AUTHENTICITY OF MILITARIA
This blog will be a brief overview / listing of some quick tips and techniques for you to use to check the authenticity of militaria items. Unfortunately this is a subject we must cover because whether you are new to the militaria collecting and enthusiast world or you have been around for quite some time it's no secret that there has been a large influx of fakes floating around the markets and at militaria shows all over, especially with German items since they are the most expensive and sought after. It is in everyone's best interest to know what to look for when purchasing militaria items online and in person to save yourself from disappointment later on down the line and to prevent anyone trying to sell a fake from making a dime off it.
Get Hands On
It goes without saying that the best way to inspect any militaria item for authenticity is in person and hands on. Depending on the item and the country that it belonged to it may have very specific markings, stamps, or serial numbers i.e. rifles, bayonets, daggers, and swords. If you plan to purchase an item that would have engraved manufacture markings of any kind or any item that would have manufacturer markings which is a vast majority, a good piece of advice is before you make your way to a military show or scour the market for it online, do your research on that specific item's history. This cannot be stressed enough. You can do this by:
finding and looking at detailed pictures and or videos of the original item.
Find out the manufacturing periods, Where or what factories / Companies made these items.
If improvements were made, what dates did they start producing and issuing out the improved version of said item.
What are the dates, stamps and markings supposed to look like and where on the item are they supposed to be placed.
A list showing a variety of German Dagger manufacture markings during WWII
The Internet is your Friend
Any information you would want to find on a specific item is available online. Someone out there has studied, worked with, and acquired it over their years in this hobby. To locate this vast wealth of knowledge and people, forums are a great resource. Now you shouldn't trust everyone and everything you read and see on militaria forums because there are some self-proclaimed ?Experts? that in reality just spew incorrect nonsense about militaria items, but that's a small minority. Forums are a great place to learn, ask questions, get advice and speak to very knowledgeable people that have been in this hobby for decades and hold a plethora of knowledge.
Reference Books!
Reference books are one of the best investments you can make in collecting militaria. There are plenty of books dedicated to all different types of militaria from many nations that are extremely informational and filled with plenty of pictures and references to show you everything about these items.
American Web Equipment Reference Book by Martin J. Brayley
Credible Militaria Dealers / Shops
Militaria businesses and dealers with good reputations that have been in the business for years and are also collectors themselves, are a good place to look for items without having to worry much about making sure items are authentic. These businesses will usually have plenty of up close and detailed pictures of their items and will not downplay the condition of the item if it is not in the best of shape. Secondly, it is common for these militaria shops to have an inspection period for purchased items, letting you inspect the item you ordered and return it with a full refund if something about it wasnt correct or addressed on the description / pictures beforehand. These businesses are also open to speaking with you if you have questions regarding a certain item and will have no problem sending more pictures if needed, Of course though, These businesses are run by people and people can make mistakes and overlook something on an item and not notice if there is something wrong. Just as I am liable to this as well.
Backstories
You are buying the item, not the story. Many people will tell you exaggerated backstories about an item you're looking at to try to help sell it, most of these stories are bogus. Inspect the item as you would with any, regardless of the story.
Quality, Price, Honesty
A few more things to look out for are:
Dealers that won't state if an item has been restored with reproduction parts and or new paint
If an item looks like it has been artificially aged.
Quality is a big factor in the militaria collecting world, the Majority of items sold and traded are well over 75-80 plus years old and have been through a war so it's no surprise that the items in good condition will cost a pretty penny. If you see an item in immaculate shape but for a price that makes it a steal, it's probably too good to be true. On the other hand, if you have inspected an item and the condition is good, don't be afraid to pay a few extra dollars for it.
These are just some simple tips and techniques you can use to help guide you in the right direction within your militaria collecting endeavors. There are many other things that you'll learn with time, experience, studying, and by talking with veterans in the collecting community. Always strive to learn more and ask questions to the right people, and keep a vigilant eye when purchasing militaria.
Thank you for visiting The Garrison Militaria.
