Reference
Militaria & History
FN Model 1949 — Egyptian Contract
c. 1949–1952 · Fabrique Nationale, LiègeOne of 37,602 rifles built for the Egyptian Army — crown of King Farouk, Arabic serials, brass trapdoor buttplate.
A Traveler's Collection & Research Desk
I find things. Some are mine. Some could be yours.
Welcome to a working vault of found objects and the research behind them — watches, coins, maps, instruments, militaria history — plus deep-dive field guides, and a standing offer: if there's something you've been hunting, send me the description and I'll keep an eye out as I travel.
What This Site Does
Three rooms in one house
The Vault
Every item I post comes with its history — era, origin, and the story of how it was found. Most pieces are here purely for the research; a rotating few are open to a price request, handled personally.
Enter the vault →Field Guides
Long-form collector references written from the bench — starting with a complete guide to the FN-49 military rifles: contracts, crests, calibers, serial dating, stocks, and proof marks.
Read the guides →The Hunt
Tell me what you're looking for — an era, a maker, a specific model — and I'll add it to my hunt list. When I cross it in my travels, you hear about it first. No find, no fee.
Start a hunt →From the Vault
Recently documented
A few entries from the catalog. Click through to the vault for filters and the full list.
Reference
Available
Horology
Trench Watch with Leather Strap
c. 1918 · European theatreThe officer's answer to reading time with both hands full — pocket movement, wire lugs, a century of stories.
Available
Instruments & Optics
Brass Prismatic Compass
Early 20th century · British patternThe marching compass every expedition carried before electronics — take a bearing without looking away.
Field Guide 01
The FN-49 Field Reference
A complete collector's guide to Fabrique Nationale's Model 1949 semi-automatic rifle — all nine military contracts, receiver crests, four service calibers, serial-number dating, stock variations by contract, and the Liège proof marks that authenticate one in seconds.
The Hunt
Looking for something specific?
Describe it
What it is, the era or maker, the condition you'll accept, and a rough budget.
I add it to the hunt list
Every market, estate sale, shop counter, and dusty corner I visit gets checked against open requests.
You hear first
When I cross it, you get photos, condition notes, and a price — before I offer it to anyone else.
