Debt, Divorce, Death: Many militaria dealers claim these are the three factors driving our hobby. Heck, most of us can attest to at least two of those, and we are all moving toward the third. As collectors, how we prepare … More
JAG File
Spring is for planting those (OD) seeds
It’s that time of the year when we shake off the chill of the winter and start puttering around in our garages, reawakening the olive drab seeds that may have been planted long ago. You many not even recognize that … More
Giving Back
A few years ago, a friend of mine who collects WWII vehicles, called me. “John, you like WWI Tank Corps stuff, right?” he asked before describing an identified uniform and helmet he had just bought at a farm auction. “Is … More
Life Lessons from Dad
Just before this past Christmas, Dad, Mom and I were sitting at a table waiting for the nursing home staff to deliver our “holiday meal.” As we looked over everyone gathered for the quiet celebration, Dad asked, “Did I ever … More
JAG’s Top 10 Military Collecting Books Of 2014
On a recent visit with my Dad, now 93, he asked, “How’s work.” Wrapped up in all the day-to-day problems, I blankly replied, “Work’s work.” “At least you have a job,” my Dad gently reprimanded me before asking, “What is … More
What’s the Hot Militaria for 2015?
What will be the hot military items in 2015? 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. There are some growth areas in the hobby, however, that may not be as obvious. More
Hummers Unleashed!
For years, one iconic military vehicle has been notably absent in the surplus stream: The AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, pronounced “HUM-vee”). Known to generations as the “Hummer,” very few of the military 1-1/4-ton trucks have … More
Preserving Firearms
Recently, I was asked what was the first Civil War firearm I had owned. I really had to scratch my head and think on it, not because of how many I have owned (just a handful, really), but rather, because … More
Setting up at your First Show
You feel like you have extra items in your collection that you can sell. You believe you are current on pricing. Looking it all over, you believe you have enough stuff to cover an 8-foot table, so you go ahead … More
Splat Tag Zombie Hunt
Following a line of cars, I pulled into an open field where a GP large tent stood adjacent to a row of deuce-and-a-half trucks. As people abandoned their cars, they streamed into the tent and gathered around a television monitor. … More