Anyone Here Collect Militaria?

[gaijinsamurai]

Anyone else collect militaria? I got bit by the bug when I was in the Marine Corps, and traded my Buck knife to a South Korean Marine for his ROKMC beret. Later, in Desert Shield/Storm, the Scottish regiment my unit was with traded us all sorts of uniforms and insignia. My main interests include Imperial Japanese, French Foreign Legion, British, and US Marine Corps. I collect Soviet stuff from time to time too. My main interest was Imperial and WWII German, but prices have gotten to be so rediculously high, and the amount of fakes on the market have made me reluctant to buy any of that in a long time.

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[ZA_Survivalist]

Anything that has to do with AKs. Including any past and present magazines
(the literature kind)

 

[gaijinsamurai]

A few of my German pieces, displayed with my K98 and pistols.

 

[OLDNEWBIE]

Ever fire the P-38?

 

[gaijinsamurai]

Only once. I bought it from a guy at work (retired Portland Police Officer) who needed the cash, for a very decent price. 1942 manufacture, with all matching serial numbers. Smooth!

 

[CamoDeafie]

I do so also. Mostly focusing on Operation Desert Storm to OEF/OIF....some earlier, some in between....and the nice thing is; most of the gear can be used for whatever I need to use.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

Japanese

Misc. headgear atop my bookshelves

German helmets: WWI 1916 Stahlhelm and WWII M35 single decal Luftewaffe

 

[gaijinsamurai]

I do so also. Mostly focusing on Operation Desert Storm to OEF/OIF....some earlier, some in between....and the nice thing is; most of the gear can be used for whatever I need to use.

Ar I built using a Rock River lower and M16A2 parts, to resemble the M16A2 I carried in Operation Desert Storm, with the jacket I wore and my K-bar.

British Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment jackets from OEF/OIF.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

Glengarrys from Scottish regiments.

Scottish Kilts from the Black Watch and Gordon Highlanders regiments

 

[SCannon]

Kind of, my grandfather was in WWII and I have a Nazi helmet that he brought back from Germany. It isn't in very good condition now, but I remember when I was a kid we used it for feeding the hogs and it had the original leather head strap. Now you can barely see the swastika on the side. He also brought back two ceremonial swords, which me and my brother both have now. When we were growing up we used to sword fight with them when we had the scabbards, now we can
t find them and just have the swords. Mine sits above my reloading bench.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

Cool!

My dad's oldest brother was in the Army in WWII, in the Battle of the Bulge. He brought back a P-38, which he gave to one of my cousins.

 

[simon99]

Awesome collection. I personally don't collect, but my Father in law does. During our last visit he had an original issued sidearm from every nation that was involved in WW2. The Lugar he had was from the Submarine Service and actually he had some of the history on it. He's retired AF, and has some pretty cool AF stuff too.

Thanks for sharing your pics with us.

Semper Fi.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

Thanks, Simon!

Semper Fi!

British regimental badges:

 

[OLDNEWBIE]

When I saw the title of this thread it reminded me of the old Father Ted series. The "War Memorabilia" starts at 3:23 but suggest you watch the whole 2 parts.

 

[gaijinsamurai]

I traded a Coldstream Guards No. 1 dress jacket, belt, and cap and a Black Watch piper's jacket (not pictured) for these three sets of WWII Soviet medals. The first bar is for the Defense of the Caucusus, Capture of Koenigsberg and Capture of Berlin, the second and third bars are for the Defense of Leningrad, the first of which appears to be for a civilian laborer.

Trade was probably even. My Coldstream Guards ensemble would have been worth a lot more if I had the bearskin busby like those worn by the guards at Buckingham Palace, but that would have most likely entailed a further $1,000 investment, which i wasn't interested in doing. Also, with limited space, I have to think about what is more practical to keep and display.