How has your collecting changed over the years?

[Joseph Reavis]

Hey, just curious to hear from the guys who have been at this a while how has your collection "Catagory" changed as time progressed? For me I guess when I was real young id jump at any piece if militaria id come across. My first time really collecting german stuff was when I was a boyscout at the 2005 national jamboree. My troops patches was the most popular design of every troop there, The sobe lizard. I met a group of ww2 vets and tho trading with adults was against the rules, I did it anyways. Got 2 daggers, some small flags, and a bunch of insignia and patches (my sister ended up throwing those away sadly). Then after my grandma died my dad started bring stuff back to the house and I got tge chance to go through "Reds" footlocker. After that I really caught the bug. So I guess I went from collecting everything to just focusing on flags, pole tops, and daggers. If I find a nice example of one of those 3 catagories and I have the funds, I add it to my collection. Im interested to hear from others on how theyve progressed over time, or what got them started into collecting!

[Tony Bologna]

Started with smalls like tinnies and enamel pins, grew to badges, then daggers, now helmets and shows no signs of stopping!

[Rescue190]

I still lack focus and still just hoarding.
John

[AndyC]

I started up with a 2nd class iron cross 1973 that I got from a Fisherman for free.
He had got it from a German that he saved from the sea.

Still have it.



Andy

[tgn]

I used to collect everything. Now I just collect everything.

[Joseph Reavis]

I still lack focus and still just hoarding.
John

Yea I got the same problem! You do eventually realize that there's to much out there and its better to focus. Now its flags, poletops, and daggers. I wish I could get away with just adding smalls, but once I got the bug its now to where when I add something its usually a few hundred dollar purchase. I know thats not much to some but being young and a college student thats where i'm at now. Im sure everyone would agree tho adding a nice dagger or flag to your collection is tge feeling we all chase, and thats the way to do it one item at a time. I probably enjoy the hunt itself even more then the collecting! Never went to a military show to add a piece (or 10) to the horde! That makes it to easy I guess, and the thrill lasts alot longer too!

[oldflagswanted]

OFW collecting ???

... how has your collection "Catagory" changed
as time progressed? ... I went from collecting
everything to just focusing on flags, pole tops,
and daggers. ... Im interested to hear from others
on how theyve progressed over time, or what got
them started into collecting!

Hello JR:
I started collecting old flags in 1970.
Back then any vintage flag would do,
which included ship flown nationals and
naval battle flags - the larger the better.
Mid-70's I focused in on soldier trooped
flags and related parts such as pole tops.
In 2010 I changed to collecting just on
screen used Hollywood movie prop flags.
................... OFW .....................

(below) Almirante Oquendo ship flag in OFW collection.

(below-2) The quest goes on ...

[joelhall]

I started by collecting British Army WW2 to present stuff, but bought my first two EKs when I was 8 which I still have to this day - a 1939 EK2 and a CD 800 1914 EK2. Started getting mostly British and German stuff, mostly cheap (I was a kid of course). Got interested in Third Reich headgear insignia, and because when I was in RM I wanted to become a ML, got heavily into the WW2 mountain warfare stuff, particularly GJ.
A while back I sold box loads of stuff including my whole TR headgear insignia collection (some rare pieces there), and now only have the EKs (which were my "first love") and a few GJ insignia.