- Joined
- Feb 11, 2003
- Messages
- 1,862
With apologies to Jack Black.
I am fortunate to live three miles away from the town of Hartville, Ohio. Hartville is home to the ever popular Hartville Fleamarket. The Fleamarket has its roots set back in 1939, when it first opened as a weekly livestock and egg auction. Over the years the auction slowly morphed in to what it is today: a gigantic fleamarket that covers several acres and is held four times each week.
An aerial photo of a portion of the fleamarket:
You can find just about anything you need for sale here, and thousands of things you didn't have a clue that you needed, but there they are regardless.
My wife and I try to make it out at least a few times each summer, especially for the two (traditionally) largest sales of the year, those being on Labor Day and the 4th of July.
This year the weather was a tad on the gloomy side, but a pretty good crowd of both buyers and sellers was on hand.
We spent about four hours there all in all, pushing our daughter Julia up and down the aisles in her stroller, pausing to chat with sellers and peruse various tables and stalls piled high with detritus.
There were thousands of knives to be had, but unfortunately of late the trend has been for sellers to push cheap imported assisted openers, so you really have to keep a sharp eye out for slipjoints and the like. One such seller had a large table full of switchblades and fantasy knives, and I very nearly walked past without a second glance. I did spy an small plastic tub sitting on the end of his table that seemed to hold a few slipjoints, so I took a minute to paw through them.
Pay dirt!
I found two knives that I just couldn't pass up. I nonchalantly held them both up in my palm and asked the seller how much he wanted for the pair. "Eh, no one wants those old tiny things anymore. How about five bucks for the pair?" I smiled, and tried not to laugh as I rooted in my pocket for a five.
These two teeny knives are the only two I purchased for the day, and I couldn't be more tickled. What were they, you ask?
First, a Christy Knife! I've seen Carl post about these for years, but I confess that I've never seen one in person, despite them being made right here in Ohio, in the town where my mom was born.
I must admit, it's a wonderfully designed little knife. Small, light, solidly built, and sharp as anything, this may be a contender to knock my Vic Classic off my key ring!
Next, the real treasure:
A Schrade Cut Co ring opener! This marks my first ring opener in my collection. When I saw it in the bin, I knew I'd buy it regardless of the maker, but finding that it was a Schrade just made my day! The master blade looks to have never been sharpened, and I daresay never used at all! It's not in the best of condition finish wise, but I'd have paid many times the asking price even so.
So there you have it. I don't think my tale was on a level with Jack's wonderful posts from Yorkshire, but I'm glad I got to share another piece of my collecting adventures with my Traditional family!
Thanks for reading!
I am fortunate to live three miles away from the town of Hartville, Ohio. Hartville is home to the ever popular Hartville Fleamarket. The Fleamarket has its roots set back in 1939, when it first opened as a weekly livestock and egg auction. Over the years the auction slowly morphed in to what it is today: a gigantic fleamarket that covers several acres and is held four times each week.
An aerial photo of a portion of the fleamarket:
You can find just about anything you need for sale here, and thousands of things you didn't have a clue that you needed, but there they are regardless.
My wife and I try to make it out at least a few times each summer, especially for the two (traditionally) largest sales of the year, those being on Labor Day and the 4th of July.
This year the weather was a tad on the gloomy side, but a pretty good crowd of both buyers and sellers was on hand.
We spent about four hours there all in all, pushing our daughter Julia up and down the aisles in her stroller, pausing to chat with sellers and peruse various tables and stalls piled high with detritus.
There were thousands of knives to be had, but unfortunately of late the trend has been for sellers to push cheap imported assisted openers, so you really have to keep a sharp eye out for slipjoints and the like. One such seller had a large table full of switchblades and fantasy knives, and I very nearly walked past without a second glance. I did spy an small plastic tub sitting on the end of his table that seemed to hold a few slipjoints, so I took a minute to paw through them.
Pay dirt!
I found two knives that I just couldn't pass up. I nonchalantly held them both up in my palm and asked the seller how much he wanted for the pair. "Eh, no one wants those old tiny things anymore. How about five bucks for the pair?" I smiled, and tried not to laugh as I rooted in my pocket for a five.
These two teeny knives are the only two I purchased for the day, and I couldn't be more tickled. What were they, you ask?
First, a Christy Knife! I've seen Carl post about these for years, but I confess that I've never seen one in person, despite them being made right here in Ohio, in the town where my mom was born.
I must admit, it's a wonderfully designed little knife. Small, light, solidly built, and sharp as anything, this may be a contender to knock my Vic Classic off my key ring!
Next, the real treasure:
A Schrade Cut Co ring opener! This marks my first ring opener in my collection. When I saw it in the bin, I knew I'd buy it regardless of the maker, but finding that it was a Schrade just made my day! The master blade looks to have never been sharpened, and I daresay never used at all! It's not in the best of condition finish wise, but I'd have paid many times the asking price even so.
So there you have it. I don't think my tale was on a level with Jack's wonderful posts from Yorkshire, but I'm glad I got to share another piece of my collecting adventures with my Traditional family!
Thanks for reading!
:thumbup:
