Collecting Vintage Militaria
by Bob Brooke

From Greek Corinthian helmets to World War II flight jackets, the world of militaria, or military antiques and collectibles is a wide ranging one, including artifacts from all conflicts in history. Militaria collectors are usually history or war buffs. And because this category is so large and varied, most often specialize in one historical period, one nation, or even one war.

History buffs prize military artifacts, such as helmets, uniforms, medals, weapons, and even military orders and commendations. Medals, uniforms, and insignia link to a soldier’s service, sacrifice, and bravery. And as the number of artifacts diminishes over time, they gain more than sentimental and historical value.

There are two categories of original owners—the actual owners of the issued equipment, and those who took it away from its original owners. Militaria collectors often refer to these as "vet pickups," and these are generally pieces of enemy equipment, such as German luggers and Samurai swords.

Militaria can be divided into antique military memorabilia—items from before World War I—and vintage military collectibles from 20th and 21st-century conflicts. What creates this division was the introduction of mass production of military items which created a surplus of vintage items. In addition, antique items cost a lot more than vintage ones, making collecting antique militaria out of range for the average collector.

While there are certainly priceless pieces from the World Wars on the market, the sheer size and scope of the conflicts created a huge inventory that’s readily available to collectors. For instance, the U.S. Armed Forces gave World War II Victory Medal to all 16 million members of the armed forces at the end of the War, making these quite common.

Before investing in militaria, however, it’s imperative that beginning collectors learn as much as possible about their chosen specialty. And while creating a general collection can be fun, it will eventually become unorganized and chaotic. So it’s best to specialize from the start.

The number of militaria collectors has exploded over the last 10 to 20 years. One of the top reasons for this has been the recent 75th anniversary of World War II. Many veterans of that war are now passing, leaving their children to deal with their military items. Plus, the proliferation of military items on Internet auction and sales sites has made it easier for collectors to find items to add to their collections. Finally, the release of documentaries about World War I and II in recent years that have been shown on PBS and streaming services has brought the history of the conflicts to the forefront.

One of the main reasons German military artifacts so popular is that Allied soldiers brought a large amount of them back from both World Wars. The lack of standardization of German uniforms and equipment has created a huge variety for collectors to draw from.

As with other antiques and collectibles, rare items cost more and popular ones cost over and above their level of scarcity. Good examples of the latter are German helmets.

What to collect
Some novice collectors make the mistake of collecting a little of everything—uniforms, belt buckles, helmets, medals, flags. Other people focus on just one type of militaria and collect a variety from various nations. Yet others collect by nationality, the most popular being German, American and Japanese, followed closely by British, Russian and French.

The most sought-after pieces of militaria are those that collectors can trace back to an individual serviceperson. Collectors of militaria love to know the story of the soldier who owned the piece. Artifacts with verifiable histories often command premium prices.

Military missions are often well documented in service records. Searching through national archives and history books allows you to view the experience from the point of view of those who participated in the battles. Finding as much information as you can about the person’s service adds to the item’s significance. Alternatively, if you don’t know who owned the piece, educating yourself about how the item was used or the type of soldier that used it adds to its meaning.

Collecting Military Helmets
One of the most popular military items to collect are helmets. Designed to be durable, helmets tend to last much longer and require less care than other common collectibles. A helmet often symbolized the military force that wore it, making a soldier recognizable to allies and enemies alike.

While antique helmets from before World War I are most costly to collect, those from both World Wars are more reasonably priced and more available. The most popular vintage helmet is the American M1, the classic domed olive green helmet used during World War II an on through the Vietnam War.

Collecting Military Medals
Medals are some of the most popular militaria—many medal collectors would never think of collecting anything else. These honorable awards represent sacrifice, bravery, and commitment. The medals that typically go for higher prices are those that can conclusively be linked to the name of the soldiers who received them. Medals that are inscribed with a soldier’s name or ID number enable collectors to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the award. Accompanying certificates add further value to medals because they provide conclusive evidence that the medal was awarded to a particular soldier.

Like all militaria, it’s important to authenticate medals. Reproduction medals often show small flaws that real medals don’t have.

Similar to military uniforms, a medal’s value is more dependent on who received it rather than the piece itself. Unlike uniforms, it’s rarely the fame of the recipient that determines demand, but rather the backstory behind why they received it. A rare but anonymous medal may sell for less than a more common one that has a compelling story behind it.

Collecting Historical Weapons
In the case of weapons, swords, daggers, and guns are all popular. Swords can increase in value as much as 20 percent annually depending on demand and what collectors are willing to pay. Beginning collectors should avoid swords that show signs of filling or filler. And scabbards should fit snugly around swords. All weapons should show natural signs of wear and handling. The quality, age, companion sheath, and original owner all are taken into account when pricing a weapon. Those belonging to a famous soldier are generally more valuable than ordinary ones.

Collecting Military Uniforms
Because soldiers usually wore their dress uniforms home, novice collectors can easily find them for sale. Soldiers often carefully stored their uniforms after returning home as remembrances of their service, so many are also still in excellent condition. When evaluating uniforms, the insignia and the accessories will help determine the price.
Uniforms—complete or partial—also make a notable addition to any military collection.

Authenticating Militaria
Old items of militaria have ways of aging that are difficult to recreate. And while some people try to recreate aging and do a good job, artificial aging looks different. The best way to determine if an item is old is to handle and even smell it. Doing do will help a novice collector develop a sense of what’s authentic.

The most common reproduction items you will encounter are those made for living history or re-enactment groups. A typical re-enactor has a passion for reality and the historical accuracy of their uniforms and equipment. Thus, these items can often pass for the real thing.

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