Wittman - so many daggers in stock

[Nolan]

The internet has given collectors opportunities unheard of 20 years ago and 50 years ago, when I first collected, a mediocre army or 2nd luft cost a weeks wages from the few dealers who you might be able to get a limited list from.

Apart from very rare and high end daggers run of the mill stuff is Definitely NOT investment potential.

After returning to collecting TR daggers at the base level around the turn of the century, and tempted by statements from leading dealers as to investment potential, e.g " money back after 5 years and double back after 10", I'm a loser
I bought the wrong things, however I reckon some of the dealers with huge stocks will come unstuck with certain items, more stock than collectors at the moment and too high prices for rare items such as SS daggers (tongue in cheek, have any you seen how many are available)

If I could go back 15 years I would definitely not invest in base level TR edged weapons, maybe SS degens ok, I reckon anyone with a clutch of those at year 2000 prices will make a tidy profit judging from their current rarety.

[BrianK]

Busy Witty

Is Wittmann off the net? His web site has not been updated since Sept 18th???

He is probably making one of his MAX show videos.

[BrianK]

The internet has given collectors opportunities unheard of 20 years ago and 50 years ago, when I first collected, a mediocre army or 2nd luft cost a weeks wages from the few dealers who you might be able to get a limited list from.

Apart from very rare and high end daggers run of the mill stuff is Definitely NOT investment potential.

After returning to collecting TR daggers at the base level around the turn of the century, and tempted by statements from leading dealers as to investment potential, e.g " money back after 5 years and double back after 10", I'm a loser
I bought the wrong things, however I reckon some of the dealers with huge stocks will come unstuck with certain items, more stock than collectors at the moment and too high prices for rare items such as SS daggers (tongue in cheek, have any you seen how many are available)

If I could go back 15 years I would definitely not invest in base level TR edged weapons, maybe SS degens ok, I reckon anyone with a clutch of those at year 2000 prices will make a tidy profit judging from their current rarety.

Common sense comment from someone without rose colored glasses.

[Serge M.]

The economy has been in the tank since 2008, it finally reflected in the hobby. Collectors who were hurt by this economy will not be buying much. The MAX show was by most accounts a slow show. Gone are the days when the buyers are buying in droves as it comes out of the box before it hits the table.

HOWEVER. Things still sell today. Look at the auctions, they are doing quite well. see thread: Online & actual auction (Multi-page thread 1 2)
TP Alexander

Quality 3rd Reich daggers that are scarce or are in outstanding condition, still sell and sell well to the collector who has not been stung my this economy. The big change I see is this;

BUYERS RULE today. Buyers know they are in the drivers seat, and will walk away if they can't negotiate the price for their liking.

As for Witty's inventory....what a great time to be a new buyer, what a fantastic choice to be had. Funny how so many cried out after Witty's SS tome was published, that there was no chained SS daggers to be found. Now they complain there's too many.


-wagner-

[kiwitedferny]

I have a cunning plan for my collection. I am going to use my SS Inscription daggers as trading items for food when we all find ourselves in a Chinese Concentration camp because they are finally sick of lending us money we can't pay back and have invaded...

Alternatively, I will use them as weapons, the Western governments having implemented the confiscation plans contained within the UN Small Arms Reduction Treaty, and taken all my guns. An SA dagger tied to a broomstick should keep the baying mob of EBT people,whose cards no longer get them alchohol and tobacco, away from my door..

Or, when global warming causes sea levels to rise, and the worlds major cities, run by super computers, raise themselves up on giant hydrolic legs and battle for control over the planets scarce resources...

Or, as surgical instruments to excise necrotising flesh from any members of my family who have contracted Ebola, because Do-Gooder missionaries insist on traveling to Third World chess pit countries - contact the disease - and then demand our governments fly them home for treatment....

Personally, I think the Battle Of The Worlds Cities is the most likely scenario.

[The Red Baron]

I have a cunning plan for my collection. I am going to use my SS Inscription daggers as trading items for food when we all find ourselves in a Chinese Concentration camp because they are finally sick of lending us money we can't pay back and have invaded...

Alternatively, I will use them as weapons, the Western governments having implemented the confiscation plans contained within the UN Small Arms Reduction Treaty, and taken all my guns. An SA dagger tied to a broomstick should keep the baying mob of EBT people,whose cards no longer get them alchohol and tobacco, away from my door..

Or, when global warming causes sea levels to rise, and the worlds major cities, run by super computers, raise themselves up on giant hydrolic legs and battle for control over the planets scarce resources...

Or, as surgical instruments to excise necrotising flesh from any members of my family who have contracted Ebola, because Do-Gooder missionaries insist on traveling to Third World chess pit countries - contact the disease - and then demand our governments fly them home for treatment....

Personally, I think the Battle Of The Worlds Cities is the most likely scenario.

Again Briank, thanks for your positive comments. I think everyone around here knows you think this stuff is a waste of money (I guess you don't collect). I'm surprised you agree SS degens would be a good investment though from 2000-normally you refuse to admit any piece is cool or rare

[BrianK]

Not surprisingly Witty pushes daggers as a great investment again in this year's MAX video. Preaching to the choir.

[jodagger]

Wittmann MAX video

As a long time collector I would love to go to some of these big US military shows but at the present I will just have to bide my time and settle for the MAX videos he produces every year. I was impressed with the content of the 2014 MAX video except why oh why was Craig Gottlieb interviewed the stuff he had was fantastic but it ruined the whole video for me or am I reading to much into it?

[kiwitedferny]

As a long time collector I would love to go to some of these big US military shows but at the present I will just have to bide my time and settle for the MAX videos he produces every year. I was impressed with the content of the 2014 MAX video except why oh why was Craig Gottlieb interviewed the stuff he had was fantastic but it ruined the whole video for me or am I reading to much into it?

I think his videos are great. I get to put faces to names of some of the dealers I have heard about; get to see who specializes in what; and get to look at stuff I'd never see otherwise.

[The Red Baron]

Not surprisingly Witty pushes daggers as a great investment again in this year's MAX video. Preaching to the choir.

How dare a businessman push his business!

We may as well just outlaw edward jones investment advisors while were at it for selling mutual funds as an investment due to their fees and returns....

I too like to watch Witty's videos!

[BrianK]

As a long time collector I would love to go to some of these big US military shows but at the present I will just have to bide my time and settle for the MAX videos he produces every year. I was impressed with the content of the 2014 MAX video except why oh why was Craig Gottlieb interviewed the stuff he had was fantastic but it ruined the whole video for me or am I reading to much into it?

Maybe great minds think alike.

[BrianK]

The internet has given collectors opportunities unheard of 20 years ago and 50 years ago, when I first collected, a mediocre army or 2nd luft cost a weeks wages from the few dealers who you might be able to get a limited list from.

Apart from very rare and high end daggers run of the mill stuff is Definitely NOT investment potential.

After returning to collecting TR daggers at the base level around the turn of the century, and tempted by statements from leading dealers as to investment potential, e.g " money back after 5 years and double back after 10", I'm a loser
I bought the wrong things, however I reckon some of the dealers with huge stocks will come unstuck with certain items, more stock than collectors at the moment and too high prices for rare items such as SS daggers (tongue in cheek, have any you seen how many are available)

If I could go back 15 years I would definitely not invest in base level TR edged weapons, maybe SS degens ok, I reckon anyone with a clutch of those at year 2000 prices will make a tidy profit judging from their current rarety.

Those in the "Church of Ever Rising Prices" might want to think twice because one of the biggest names in the hobby begs to differ. Tom Wittmann in a long article in Military Trader magazine this month says that the economy has affected the militaria market and sales and prices are down. Somehow I don't think anyone on here will accuse him of hate and negativity for going against Church Dogma.

[kiwitedferny]

Those in the "Church of Ever Rising Prices" might want to think twice because one of the biggest names in the hobby begs to differ. Tom Wittmann in a long article in Military Trader magazine this month says that the economy has affected the militaria market and sales and prices are down. Somehow I don't think anyone on here will accuse him of hate and negativity for going against Church Dogma.

Gidday Brian! Hope you are well, Mate! I'm not sure there are that many apostles of 'The Church Of Ever Rising Prices' left. It's been a fair few years since the recession hit, and those who believe that prices will always go up are probably the same folks sitting on massively geared real estate...

The dealers are of course always going to push the mantra of 'investment'. I don't blame them. It's their business and livelihood. I really don't think there are that many 'victims' fooled any more. And if they are....they'd probably get talked into some other dubious proposition. A fool and his money etc etc..

I subscribe to the church of 'Eventualy, taking a long term view, with faith and prayer, I might get my money back one day'.

I do think there is a difference between salesmanship and confidence trickery. I don't think some of the accusations of fraud or shyster-ism that I've seen some guys make are warranted with respect to dealers marketing - some well known names an exception to that rule. An 'up beat' pitch is a different thing altogether than passing off a piece of junk as authentic.

And I don't think that prices will return to their pre crash levels for a loooong time, if at all.

Guys like yourself, who have been in the hobby for a long time, and seen the 'bubbles' come and go are absolutely correct to counsel caution. I very much respect your views. And a buyers market isn't a bad thing, necessarily..

[The Red Baron]

I subscribe to the church of 'Eventualy, taking a long term view, with faith and prayer, I might get my money back one day'.

[BrianK]

Gidday Brian! Hope you are well, Mate! I'm not sure there are that many apostles of 'The Church Of Ever Rising Prices' left. It's been a fair few years since the recession hit, and those who believe that prices will always go up are probably the same folks sitting on massively geared real estate...

The dealers are of course always going to push the mantra of 'investment'. I don't blame them. It's their business and livelihood. I really don't think there are that many 'victims' fooled any more. And if they are....they'd probably get talked into some other dubious proposition. A fool and his money etc etc..

I subscribe to the church of 'Eventualy, taking a long term view, with faith and prayer, I might get my money back one day'.

I do think there is a difference between salesmanship and confidence trickery. I don't think some of the accusations of fraud or shyster-ism that I've seen some guys make are warranted with respect to dealers marketing - some well known names an exception to that rule. An 'up beat' pitch is a different thing altogether than passing off a piece of junk as authentic.

And I don't think that prices will return to their pre crash levels for a loooong time, if at all.

Guys like yourself, who have been in the hobby for a long time, and seen the 'bubbles' come and go are absolutely correct to counsel caution. I very much respect your views. And a buyers market isn't a bad thing, necessarily..

Well and very articulately said.