Collectors and Preppers in Patterson - An After-Action Report

I got there early in the morning. Same time I go to work at the day job actually. Gave an initial observation earlier. Now that I’m home, and am over the post-mission energy crash, I can write a little more about the event.

I’ve known the founder of the show since I first walked into his store (now closed) as a young militaria collector in 1979. As a survivalist from the 1980s to the present his place was one of my go-tos for inexpensive military surplus gear, and slightly more expensive collectibles. His daughter now runs the show, and we’ve been friends since middle school. The Duffle Bag used to advertise in Cybertek. Nuff said.

This show is aimed at militaria and knife collectors. It’s mostly collectibles, but the only differences between surplus and collectibles are age, price, condition, and utility. A lot of us old-school survivalists are still running ALICE kit and wearing the last sets of BDUs we were issued just before getting the new camo pattern three months before our ETS. Such behavior gives Cold War era collectors the screaming meemies, but the USAF used BDUs until 2011. There is still a butt-ton load of them available with nobody other than old-school survivalists, collectors, and impoverished tradespeople (on occasion) buying them. Likewise for as many people who buy a Case knife, stick it in their pocket, and use it to castrate livestock, there are an equal number who treat them as objects ‘d art and keep them wrapped in chamois lest they lose collector value by getting a fleck of dust on them. I have a 100+ year old M1917 Bolo knife that came to me in rough, but serviceable shape. A friend of mine out west sharpened, refinished, and replaced the wood on it. Totally ruined whatever collector value (however little) was left on it, but now I have a big working field knife that my grandkids will be able to use. I’d do the same with any Cattaraugus 225Q or Collins knife that comes may way in similar shape.

It’s rather interesting watching the people there. One of the politest guys was this out-of-shape Boomer sporting a MAGA hat and wearing a shirt with a picture of Donald Trump giving the finger with the caption “You Missed.” I don’t know whether he was trying to get a rise out of people, or figured he was in a safe enough space to don his political wear. Thanked me for my service (I was wearing my prior branch of service hat and jeep sweater from when I was in. Yes, I am jeep sweater years old.), and all that. One of the few people that did. That tells you something, but maybe not what you think.

The survivalist and prepper types are always fun. You can always tell the two apart. The former know what they want, buy it, and call it good. The latter have to provide normal-sounding explanations as to why they want it and what they want it for before waffling over the purchase for the next hour. Either way, both of them are ones grabbing the odd non-collectible Ontario 498 off a table full of WW2 USMC Ka-Bars, ammo cans, and MOLLE gear, and the dads buying books on wilderness survival for their sons.

Best customers are Asian-American collectors. They are polite, discerning, know what they want, don’t haggle, and if they see something they want they just buy it. I know a lot of them are buying for resale in overseas markets. American pop-culture stuff from the 20th Century is big in Japan, for example. This is fortunate from a sales standpoint because most of what’s left from WW2 to Vietnam is in smaller sizes that won’t fit your average American adult, but is sized just right for your average Asian person. The fact that they are generally speaking, less hassle to deal with, is a bonus. Reference “Neuro John” and “survival fishing” in previous writings.

There wasn’t much comm gear on the floor this time around. In fact, I was the only one with comm gear. Those field phones, West German Cold-War era, belonged to a friend who asked me to put them on my table. One of the WW2 reenactors got a hold of them because they are close enough in appearance to be suitable for use in reenacting events. Before you ask, yes there are WW2 reenactors who do “the other side,” and only a small minority, usually the SS guys, are neo-Nazis. With that said, the WW2 Italian reenactors have the best food and usually a few large bottles of vino at their camp. We use them as comic relief because of the Italian military’s reputation during the war (lightly used Carcanos: never fired and only dropped once), the fact that they were reluctant members of the Axis, and the fact that they are less offensive overall than a bunch of dudes sporting Swastikas. Watching them get half-lit and try to play bocce is a trip. Punti bonus se parli Italiano, but I digress.

The two police scanners on my table went to a young guy who was a volunteer firefighter, scanner radio enthusiast, and survivalist. He didn’t mention that last part. Didn’t have to. Preppers don’t do volunteer public safety. Survivalists do. He knew what he was seeing, saw it would fit a need, and went for it. We chatted a bit about the old days of radio scanning in downstate New York when a 20 channel scanner hooked up to a VHF-low band ground plane on the roof would let you hear every fire call in a 50 mile radius, CB gear, and the benefits of a Technician Class Amateur Radio license with a good 50 Watt 2 Meter rig and proper antenna. Just another dude doing his best to live down-grid. Not off-grid or grid-down. Down-grid. There is a difference between the three; the difference between the daring and the dilettantes.

Although I didn’t grab any pieces of kit this time around, I’m always keeping my eyes open for a few things. Ammo cans and their prices are one. I keep track of the current army/navy store prices for the various types, and try to grab one or two when I see them at a bargain. Didn’t see any ammo can bargains this time around, but prices were comparable to retail. British DPM field smocks are another. These are becoming harder to come by in normal human sizes, and prices are going up. Field knives in less than collectible condition for refurbing without suffering collector guilt. There were a few, but nothing that I felt needed to come home with me. Interesting FMs and TMs. And of course commo gear.

I’ve had a table there most times for the past 8 years. It’s a great venue for collecting Intel, and I mean I am looking for specific data for a specific purpose (nonya). Besides the HUMINT angle, I find gear and collectibles cheap for resale, offload excess stuff I picked up for evaluation, and sell my books. Speaking of which, I’m updating Down-Grid Communications with all new information I learned since I released the latest version. Hope to have actual dead-tree versions at the next show in April. I have a full catalog of stuff I’ve written.