It occured to me that surely I am not alone in collecting WW2 militaria, I actually collect German Helmets . I started as a young teenager as my Uncle was a dispatch rider during the war and amassed quite a haul of military items that he continued to collect ever since. I inherited all of his collection back in the 70's but unfortuneatly I sold most of it to buy my first Motorbike (the the lure of going fast ) as soon as I was old enough to hit the road. Now after many years I have started collecting again. Any body else collect or have returned to something they collected as a youngster?
Interesting, I'm collecting, too. I've inherited quite the collection of WWII German and WWI Austrian Army stuff from my father, but sold many pieces because it took too much space. I only kept the best stuff. I am mainly collecting military photographs from 1914 to the 1950ies and medals.
I have some US and Japanese (rifle, flag etc.) items that were my fathers. I started a collection of Military knives but it just became too expensive to continue.
I collect practice bombs, helmets, and bayonets. coolest one is a 100lbs practice bomb that had a hold to let change be dropped in.
Here are some original WW1 pics from my collection - Austrian soldiers loading a bomb on an Austrian biplane. Second pic shows a car from the Austrian imperial-royal motor vehicle pool.
Not really a collection, but these have been hanging in my father's closet all my life, he'll be 103 on April 29.
I collect Japanese stuff. US WWII stuff also. I have been selling off some of my things to support this new hot rod hobby though.
Great posts guys, obviously my passion is cars, but I still love this stuff and have done since I was a kid.....
Great photos! I wonder if those bombs were "Armed" on the ground or in the air, or if they even had that capability. I also like those Zoomies on the aircraft.
I collect German Freikorps 1918-1923 badges, medals, documentation, photos, and some WW1 German/American. @Surfcityrocker nice photos, we dont see many Austrian aviation images. My WW2 items have diminished, but I've got my uncles Army uniform and various small pieces from our different branches.
I collect bayonets and other military stuff. Started with what my great uncle brought home from Gallipoli and France after WW1. Lived in the Solomons islands for a while and walked all the battlefields. The stuff, uxo,s as well, is lying everywhere just where it was left. Lived in Timor, PNG and Sudan and did battlefields there as well.
I didn’t intend to collect any I have so much other stuff I have 1952 gmc duece and half Not really WW 2 but interesting old truck Have several guys that want it But they have no way to move it probably weights 10 to 13000 pounds I’m guessing Good luck to all with finding more WW2 Items for your collections
I do collect as a way to get to know my grandfather, Pfc. James Garrison. He passed away when I was just 3 years old. I think in our family he was more of a legend than just a man. God bless all veterans. Sent from my Pixel XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yes I have gone back to collecting some WWII militaria but I got rid of all German and Italin Helmits some with owners hand written ID & names inside. There were stories that go with that stuff and I had to get it out of the house.
Not actively collecting, just "save" stuff if it's cheap and/or cool enough. Got my dads Swedish hat from his service 1946 to 1948. Some minor swedish stuff, and just recently bought a ww2 wermacht kraftstoff barreldrum from 42. Bad shape but to interesting to pass up. Pic when found.
oldengine: God bless your dad and all vets past and present. They are the glue that still hold our country together and from which our youth can learn so much including the meaning of patriotism and freedom. So much today seems taken for granted or forgotten.
I wish my Dad had saved his old Navy things. He didn't think they were important to anyone and let my older cousins play with them until they were gone. I always had a fascination with WWII things because of my Dad and Uncles being in it. Probably the first thing I got didn't have much to do with WWII other than being inspired by it. I bought one of those plastic German helmets from Ed Roth. Later bought a real one. Then started buying Uniforms and collectables at garage sales of people selling the estates of their fathers. I am always amazed when their fathers items are more important to me than they are to them. Then an Army Ranger traded a M 38 A1Willys Jeep with replica mounted 50 cal. Machine gun and trailer for one of my hotrod bodies and chassis . That really got me going buying military thing's . I sold the Jeep after a couple years of enjoying it but still have quite a bit of the other stuff.
I completely agree! Some of that stuff has some serious bad vibes attached! Sent from my Pixel XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My dad was in the Southwest Pacific in the 5th AF. . Have his photo album, uniform and some "scrounged" stuff from over the years.
Nice keepsakes. Helps the younger generations to remember just how tough it really was.... Nick Sent from my Pixel XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My family made this for me quite a few years ago. I will take some close ups when I get around to removing the glass to fix some of the things that came loose.
Not exactly WWII militaria but it did come my way via the Second War, this is a Mauser 1914 pocket pistol known as a humpback because of the extra machining operation on the slide. My FIL's uncle brought it home from Germany and it was passed on to my FIL and in turn I became the owner. The humpbacks were first year of production with an estimate of around 2800 produced that year and there are variations I've seen on line with different barrel lengths. I also have the Army paperwork that authorized it coming to the US. I would say 80-90% of the bluing is there, a couple very minute rust flecks and beautiful walnut grips., it also has the Mauser holster and one magazine.
Some close ups from the earlier post. Some missions penned on the life vest. A little artwork Maps and photo
MY eldest son is a WWII reinactor. He has a 1944 WC dodge guns helmets uniforms ect ect. I have a WWII bomb trailer. It was with Pattons third army in Europe.
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