I could think of DOZENS of calibers i'd love in a Martini. Keep us posted on how the projects go.

[texasnative46]

labradigger,

NICE.

I would certainly like to find a late Martini action in decent condition to rebuild into a .303 stalking rifle AND an Aussie Cadet receiver to rebuild into a squirrel rifle.
(A friend is planning to cut me a beautiful plank from a large "blown down" native cherry tree that fell on his farm, to make the furniture for my projects.)

yours, tex

[john.k]

A big Martini is very easily converted to take a SMLE barrel.....the threads are the same,1"x14tpi,and a SMLE barrel or a No 4 barrel only needs a an extractor groove cut,extractor modified,and the chamber deepend by .072"......if you are happy with a short chamber ,a rim groove can be machined in a lathe,so no reamer is needed.....303 conversion parts were once plentiful,far more common than 450 parts,and still are in England.You wont find a good Martini Enfield barrel though.

[Jedman]

I was at Swappers Day in Johnstown, OH this weekend and didn't find much in the way of guns I was interested in this year. Last year there I bought 3 rifles and if it weren't for having to carry them around all day I would have bought others. This is a large yearly event and suppose to have 700 + vendors.

Jedman

[marlinman93]

Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

Thank you.

Where did you see an offer to buy or sell? I can't find that either?

[texasnative46]

john.k,

THANKS for the info. - Fwiw, I belong to a shooting forum in the UK & can likely find someone on that forum who can come up with Martini small parts, if/when I find the receiver to convert to .303 British.
(I thought that I remembered that the barrel threads were the same.)

I once, when stationed OCONUS, saw/shot a Martini-actioned stalking rifle & was very impressed with his weapon.
There are any number of nations abroad, where single-shot rifles & pre-1890 weapons are lawful but modern weapons are prohibited.
(There are at least two nations in the former USSR that do NOT allow "non citizens" to possess repeaters but double-barreled shotguns & single-shots are lawful for hunting Red Deer, wild boar & other game for use by "visiting sportsmen".)

yours, tex

[kungfustyle]

NICE Score, man, nice score.

[fiberoptik]

Always liked the looks of Martinis.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Texas by God]

What I should have said is that I would have paid what you paid for all three just to buy one of those actions. A big martini rebarreled to 577 Snider or 5070 US government would be a lot of fun.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Shawlerbrook]

Wish we had flea markets like that around here. Congratulations!!

[labradigger1]

Everyone feel free to post your deals you have gotten.
Deals are out there.

[sparky45]

I bought a 5# plus batch of Solder, mostly 60/40 and a Mitutoyo Dial Indicator for a total of $4 at a garage sale last week.

[Shawlerbrook]

Got a never used Lee Reloader Press and Lee manual for $20 and a Lyman Spartan Press with priming arm and plastic primer catcher in great shape for $15.

[labradigger1]

Got a never used Lee Reloader Press and Lee manual for $20 and a Lyman Spartan Press with priming arm and plastic primer catcher in great shape for $15.

Good snag, the primer catchers are always missing. I had an extra once and sold it ebay and the price went to $50

[labradigger1]

NICE Score, man, nice score.
Thanks kungfustyle, I see your info has you in TN now. congrats.

[marlinman93]

Picked up a nice old Rolling Block complete action the other day for $140. But that's certainly not like your 3 fer deal!

[modified5]

What a great find!
The best deal I ever got was a 94 Win reciever with a broken tang for $19 at an antique shop. It had a plugged and rusted barrel on it. They thought it was a sword.
Welded on a new tang and less than $200 later I have a running 94 In 30-30!

[Blanket]

Picked up a Remington #4 rolling block in 32 RF with a perfect bore for $150 and an FN 1910 in 32 acp for $65 today at an auction. The FN was in pieces and sold for parts, figured nobody knew how to put back together. Just got done running 4 mag fulls thru it

[Texas by God]

Picked up a Remington #4 rolling block in 32 RF with a perfect bore for $150 and an FN 1910 in 32 acp for $65 today at an auction. The FN was in pieces and sold for parts, figured nobody knew how to put back together. Just got done running 4 mag fulls thru it

In my opinion the 1910 FN was JMB's final pocket pistol design because it was the best. What a deal!

[uscra112]

For them as don't know, Rogers OH is almost on the WV line, definitely rural. I see ads for that meet in Farm & Dairy all the time. Not far from my retirement BOL, but owing to disability I can't do shows and flea markets anymore. I do still do local estate auctions, and my last good score was a near-mint Enfield (Webley) revolver in .38-200, for about 1/3 of what Gunbroker sellers are asking.

[skeettx]

watching

[Gazz]

Years ago, I stopped at yard sale just up the road from me. The owner was a former contractor and had lots of tools and assorted accessories and I boght a large stack of abrasive wheels for a cut off saw. As we were loading them into the truck, I happen to ask if he had any old gun stuff to which he replied he hadn't thought about bringing any of that stuff out. Into the garage he went and came back with 3 long guns cradled in his arms. He made me offer something for them and would not give a price so I offered what I had in my pocket, $75.00. What I got was a Winchester 1902 single shot .22 with a very nice bore but with some garage patina, an Arisaka Type 30 also with garage patina and a .41 caliber butt reservoir air rifle. It is all brass except for the lock mechanism which somewhat resembles a flintlock and is unmarked. I took the air rifle to my local gunsmith who is a friend and neighbor who was very intrigued by it. He unscrewed the butt and stuck his compressed air blow off nozzle in the butt valve and put 60psi or so in it. Screwed it back on, pulled the cock back and pressed the trigger. There was a loud crack followed by a series of bing bang clank noises as whatever was still in the gun bounced around his machine shop. I am guessing that it is from the early 1800's but I've yet to find a picture of it or anything somewhat similar. I love yard sales!

[EMC45]

Years ago, I stopped at yard sale just up the road from me. The owner was a former contractor and had lots of tools and assorted accessories and I boght a large stack of abrasive wheels for a cut off saw. As we were loading them into the truck, I happen to ask if he had any old gun stuff to which he replied he hadn't thought about bringing any of that stuff out. Into the garage he went and came back with 3 long guns cradled in his arms. He made me offer something for them and would not give a price so I offered what I had in my pocket, $75.00. What I got was a Winchester 1902 single shot .22 with a very nice bore but with some garage patina, an Arisaka Type 30 also with garage patina and a .41 caliber butt reservoir air rifle. It is all brass except for the lock mechanism which somewhat resembles a flintlock and is unmarked. I took the air rifle to my local gunsmith who is a friend and neighbor who was very intrigued by it. He unscrewed the butt and stuck his compressed air blow off nozzle in the butt valve and put 60psi or so in it. Screwed it back on, pulled the cock back and pressed the trigger. There was a loud crack followed by a series of bing bang clank noises as whatever was still in the gun bounced around his machine shop. I am guessing that it is from the early 1800's but I've yet to find a picture of it or anything somewhat similar. I love yard sales!

Lewis and Clark had a very similar air rifle.

[sparky45]

Lookup Girandoni air rifle.

[Gazz]

Thank you for the comments. I am aware of the Lewis and Clark air rifle and also the Girandoni. This has no wood and I don't think it ever did. I do believe the butt reservoir was covered with leather at on time but that has long rotted off or at least it is no longer present. Interesting to see how the hollow butt was pieced together. I'll take some pictures in a few days and post them.

[labradigger1]

Picked up a thumler tumbler model B, 7 big ice cream buckets of lyman media and a b&d hobbyctaft workmate from an online estate sale for $14 yesterday.

[quack1]

Earlier this summer I got a Lyman 55 powder measure for $10 at a flea market. I don't usually go to them, but was looking for an old aluminum coffee percolator to store bullet lube. Found one for $1.00. Good day for me.

[texasnative46]

To All,

I couldn't resist a .30-30 single-shot, that was probably made by Mossberg (I think in the 1950s.) & sold by OTASCO Stores, for 30.00 at a recent garage sale. - It came with a "no-name" 2.5X scope (other than the OTASCO marking - MAYBE made by Weaver?? It's also marked "made in USA".) & the whole thing may weigh as much as 4-4.5 pounds.
(Oddly, for such a cheap "tire & auto supply store" sort of rifle, it has a HANDSOME walnut stock/forearm.)

Note: I suspect that it will end up in an "under-dash rack" on the 1961 Red Fish 17FT fishing boat, as if it gets stolen or lost overboard, I won't be very sad.

yours, tex

[Lance Boyle]

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!

Those will make for nice projects. I’m biased, but would build a nice 30-40 Krag on the engraved action!!


I really like the .30-40 but it is so close to the .303 I would go with the British cartridge in a British gun. Like they’re so close you can use .303 casings in lieu of the slightly longer .30-40.

[ulav8r]

To All,

I couldn't resist a .30-30 single-shot, that was probably made by Mossberg (I think in the 1950s.) & sold by OTASCO Stores, for 30.00 at a recent garage sale. - It came with a "no-name" 2.5X scope (other than the OTASCO marking - MAYBE made by Weaver?? It's also marked "made in USA".) & the whole thing may weigh as much as 4-4.5 pounds.
(Oddly, for such a cheap "tire & auto supply store" sort of rifle, it has a HANDSOME walnut stock/forearm.)

Note: I suspect that it will end up in an "under-dash rack" on the 1961 Red Fish 17FT fishing boat, as if it gets stolen or lost overboard, I won't be very sad.

yours, tex

Pictures needed. Especially close-ups of action and any text on barrel/frame/wherever.

[Tom Herman]

I visited a local thrift shop and wound up with a virtually mint copy of The target Rifle in Australia, 1860-1900 for around $8 last weekend.
My best antique shop deal was a trio of "coffee grinders" for around $60: There were two Ideal No 1 and No 5 pre-1900 BP measures, plus either a Ballard or Bullard measure... The last one went to a friend of mine that is an authority on loading tools, it turned out the one I found was in much better shape than his... It made my day to see it with someone that appreciated it.

-Tom

[Tom W.]

I worked in an OTSCO store in Alabama in the mid 70's The scope may well have been a Tasco, but don't quote me on that. By the time I was working there we had brand name firearms. Western Auto had the "store brand " stuff.

[kywoodwrkr]

Had a gentleman come into our bookstore last week who has been reloading for about 40 years.
His wife had been in day before and told him there was a fellow gun nut at the local bookstore.
Long story short he told me of a yard sale find his wife drug home.
Children were running about yard with a toy pistol, she bought it, $20 for a silver toy pistol. Only gun she owns!
Her husband examining it discovered it was heavy and as he looked at it realized it had a rifled barel, uncommon for toys.
He said barrel was pristine as was plating, rating about 99+%, looked as if never fired. ie. no BP powder signature.
Internals like day made.
Only problem, no ammuition was readily(cheaply) available.
He eventually id'ed the pistol as a Remingotn #4, 38 rimfire.
I googled Remington #4s and found none close to condition he described. Nice ones were selling for close to $900.
For only having bought herself one gun, I told him she did real well.
These folks are good honest folks so have no reason to doubt analysis.
He visits this website often, but is not registered, private person and I appreciate that.

[TheGrimReaper]

Exactly what I was thinking too!!!

[marlinman93]

I had a good friend I worked with and he asked me to meet him at his dad's place years ago to see his dad's guns. We met there one day and his dad had two guns that had been in the family since new in the 1800's. One a gorgeous 1873 Winchester in .44-40 that was like new. The other a .40 caliber muzzleloader target rifle built by a well known gunsmith in San Francisco in the 1850's.
But the third was a gun he had no interest in, but had a great story that fits here. It was an 1884 dated Trapdoor Springfield, and was in beautiful shape also. His dad had worked part time at a local sporting goods store, and one weekend a woman walked in with the Trapdoor wanting to sell it. She said her husband had left, and the two boys kept taking the old gun out to play with, so she wanted it gone. The store owner wasn't interested, so Steve's dad looked it over. He was interested, but told the woman he was broke. She asked how much he had, and he reached in his pocket and held out some change to show her how little he had. She snatched the change from his hand and stuffed the rifle into his chest. She turned and walked out the front door, leaving both men a bit dazed.
I asked him how much change he had, and he told me it couldn't have added up to a buck. Pretty funny story to me. He asked me to sell the gun for him, so I put it on my table at the next gun show. That was back in the 1970's and I think I sold it for just under $400 back then? He was tickled with the sale.

[Shawlerbrook]

I have an OTASCO ( Marlin) 3080 Trailrider 30 30.

[Drm50]

IN the good old days, Kenton Ohio is where the big dog & gun gathering was at. We called it Leafy
Oak. You could get about anything you wanted up there. I haven't been back up there since 80s. I
herd ATF cracked down hard up there. The weekend after this the big outdoor trade days will take
place at Rhienersville, Ohio in Morgan Cnty. A lot of gun trading and selling goes on down there. I
get a gun deal every now and then at farm sales around here. Not often, there is always somebody
running single barrel shotguns up to $200. The good deals around here are tools. You can by top
shelf tools at yard sales cheaper than Dollar Store junk. I got to stop buying channel Locks and planes for a buck. A guy can only use so many.

[kywoodwrkr]

Had a gentleman come into our bookstore last week who has been reloading for about 40 years.
His wife had been in day before and told him there was a fellow gun nut at the local bookstore.
Long story short he told me of a yard sale find his wife drug home.
Children were running about yard with a toy pistol, she bought it, $20 for a silver toy pistol. Only gun she owns!
Her husband examining it discovered it was heavy and as he looked at it realized it had a rifled barel, uncommon for toys.
He said barrel was pristine as was plating, rating about 99+%, looked as if never fired. ie. no BP powder signature.
Internals like day made.
Only problem, no ammuition was readily(cheaply) available.
He eventually id'ed the pistol as a Remingotn #4, 38 rimfire.
I googled Remington #4s and found none close to condition he described. Nice ones were selling for close to $900.
For only having bought herself one gun, I told him she did real well.
These folks are good honest folks so have no reason to doubt analysis.
He visits this website often, but is not registered, private person and I appreciate that.

Gentleman brought Remington in this morning to share with me.
Bore not as good as originally remembered.
Grips are absolutely perfect-and hard rubber etc.
Serial # 55xx
Note gold colored hammer, trigger and cylinder pin.
229447