The Militaria Blog

ek2 · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

I just saw the Militaria Show Jargon in the Militaria Blog. There is more truth to that than most collectors realize. I've hear this kind of thing so many times I can't count. Everyone should take a look it's good for a laugh if nothing else. http://www.germanmilitariacollectibles.com/blog/

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

I seem to recall reading this before, or perhaps I have just lived it many times.

This brings to mind - one of the small shows in Sarasota Floridia that I used to set up at as a display, as in nothing was for sale. I was always looking to buy. just like every show I set up at in Floridia, the old home of where the Vets go after they retired.

Anyway long story short; two young guys walk up to my table, one was looking over the 450 SA daggers I had on display set up on 8 tables - all with different trademarks, all under glass.
The one guy looks at the other and said; WOW this is an incredible collection of daggers! The other who had not even looked just turned around from looking the other way and said; They are all FAKE; why waste your time looking at them!

Don't you just love that?

Flash forward a few months I did a show in Atlanta where one of the BIG named X sperts showed up, again I did a small display of the few Full SA ROHM daggers I had, as in 5 of them, - by the way all were bought from WW II Vet's who responded to my adds. I was so happy to find out that they were no good, that is -- if they were not for sale. My Himmler dagger displayed with them was also no good.
Strange a few years back this X spert sold it after picking it up from the fellow I sold it to, now it was one of the best preserved examples ever to surface since the end of the war! Strange how that works.

Hillbilly Bill · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 13

Wow does that sound familiar!
I grew up next door to Dieter Muller who was a panzer lieutenant in the German army.
When my neighbor died, his daughter gave me all his things from the war.
I needed some money fast, and took his entire black panzer and parade uniform, and other things to the big show.
I got comments like 'it is too clean', 'faked up', 'nicest replica I have ever seen' and 'yaunkey uniform with real labels added'.
Still they all wanted to make me an offer.
I put it all back in his German army clothing box, and left the show.
Dealers followed me out, increasing their offers all the way to the car.
I got a second job, and I have never took another item to a militaria show to sell.
I still have Dieter's things.

Bill Hill

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

You know that brings up a quick story of X sperts. I did a show out in Dallas years ago some of you may recall the Dave Cook show.
I used to get 4 tables, three for sale items, one for display items only.

So I set up my display of unique daggers, and or daggers that did not fit the TEXTBOOK standard -- but non the less were all Veteran acquired as well left in the state of preservation they were found in. __ Please reread this statment again after you finish.

On that note I had three 1st Railway daggers two with hangers, three with the period portepee's on them.
So we are all on the same page as I am sure some of you may not get the point here. The X sperts all claim that only Klaas made this style dagger, and that the grip they used is longer by 7 / 10 of an inch and thats how you can tell a real one.

Ok so you all follow me so far? Well in 1963 I was given by a Vet a very clean 1st RailWay dagger by who? Well Eickhorn it was a type 1 set up with a small twin oval trademark. It has the " alledged Railway hangers, they look like Army hangers other than the black backs and twin black lines on the brocade. The portepee was a standard Army style other than thin black woven lines on the stem.

The other was a " Textbook" Klaas with a silver Army style portepee that came on it. Vet acquired in Atlanta GA.

The last was a WKC, with a short grip, and like hangers as the Eickhorn, with a Army style portepee, now this dagger was bought from a Veteran from New Jerrsy, as is.

Now enter, X spert; As he looked over the daggers, he said to me, now you know better than to show these Railways daggers without Klaas blades no one will ever buy them, as we in the collecting community have made it known that only Klaas made them. And we also feel that these really are nothing more than Army daggers that had painted grips at one time, that guys like you removed the paint from.

NO ONE - will ever buy them as being real, you had better find a few Klaas daggers to put the grips on so you can sell them!

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