Military Memorabilia

The UK market in military memorabilia is thriving and collectors up and down the country flock to auctions and car boot sales in the hope of turning up an expensive piece of rare military equipment. As with all collections, quality is more important than quantity and the discriminating buyer will take care over which direction they wish to take with their collection. Collecting of military memorabilia, sometimes called militaria, has grown greatly in popularity in recent years and it is thought that this trend is down to current conflicts, significant anniversaries of the ending or beginning of the World Wars, and even Hollywood blockbuster movies such as Saving Private Ryan.

Period

Many collectors of military equipment will specialise in a specific war or historical period, for example only collecting things from World War II or from the Victorian era. The more recent the period chosen, the greater the potential availability of items to choose from, simply because more items have survived the test of time. Becoming an expert in the chosen historical period will enable a collector to develop a true understanding of the era and be quick to spot items at an auction or sale which fit well with the rest of their collection.

Value

The rarer the item is, the higher the auction price will be. Conflicts such as World War I and II involved a huge percentage of the British population, and as such, many of the medals and other items associated with the conflict do not reach high prices at auction. Medals which have an interesting or compelling story behind them which can be backed up by documentary evidence are of greater value. Things also do not have to be old to have a high value. Items from the Iraq and Afghan conflicts are currently attracting high prices on internet auction sites, but the problem with many of these items is proving their authenticity.

Modern Militaria

Army surplus stores have long been a stomping ground for those who enjoy the outside life and want rugged, top quality items to take into the hills with them. Boots such as Hanwag Special Forces are not the sort of thing found in a standard high street store, and the military enthusiast will prefer the Hanwag Special Forces boots over alternatives as they more closely match with his interests and likes. As well as clothing and boots, Army surplus shops are a good place to buy camping equipment, kit bags, sleeping bags and even watches.

Internet

Widespread internet access has made the trading of military items far more straightforward, and specialist sites give enthusiasts the ability to buy and sell globally. When shopping online there is more risk than with buying items from a dealer, and steps should be taken to ensure the authenticity of the items bought. Items which are illegal in the UK are sold openly overseas, and purchasers buying things such as imitation guns, gravity knives or ammunition will have their parcels intercepted by Customs and destroyed.