It’s that time of year when a collector’s mind drifts into daydreams of buying and driving a historic military vehicle. Whether the object of that fantasy is a jeep, deuce-and-a-half or maybe even a tank, there are few things … More
JAG File
Becoming an appraiser
After fixing my parent’s cuckoo clock, Dad asked me, “You ever hear the one about the clock repair man?” “No,” I replied, “What about him?” Dad went on to explain how a company had a large clock in the factory … More
Reality Check: Tune into militaria on TV
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” my Mother hollered from the kitchen the last time I was at my folks’ house. Before I could react to her mystifying call, my Dad, who was laid out in his Lazy Boy behind me, yelled, “Shoot … More
How will War in Iraq impact hobby?
While many have said that War in Iraq is the “second longest war in America’s history” (citing the War in Afghanistan as the first), that is not wholly accurate. Many of the Indian Wars lasted decades, with the Sioux Wars … More
What makes a militaria show ‘good’?
Ever since our hobby started hosting its own shows, organizers have been trying to crack the code on figuring out what makes a show “good” in the eyes of both the attendees and the displayers. Often, what makes a show … More
Militaria Top 10: What’s going to be hot in 2012?
by John Adams-Graf Trends in the military hobby are not always difficult to predict: Items that soldiers were eager to find as souvenirs have become the hot collectibles today. For example, German Luger pistols and Japanese “Samurai” swords were probably … More
Military Vehicles Magazine is 25 years old!
In the late 1970s, the historic military hobby experienced pretty intense growing pains. The nation’s oldest organization dedicated to the collecting and driving of historic military vehicles (HMVs), the National Military Vehicles Collectors Association (NMVCA), splintered in 1976, resulting in … More
The Greatest Generation needs our help
Like many of you, I am the son of a WWII veteran. In their youth, the “Greatest Generation” embarked on the greatest adventure of their lives. They drove the trucks, flew the planes, sailed the ships and fought the battles … More
Is your collection decaying?
A few easy steps to insure the longevity of your relics As collectors, we have an implied responsibility to make an effort to preserve the historic artifacts we cherish. That sounds heavy-handed and a tall order, but honestly, there are … More
Five Steps to Becoming a Serious Collector
I never really gave much thought to the question, “How does a person become a militaria collector?” Honestly, I always thought I was just born into the hobby. Personally, my earliest childhood memories involve learning simple manual of arms evolutions … More

