The Uber-Ultimate Barn Find

[njsteve]

I was rummaging through my closet today and re-found this slightly old item. I found it originally, about 30 years ago in a fallen down barn on my brother's farm outside of New Haven, Connecticut. Never did find the Brown Bess musket it was attached to, though. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It's a British Socket Bayonet that pre-dates the Revolutionary War (circa 1720-1750). I can just imagine what the history on this piece was.

And to think I had it stuck in a timber in my Dad's garage for a couple decades, using it to open paint cans with! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/MVC-006F.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/MVC-009F.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/MVC-007F.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/MVC-004F.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/MVC-008F.jpg

Anyone want to debate the authenticity of this stamping? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[HPMIKE]

Awesome find...

Have you called Christie's yet to see what it's worth??

MB

[CC Rider]

[ QUOTE ]


Anyone want to debate the authenticity of this stamping? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe if I could figure out what it means. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Awesome find...

Have you called Christie's yet to see what it's worth??

MB

[/ QUOTE ]

Every time I contact some "expert" on bayonets, they always end up steering the conversation to whether I want to get rid of it. That's usually a big red flag that they're not telling me the truth about the value.

One collector said the only other duplicate of this one was in the Tower of London Museum. I guess it's kind of unique or just that the vast majority of them were long rusted away. This one is remarkably well preserved because it was at the bottom of a pit that was used to dump waste oil for decades (maybe centuries). The farmland dates back to the mid 1700's

Anyway, if I sold it then I wouldn't have anything to open paint cans with anymore. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I used to bring it for "show and tell day" to my kids' elementary schools when they would teach about the Revolutionary War, but recently the school administrators got too politically correct about prior American "conflicts" and hyper-fearful of anything resembling a weapon on their property.

[x Baldwin Motion]

The stamping looks like something between gothic and secratary (modern) English handwritten alphabet. Used between 1400's and mid 1700's. I have not been able to exactly decypher it becuase I can't find any numeral translations. It is definetly NOT from Tonawanda !

try figuring it out here (http://www.omniglot.com/writing/syllabic.htm)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[hvychev]

Steve,

Contact Christopher Mitchell from Antiques Roadshow. I have before and he got back to me within a couple of days. This guy knows his stuff.

Christopher Mitchell (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/appraisers/mitchell_christopher.html)

[SmallHurst]

[ QUOTE ]
I used to bring it for "show and tell day" to my kids' elementary schools when they would teach about the Revolutionary War, but recently the school administrators got too politically correct about prior American "conflicts" and hyper-fearful of anything resembling a weapon on their property.

[/ QUOTE ]

Prior American Conflicts!!!!! Someone needs to review the dribble that is being spewed upon the youth of today!! I suppose that they tell the kids that the 4th of July is just a day to go shoot fireworks!!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

I will trade you a paint key for your 'can-opener'!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[sYc]

I had not thought about it, but when in grade school I would take a Civil War sword from Gettysburg to show and tell. I bet that would be a no-no in todays world.

[firstgenaddict]

When I was in highschool... 1990... I carried a pocket knife into school everyday and used it in class quite often. I never would have even thought of pulling my knife out for anything other than cleaning my nails, trimming a string, or sharpening a pencil.... Not even if I were in a fight, of which there were many, it was never even a fleeting thought in my mind, fists are what we used, accross the street from the school in of all places a Church Parkinglot.

You'd go to jail for the same now, boys can no longer be boys.
We lived to tell about it and I still wouldn't consider a weapon unless it were absolutely neccesary.

Guess kids figure if you're going to jail for fighting or jail for stabbing or shooting you may as well limit the physical damage to yourself.
Too many parents allow the media to dictate what will and will not be morally acceptable in their homes...

[SmallHurst]

1st Gen,

I, too, carried a pocket knife to school (didn't all farm kids do that?) and used it for it intended purpose. In fact, there was more than one teacher that asked to borrow my knife!!! Being a Boy Scout, I was being prepared. Yes, I am getting old, I graduated in '89!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Chateau Slate 66]

And...

How many people carried a gun (or two) in their vehicle at school for a little target shooting / hunting after school or after sports practice?

My friends and I did it ALL the time. None of us ever shot or threatened anyone with them.

[njsteve]

I still have the same old Buck knife I used to carry in high school. Whenever the teacher was late coming back from her lunch, I was always the guy who "unlocked" the classroom door so we could all sit down. This way the teacher never got in trouble for being late and we never got in trouble for being out in the halls after the bell rang.

Miss Crabtree was quite appreciative of my innovative locksmithery skills. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[YenkoYS-199Stinger]

We always carried knives on us and kept guns in our cars or trucks. Especially in the fall when dove or deer season was in. Quite often we would leve at 3:30 and go dove hunting with one of the coaches.

We were also rebels. One day my senior year, we bought some cocaine and and dusted it below the lockers in the math wing the day the drug dogs were to visit. Lets just say, it was a riot!!!!
We also liked to buy lab animals at the end of the year and spread them in the band hall building the last day of the year. When they came back 2 months later, they had infestations of crickets one year and white lab rats the next..

PHS class of 87'

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[SmallHurst]

[ QUOTE ]
I still have the same old Buck knife I used to carry in high school. Whenever the teacher was late coming back from her lunch, I was always the guy who "unlocked" the classroom door so we could all sit down. This way the teacher never got in trouble for being late and we never got in trouble for being out in the halls after the bell rang.

Miss Crabtree was quite appreciative of my innovative locksmithery skills. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine was an Old Timer and Dad has had to have his Case reriveted.

I knew that the world was coming to an end when I could no longer carry my Old Timer Sharpfinger on my backpack in scouting (no sheath knives). No sweat, just upgraded to an Uncle Henry Bear Claw!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

By the way, what was Miss Crabtree doing at lunch??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Postsedan]

Come-On....I recognize a re-stamp any day http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Dan.

[PeteLeathersac]

That piece is VERY cool..thanks for sharing!.

Not trying to be disrespectful to anyone or groups in particular but depending on where you live here in Canada, it's now illegal to carry a pocket knife w/ more than a 3" or 4" blade!.
BUT if you're of certain Eastern decents and it's 'part of your religion' it's perfectly legal to carry a great big friggin' dagger!.
Of late have been legal challenges against our motorized vehicle helmet laws claiming 'special towels' wrapped around heads offer superior protection to the Snell rated products the rest of us use?.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
~ Pete

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]


By the way, what was Miss Crabtree doing at lunch??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, she was having an affair with the Vice Principal. I guess that's why he had the title of "Vice" Principal. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Then again, neither of them was married so I guess it could have been considered "field work" for the health education class. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Mr70]

This topic has gone to the..

http://www.carpenoctem.tv/haunt/ca/img/petey.jpg

[Rooster]

Oh Petey

[Donutblue]

Come on guys, anyone can see that's a muffler hanger for an early Japanese B 210 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[firstgenaddict]

[ QUOTE ]
We always carried knives on us and kept guns in our cars or trucks. Especially in the fall when dove or deer season was in. Quite often we would leve at 3:30 and go dove hunting with one of the coaches.

We were also rebels. One day my senior year, we bought some cocaine and and dusted it below the lockers in the math wing the day the drug dogs were to visit. Lets just say, it was a riot!!!!
We also liked to buy lab animals at the end of the year and spread them in the band hall building the last day of the year. When they came back 2 months later, they had infestations of crickets one year and white lab rats the next..

PHS class of 87'

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


We would light smoke bombs and drop them in the floor in the hallways and just keep walking... even set fire... accidently... to the homecoming mascot float and blamed it on the Rival highschool... we kicked their arses that year...
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif