Junkstore score! Whoop!

wogpotter · March 18, 2011, 07:19 PM

I went wandering into a junk (not antiques) store this weekend looking for a hand bell for a joke & guess what I found?
A neat, period-looking wooden handled screwdriver with the perfect thin edged blade to fit 90% of the screws on my Rem New Army! Pretty much identical to the wild west single-action screwdriver sets you can buy but just the one I needed.
The price? 45 cents.

A bit of fine sandpaper, a dollop of linseed oil, a splash of stain, & a bit of cold blue on the blade & it looks like a slightly used current tool for the 1860's

Hey, sometimes its the little victories that make it worthwhile.
Oh & yes I found the hand bell too, but it cost a whole dollar!

Hardcase · March 18, 2011, 07:40 PM

Extravagance! Sheer, unfettered extravagance!!!

Bill Akins · March 18, 2011, 08:18 PM

Good find.
Black powder shooters do also seem to be excellent scroungers don't we?

I think it comes from the same personalities that make us also like BP.

.

BrittB · March 18, 2011, 08:24 PM

I love old tools and that sounds like a very nice find to me.

**4V50 Gary** · March 18, 2011, 09:05 PM

Good find. If that dealer knew what he had, he could have sold it on GunBroker for a lot more.

Doc Hoy · March 19, 2011, 12:48 AM

Wouldn't mind seeing a photo or two.

wogpotter · March 19, 2011, 07:30 AM

I had a funny feeling someone might say that.
Here you go, after a little TLC, BLO, stain & blue

I didn't want the "New, store bought" look so I stopped short with the cleanup to leave a little character.

Hawg · March 19, 2011, 08:03 AM

It isn't old. You can still find them in the bargain bin at auto parts stores. If you put a lot of torque on it the handle will twist on the shaft.

wogpotter · March 19, 2011, 11:03 AM

I never thought it was, I just thought it kind of looked the part more than a plastic-handled multi-tip interchangeable kit in a plastic box.
For 45c if the handle twists I'll fill the hole with steel-filled epoxy & call it good.
Sheesh, what a killjoy.

BrittB · March 19, 2011, 11:10 AM

I still have mine that I bought back in the 70's off the Mac Tool truck. Love them!

Hawg · March 19, 2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Sheesh, what a killjoy

I just thought you'd like to know.

wogpotter · March 19, 2011, 04:22 PM

Heck for 45c found as an incidental while shopping for a $1.00 hand bell for a joke on a friend's wife.
It's not exactly the end of the world I was half having fun with the thread anyway.

BrittB · March 19, 2011, 04:48 PM

I like it when I fine old tools like wenches and such. Always cool! Lately, I've been eyeballing Winchester flashlights on eBay. Never know!

CameronP · March 20, 2011, 09:13 PM

Not to digress, but I believe anything made in the good ole USA will eventually become a collector's item.
The screw driver does have class. I have one about like it, with years of patina (wear and tear) on it. My dad had it in His old gun-cleaning box.

Bishop Creek · March 20, 2011, 09:39 PM

I still use my Dad's old screwdriver just like that one on my guns.

Goatwhiskers · March 20, 2011, 10:06 PM

Grace gunsmith's screwdriver, still available from Brownell's in sets. Probably pretty old, they've been around for years. Excellent quality, doubt that it will ever twist in the handle. Goatwhiskers

wogpotter · March 21, 2011, 09:28 AM

I can't believe a simple fun thread on a 50 cent screwdriver got this agitated.

We must all have a real bad dose of cabin fever.

maillemaker · March 21, 2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

I still use my Dad's old screwdriver just like that one on my guns.

Yeah, my Dad had a set like that, too. I always found them to not be very durable - as someone else said the shaft would spin in the grip.

Steve

orangello · March 21, 2011, 11:41 AM

Nice find! Should match up nicely, IMO.

Oh, Britt, i like the wenches too.

March 18, 2011, 07:19 PM	#1
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Junkstore score! Whoop! I went wandering into a junk (not antiques) store this weekend looking for a hand bell for a joke & guess what I found? A neat, period-looking wooden handled screwdriver with the perfect thin edged blade to fit 90% of the screws on my Rem New Army! Pretty much identical to the wild west single-action screwdriver sets you can buy but just the one I needed. The price? 45 cents. A bit of fine sandpaper, a dollop of linseed oil, a splash of stain, & a bit of cold blue on the blade & it looks like a slightly used current tool for the 1860's Hey, sometimes its the little victories that make it worthwhile. Oh & yes I found the hand bell too, but it cost a whole dollar! __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 18, 2011, 07:40 PM	#2
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	Extravagance! Sheer, unfettered extravagance!!! __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

March 18, 2011, 08:18 PM	#3
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	Good find. Black powder shooters do also seem to be excellent scroungers don't we? I think it comes from the same personalities that make us also like BP. . __________________ "This is my Remy and this is my Colt. Remy loads easy and topstrap strong, Colt balances better and never feels wrong. A repro black powder revolver gun, they smoke and shoot lead and give me much fun. I can't figure out which one I like better, they're both fine revolvers that fit in my leather". "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target".

March 18, 2011, 09:05 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Good find. If that dealer knew what he had, he could have sold it on GunBroker for a lot more. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

March 19, 2011, 12:48 AM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Hey Wog Wouldn't mind seeing a photo or two. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

March 18, 2011, 08:24 PM	#4
BrittB Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 554	I love old tools and that sounds like a very nice find to me.

March 19, 2011, 07:30 AM	#7
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I had a funny feeling someone might say that. Here you go, after a little TLC, BLO, stain & blue I didn't want the "New, store bought" look so I stopped short with the cleanup to leave a little character. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 19, 2011, 08:03 AM	#8
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It isn't old. You can still find them in the bargain bin at auto parts stores. If you put a lot of torque on it the handle will twist on the shaft.

March 19, 2011, 11:03 AM	#9
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I never thought it was, I just thought it kind of looked the part more than a plastic-handled multi-tip interchangeable kit in a plastic box. For 45c if the handle twists I'll fill the hole with steel-filled epoxy & call it good. Sheesh, what a killjoy. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 19, 2011, 11:10 AM	#10
BrittB Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 554	I still have mine that I bought back in the 70's off the Mac Tool truck. Love them!

March 19, 2011, 04:22 PM	#12
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Heck for 45c found as an incidental while shopping for a $1.00 hand bell for a joke on a friend's wife. It's not exactly the end of the world I was half having fun with the thread anyway. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 19, 2011, 04:48 PM	#13
BrittB Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 554	I like it when I fine old tools like wenches and such. Always cool! Lately, I've been eyeballing Winchester flashlights on eBay. Never know!

March 20, 2011, 09:13 PM	#14
CameronP Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Location: West Jordan, Utah Posts: 71	Not to digress, but I believe anything made in the good ole USA will eventually become a collector's item. The screw driver does have class. I have one about like it, with years of patina (wear and tear) on it. My dad had it in His old gun-cleaning box.

March 20, 2011, 09:39 PM	#15
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	I still use my Dad's old screwdriver just like that one on my guns.

March 20, 2011, 10:06 PM	#16
Goatwhiskers Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2009 Location: Batchelor, La. Posts: 579	Grace gunsmith's screwdriver, still available from Brownell's in sets. Probably pretty old, they've been around for years. Excellent quality, doubt that it will ever twist in the handle. Goatwhiskers

March 21, 2011, 09:28 AM	#17
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I can't believe a simple fun thread on a 50 cent screwdriver got this agitated. We must all have a real bad dose of cabin fever. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 21, 2011, 11:41 AM	#19
orangello Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 566	Nice find! Should match up nicely, IMO. Oh, Britt, i like the wenches too.