New to the hobby! Any advice?

[NCairborne]

Hello everyone!

My name is Will and i am 14. I just started collecting about half a year ago and it has become a big hobby of mine. I was wondering if there was anything I should know before I begin making to many purchases. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for everything!

Will

[Chris D.]

Read read READ!!

There are a ton of great books out there that will help you from getting burned. Anything from Bender.

Read the forum, look at threads and get familiar with as much as you can.

Have fun!

[Skipper Greenwade]

Hi Will...welcome to the hobby and the Forum

Your question is a good one, but a difficult one to answer. At the risk of scaring you away, suffice it to say that, sadly, our hobby has its share (some would say more than its share!) of crooks and shady characters. When I was fourteen and collecting, the fakes were easy to spot and avoid, but that's not the case anymore.

With that out of the way, you have made one of the best possible moves - joining this Forum. I encourage you to go one step further and become an Association Member. It will be the best $25.00 you spend on the hobby. You will be able to post photos and access the Association Members Only area of the Forum.

Next, pick an area of the hobby and learn all you can about your chosen field. You can repeat this process as your interests change, but there is no substitute for becoming an informed collector. Buy, borrow, and read books...lots of books. Follow the Forums that relate to your area(s) of interest regularly and regularly check the E-stand for the things you're looking for as frequently as your budget allows.

If at all possible, attend at least one of the big shows each year (I know, tough at your age). Even if you don't buy much - or anything at all - you'll learn so much and meet so many like-minded individuals it will be time and money well spent. Depending on where in the Eastern US you live, Pittsburgh, PA or Louisville, KY may not be far away and both cities host great shows.

Lastly, when you buy an item, buy the best in terms of condition that you can afford!

Nothing new or complicated about my advice, but that approach has served me well and I continue to enjoy the hobby after 40-plus years. Hope that helps.

Best wishes and happy collecting
Skip

[besslein]

and better ask (with photos) here before you buy something new for your collection,thats my advice for you ,and please remember abaut!
good luck and warm regards
Arek

[Z19]

new collector

If you are going to collect, the best thing to do in the beginning is follow a few simple rules to keep from getting burned by other collectors and dealers.

1. Buy only items you are familiar with as far as originality goes.
2. Concentrate on a couple areas you are interested in and stay in this area.
3. Never take originality for granted just because it came from a "reputable" dealer as they are getting fewer and fewer. There are some good ones that hang out here.
4. The first money you should spend is on reference books about the particular area you like.

Good luck, Alex

[kirk]

Read many good books on this hobby.Be very carefull what you buy.Do not believe all the stories sellers give you.Try to collect in just a couple of areas.Do not buy everything you see.Buy top condition pieces when possible.Attend militaria shows.Join this forum and study what you see on it.Have fun.Be honest in your dealings.Good luck.

[Voldbjerg]

As I said to another young collector:

Firstly I would like to bid you welcome to the largest and best militaria forum ever!

Secondly I would like to say some things that might help you:

It is always difficult in the beginning. Sorting out the originals from all the crap which flows around is probably the hardest thing in this hobby. Money is the second hardest thing.

If you want to avoid those anoying and expensive crap fakes, you will have to "suck" every knowledge avaible on the specific items you want to collect. Just find as much info as you can.
This forum is just as good as many reference books, so in the beginning those are not as important as they would be if you started out collecting Waffen-SS or Fallschirmjäger stuff.
Surf around and check everything related to your area of interest.
If you should find an item of interest like a helmet or EK, it would probably be a good idea to compare it with the confirmed originals on this forum.
This way you will save money for the real deal items..

If you should ever have some problems concerning fx. some items you can always turn to this forum.
Just remember to describe the issue in such way that other forum members clearly understand you.

When it comes to money I can only say one thing: Get a job.
As Xray already pointed out, a job is the most important resource when it comes to collecting militaria. Without money you're likely to get a very very few items for your collection. Unless you know some veterans ofcourse.
I for example, I work 4 days a week almost every week this summer. This way I earn some money which I can spend on what ever I want.
Especially TR items.
Also to notice is that having a job makes you mentally older and more strong, You will learn how to work and how to make your money last.


I hope this helps a bit.. And ofcourse, HAPPY COLLECTING!

[David Guist]

Hello and welcome to the forum.You are a new collector so.You are going to be buying some stuff befor you read alot about it.My sugestion is start small.Like armbands and common cheaper items.So if or when you get burned it wont be that bad.Get your self a black light.Just remember this is just a tool. It does not always tell you the whole story.But it is a start.Best regards.

[Rylan]

Buy from trusted sources, the e-stand can be a good place to shop. Depends what you want to collect though. Keep it simple, and stay away from SS stuff!

[bigschuss]

Hi Will,

Welcome to the hobby and the forum. I would say go slow and steady. Set goals, and then work hard to achieve them. Focusing on one area in the beginning is good advice. So is becoming an association member. I can't tell you how many times my $25 membership has been repaid to me over the years.

Best,
Blair

[militaria.no]

Hello and welcome to the forum Will

If you are interested in German medals I would like to recommend the book "Collector's Guide to World War 2 German Medals" by Christopher Ailsby:

http://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Gui...262706&sr=1-1#

As a young collector it helped me to understand the history behind different WWII German medals, and it also gave me an idea where I wanted to start. With Heer and Kriegsmarine awards (I bought my first Luftwaffe medal last years, after 19 years as collector). So my suggestion would also be to come up with an idea about what you want to collect and invest your money in. I guess we all have started to collect almost everything we came over, and then after some time we sell away part of what we have – and then think about what we could have bought instead “back then”, items that now are very interesting for us and maybe more difficult to get.

Best of luck to you and your collection. And a very good start you have, now that you found wehrmacht-awards.com

[Darin S.]

Lots of really sound advice given. Find an area that you like. Study it well. When you are ready to add items watch the estand for inexpensive things from that area you have studied at first to get a feel for buying and what good items look like and feel like.

[Glenn Barbaritz]

Will, the best advice is: "GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!"

but if you choose to still venture forward then all the above comments are what course you should follow. just be prepared along the long hard road of collecting that you will inevitably get scammed and also purchase pieces that later you will find out arent all that you thought they were. and heres another wise word; THINK about what you are trying to accomplish in your collecting field. stay very focused in what you want, dont just buy things that make you go "cool" and DONT buy anything that you say, "I can always upgrade down the road on this piece." trust me, you will lose money on the piece almost always. its very rare to turn a profit when you sell something unless that something is primo and rare. yes, the world of Third Reich collecting can be very frustrating and dissapointing but Ill let you in on another secret... when your all alone in your special place and you sit there examining and viewing your own personal war museum its a feeling thats hard to beat. true pieces of military history are a real mans plunder. good luck and remember what you read/learn from all these Guys. this forum is the best thing for a collector of any grade. Glenn

[George Stimson]

I agree with Blair. The most important advice i would offer would be to take your time. Don't get caught up in the feverish excitement of buying. Go slow. There will always be good stuff to buy. If you proceed cautiously, you will have a much more rewarding (both emotionally and financially) experience than if you are in a rush.

Good luck! And enjoy your hobby!

[Rob E.]

Welcome.

Become an association member and read everything!

Remember the 3 C's of collecting: condition condition condition.

Don't try to collect it all, specialize in a particular area.