The very first thing I look for is cookware, mainly cast iron, then other stuff. This last month, I picked up some nice stuff.

Le Creuset enameled cast iron 9x13 baking pan $0.75
Le Creuset enameled cast iron pot with lid $0.75
Le Creuset enameled cast iron skillet $0.75
Some very nice kitchen knives $1-$4

 

This past Friday at a yard sale I got a Jennings J-22 that had barely been shot and a box of ammo (Hopefully I can use it as trading foder!) -- A Model '94 30-30 Winchester that needs work -- And a 1946 Russian M44 Mosin Nagant in fantastic shape with all the goodies and two boxes of ammo to boot! First time I've ever gotten in on the guns at a sale. They usually say something like, "I sold the two that I had to someone who came the night before."

 

My area is very rural and people know their guns. If it's for sale it's usually not a bargain. I did find a very nice hand bb gun for 15 dollars, like new last week. It was too fun not to buy. I have found some great camping deals. A big nice tent complete for 25. A very heavy down mummy sleeping bag in like new condition for 20. Lodge dutch oven for free, has lid but it was rusty. My husband used a grinding wheel on it and now it's fine.

I like to go antique-ing and I have a gorgeous old aladdin lamp. Not cheap but very useable. I got another one for free from my MIL and I've used it many times when the electricity has gone out.

Just about half of what I buy is "picked". It saves me money and I look at is as a way of recycling. It's one more item that Wal-Mart doesn't have to buy from China.

 

Camping gear is usually number 1.
Gold or silver is number 2
Tools
Antiques

Never run across any guns though.

 

ANVILS
Blowers
Hammers
Tool Steel
Hand made toys
Fur and leather scrounging
Ham radio equipment
generators
farm equipment
adze, hatchets, axes, nuts, bolts, etc.

 

Sounds like my list. I'd like to lay my hands on a cheap J-3 Cub but cheap ones are as rare as hen's teeth.

 

Whatever I can't live without.

 

little kids

 

Ditto the cast iron but I have found some really nice Stainless steel pans recently. I got 200 stainless steel single edge razor blades for fifty cents last week. Each wrapped in cardboard and made in the USA. They were at least 20 years old but pristine and really heavy compared to the made in China stuff you find these days.
I look for fishing tackle, hand axes and tools. I found a bunch of Brace and Bit, bits including a hole cutter, for next to nothing. Nobody knew what they were.
People are afraid to sell firearms in the city. Most of them think that it is illegal to sell outside of a gun store. (These are, of course, non-shooters)
I hear the stories, "Well, grandpa had this double barrel shotgun, It said Weathersomething on it. It looked funny because the barrels were on top of each other instead of side by side. The guy in the gun store told me that it wasn't really worth much but he would let me have $50 because I was so nice."

 

Anything outdoor related or prepping related. Old tools, guns, knifes, cookware, camping, fishing, tractors, tillers, motors, lamps and almost anything that would make a post crap hit the fan thang go better for living or bartering.

 

old motorcycles:

 

Old hand tools (brace and bits, axes, hammers, chisels, cultivators, fence stretchers, etc)
Cast iron cookware
Misc stuff for reloading, fishing, camping (wish I could find more of this)

I'm always on the lookout for anything to use post SHTF...

Karl

 

Glass jars, especially the gallon size. Not long ago you could go to a deli and get their old glass pickle jars for free. Now everything comes in plastic containers. Just last week, I spotted a glass gallon jar with lid at a thirft store for $3. Bought it as it was the first one I had found in over a month.

 

: Anything and or everything I can find that could/would be useful in a SHTF situation.

best picks were:

1940's dbl barrel shotgun (working) $2.00
9 bricks of candle wax $ .50
full fishing tackle box ith 2 reels $1.00
cast iron oven $3.00


Oh and P.S.


Theyre from Iowa ..... about 2 hours from where I live. Many lifetime Ia residents tend to be frugal so pickin and garage sales/auctions are almost on par with the state fair IMO.


Funny ... "those guys from up north". Never thought of myself like that ... Fits though! :thumb:

Happy huntin 'yall!

 

I just keep my eyes out for things that I can use or possibly barter. Sometimes I'm just a sucker for a good deal, even if it's something I don't need. I pick up a lot of unusual art pieces that way, and a few decorative antiques. But now that I've moved into a smaller house, I'm regretting a lot of it.

 

One Question, Why would Cast Iron stuff be any better than a light metal pot ?
I mean I have some cast Iron Pots and pans , I wouldn't carry those anywhere, I probably die of a hernia, LOL
I enjoy Garage sales and have scored some good stuff for survivl gear, I also scored an oil painting for $15 that I sold for $1,900 turned out to be some famous french painter.

 

It's not that it's better at everything, but it's really great for cooking over wood fires and coals. It heats more evenly and is less likely to burn the food. Also, cast iron dutch ovens are a great way to do primitive baking when you don't otherwise have an oven.

Lighter cookware is better if you have to haul it on your back. But cast iron will generally cook better if weight isn't an issue.

If you're poking around and see cast iron, look for the logo. If it's Griswold, grab it even if you don't want it. That's an antique brand that is highly in demand. You can turn it for a hefty profit if you can get a good deal on it.

 

American Pickers is my new favorite show! They were in NC and SC too the episode before last night's. In fact, they had a huge National cash register appraised at an auction house down the road from me.

As to what I look for...
Farm/hand tools
Guns and ammo
Sturdy cookware
Old JL Prevost prints or any vintage/antique art and pottery.

 

At yard sales if the sellers are elderly make the casual comment of, "Everything but guns eh?" or "What? No guns?" Say it with a smile and the seller may have some in the attic that he doesn't use anymore. Maybe he was saving them for the kids but his kids grow up into liberal yuppies and moved off to the city.

 

Every year we have a 50 mile yard sale around here, theres always lots of deals but a lot of garbage to wade through as well. I've found a number of good hand tools. My favorite find is an antique oil lamp that the seller thought was just an ornament. I use it all the time.

 

I have one or two Griswold skillets and one lid. I have a kettle (Erie) from about 1895. I have Wagners as well as others. It's kind of stupid to keep buying more but who cares.

 

I wish I knew more about the other brands. Griswold is the only ones I recognize and try to collect. I've probably passed up good deals on valuable pieces because I didn't know what I was looking at.

 

Great show one of my favorites when we go picking we look for
Guns or ammo or both
Cast iron cookware
Mason jars quart and pint size
Tarps, bungee cords, old tools, hand tools Ie: saws, ax
Air mattress, sleeping bags, coleman lanters, oil lamps
Old gas cans the ones without the funky nozzles
Propane tanks that can be refilled

 

"Country as a turnip green" definitely applies...

ROFL Ok, I’m such a goof sometimes! : I confess I passed by this thread a few times before reading it, for a couple of reasons. First of all, going by the title only, I thought this thread was about people resorting to picking crops during tough financial times. This idea was nothing new to me; I grew up in a county where the primary crops were apples and tobacco, with smaller cash crops such as strawberries prevalent as well. I’ve picked more than my share of flats of strawberries, as well as putting in my time on a tying machine, and watched my brother put himself through college “hangin’ kil”. Then I happened to roll over this thread with my cursor and curiosity got the better of me, (you know how the first few lines of a thread pop up in that little beige box to give you an idea of the gist of the conversation) I deduced that Gallo was referring to a TV show (be nice, I watch very little TV, grew up in a home that was TV-free until the age of 14, so it’s something I know little about and couldn’t imagine that they were making a reality show about picking crops!!!!
Shheeessh, you’d think that after 20 years in the big city most of the country woulda worn off this gal!! Apparently not! LOL I guess now I have to add “picker” to the list of things I never knew I was!
Ok, now that you’ve had your chuckle for the day :…let me add…this thread is fun and useful! I love going pickin’ (gosh, I feel so special with my new “picker” label) and it’s where you can usually find me early on a Saturday morning before hitting the archery range. I’m always on the lookout for canning jars, old kitchen hand tools and appliances, melamine dishes, stuff useful for barter, lighting sources (I think I have a lamp and lantern fetish), and camping gear. I think I’m jealous of you guys over on the east side (I’m in Cali now), sounds like you come across lots more useful stuff!

Best Recent Finds
3 Dietz lanterns, (vintage Kmart ones) $2.00 each, turns out one of these Kmart ones goes for about $10
8 pairs of brand new garden/utility gloves 0.25 a pair
1 dozen brand new utility knives 0.25 each
4 brand new back support belts 0.25 each
3 sleeping bags $2.00 each

My favorite find…One complete set of vintage kitchen utensils with melamine handles, including a hand mixer…bought these so many years ago I don’t remember what I paid for them but I’m guessing it wasn’t more than $5 as that’s my usual limit.

In the OP Gallo asked if perhaps there was something we looked for related to prepping…well I must admit to a fondness for the melamine dishes I mentioned earlier for a few reasons. (I’m referring to vintage melamine like the sort manufactured under the name Boonton etc…you know the stuff that’s a funny shade of pink or yellow?) I didn’t see this on any of the other replies…I like this stuff ‘cause it’s practically indestructible, light weight, it holds heat well pretty well and you won’t burn your hands on a cup of coffee…and well, I grew up eating off this stuff and it’s comforting to me. I have a set in the camper, and am looking for more pieces to add…it’s a trivial thing I know, but useful just the same and has qualities I look for in anything related to preps!

 

A gun show is where I picked up that kettle. It was the end of the show and I paid $20. The tag said $50. Wagner got bought by another cast iron company. It's not as nice as Griswold(in my opinion) but good enough to use daily. I love cast iron and cook with it every day. If I'm not using cast iron(90%), I'm using stainless(10%). I don't use non-stick coated cookware. I use the original non-stick, cast iron.

 

More on Griswold.

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/faq.html

http://www.griswoldcookware.com/history.htm