About World War 2 US Militaria
There is something magical about collecting World War 2 US Militaria. The world was different. The world, at that time, was divided into 2 halves. The Allies and the Axis Powers. Boundary and Battle lines were defined. The colorful uniforms of the Allies distinguished them from the dark and gray Axis Powers. It was a time when the nation had a father, a son, a brother, a daughter and a mother all participating to defend freedom against the oppression of the weak. It was certainly a time of unity for all.
If you are new to collecting US militaria or doing it as a hobby, I assure you that you will enjoy countless hours of researching a certain item, going thru books and discovering its historical significance. Most would agree that the satisfaction they get from acquiring military artifacts from World War II is exhilarating. There is no comparable feeling to holding an authentic KA-Bar fighting knife used by US Marines in their beach landing on the island of Iwo Jima. You actually own a piece of history literally in your hands.
Starting your own US militaria collection is also the best way to spend time with your family and friends. You can teach your kids about history and about decisive battles of the War both in the European and Pacific campaigns. If you come across an old Japanese samurai that was probably used by a Japanese officer during World War II, you can easily share the history of it and also the role of the Japanese during the War.
When you go out of the country, you also have a fair chance to get other items used in the war. In Asian countries such as the Philippines, Japan and China there are military surplus items that date back from the war and being sold at a modest price. And most of them are authentic. Keep in mind that World War II involved a lot of countries; so finding significant militaria collection from other places will also add value to your collection. Try to go to antique shops, flea markets and search online. You will be surprised to find items in the most unlikely places.
One of the first things to do before you start collecting items is to get a good reference book. This is probably the best investment that you can make, aside from you first World War II item. Reference books provide valuable information on the item you wish to buy, its actual price and its real value compared with other wwii militaria items. Having this knowledge will also help you in getting good bargains from sellers. This is really a must.
Joining clubs and national organizations that cater to this hobby puts you right in front of the action in getting new or old US militaria items. There are some groups that hold educational classes and seminars to its new members. Intermingling with like-minded individuals will also help in enriching your knowledge about US militaria collection.