Comments on: Military Eras: Top 5 U.S. WWII Collectibles

By: Arleigh Movitz

Arleigh Movitz — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:35:18 +0000

Chris:

I have a WWII footlocker-like packing crate that at one point contained tools and parts for repairing gas masks. Photos and a translation of the packing label on the inside of the lid can be seen at http://www.amovitz.com/german_packing_crate/. Do you have any idea what this might be worth, or can you point me to where I can find out?

Thank you.

-Arleigh Movitz

By: michael lynch

michael lynch — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:19:22 +0000

hello mr Hughes,

my father died recently and I came upon a bunch of his WW11 paperwork along with 2 German swords,and vairous bayonets. One item that caught my attention was a canned letter 9”x 6” signed with Dwight D.Esinehower prior to D-Day with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Foces on the letter head. it starts out with : Soilders,Sailors,and Airmen of the Allied Epeditionary Forces! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade,which we have striven thses many months. The paper ends with, Good Luck! and let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. My dad received the letter on June 8th 1944.
Is the a place in the SF bay area where I can find out more information about the letter and articles of WW11 that my father has.

thanks for your help,
Michael J Lynch

By: Daneil

Daneil — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:18 +0000

Hello,

I have a WWII german dagger with metal sheath and the blade has german writting on it. I’m looking to check on its value and sell it. can you direct me in the right direction. Thank you.
daniel

By: Russell Aultman

Russell Aultman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:11:12 +0000

I have several Items Standing orders for a U.S. NAVY officer from 1932-1953 Including Promotions From Commander to Captain with promotions signed by COM. QUIGLEY and SEC.DEF. FORRESTAL Communcae Reguaring Oders including OPERATION CROSSROADS AND CUB 18 NAVAL SUPPORT of NAGASAKI
occupation and sit reps for varios campains related to naval
tasking in the PACIFIC theater along with personnal letters during deployments SUPPLY REQ. for cub 18 activities

AND A war TROPHY captured from jap forces on GUATAL CANAL A SIGN written in japanes a billet stating commander jap forces GUDAL CANAL Solomon Islands Do you know anybody who is a collector of such items ….

By: Ken Ervin

Ken Ervin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:33:36 +0000

I have a what appears to be a bronze trophy approx. 12 1/2 ” high w/a black base of a track & field runner w/a baton and a SILVER SS INSIGNIA on his chest. Can you give me any info about this object. I caN send a photo if you would like me to. appreciate your help,,Thank You Ken E.

By: Brother J

Brother J — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:27:05 +0000

I am a WW2 war paraphernalia buff and collect WW2 German Militaria since my childhood,
there is an nice WW2 Collection for sale right now
but ww2collection turned down my cash offer of USD 260.000, euro 200.000 for their WW2 Collection of historical WW2 German artifacts.
Help! How much should I offer for that WW2 Collection?

By: gail buell

gail buell — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:49:40 +0000

I have a German mauser pistol taken from the body of a German officer by my uncle in WWII. Along with it is the certificate allowing this gun to be brought into the United States. My uncle gave this gun to his brother, my father, upon returning from the war. This gun has been in a velvet pouch ever since, never used since it arrived in the US and only looked at a very few times. It is in excellent condition. Can you give me some suggestions as to where to inquire on it’s potential value? Thanks for any info you can give me!

By: William Cavanagh

William Cavanagh — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:56 +0000

The maps are for sale for $5000

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:05:34 +0000

I was wondering the value of actual photos of Mussolini and his group hanging in the town before dragging them in the streets

By: Heather Jordan

Heather Jordan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:07:13 +0000

Chris,
I also have a wood footlocker with dove tailed 26x19x11. It has a green x on the front and a B on the back. We own a small art gallery and I have used it for a display. A man has come in 3 times to purchase it and I told him it wasn’t for sale. He mentioned it was used in WW1 and had great value. Can anyone put me in the right direction?
Thanks
Heather Jordan

By: Jerod

Jerod — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:53:04 +0000

I was wondering if someone could tell me the worth, of aengineering field manual , first aid and soldier handbook, as a number of medals from service over sea’s and at the home front, also a matchbook war bond with Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito also a flair gun…

By: X.J. Excol

X.J. Excol — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:29:19 +0000

Mr Hughes,

Any ideas on the estimated value of this WW2 Collection:

http://ww2collection.blogspot.com

Thank you,

By: Karini

Karini — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:21:50 +0000

Thank you for such an informative article, it’s defiantly something to keep in mind while treasure hunting

I was wondering if you could provide any information on a brown briefcase I picked up at a yard sale marked on the front in yellow:
Navigation: Dead Reckoning
Type A-4
Specification No. 94-40258
Order No.(33-038) 45-102-AF
Merit Leather Strap Co. Inc Case
it also has S.A.KOMARA stamped across the back in white

Thank you for any information you can provide I’ve had a terrible time trying to research it

By: William.CC.Cavanagh

William.CC.Cavanagh — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:02:26 +0000

As these were used at Elsenborn during the Bulge by General Hinds I beleive they are worth $10,000.

By: William.CC.Cavanagh

William.CC.Cavanagh — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:40:28 +0000

These are unique documents and the price should reflect their uniqueness

By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:31:56 +0000

Can you provide pictures and probable selling price?
Thank you

By: William.CC.Cavanagh

William.CC.Cavanagh — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:38:45 +0000

I have the original Fire Chart and other overlays used at Camp Elsenbrn during the Battle of the Bulge by the CG of 2nd Infantry DIVARTY General John H. Hinds. These are accompanied by a hand written letter from General Hinds to me verifying their authenticity. There is also a four page signed letter from the Operations Officer to General Hinds dated 1947 in which he goes into tremendous detail on the use of artillery at Camp Elsenborn. These unique items are for sale . Offers can be made to me at the email address above.

By: Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:45 +0000

That is a kind gesture to offer to donate the footlocker, but consider that the cost to ship more than likely exceeds the value of the footlocker. WWI or WWII era examples typically sell for between $30-50.00 depending on condition and whether they still have their tray.

Thanks for reading my article!

—Chris

By: E. E. Clinebell

E. E. Clinebell — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:22:09 +0000

Dear Mr. Hughes,
I have an old wooden, dovetailed, painted green foot locker that I was planning to sell on “craigslist” until I looked at it this afternoon and noticed some writing on the top. Handpainted in black it says:
Fran__ MacGillrary
Hq. Troop
102nd Cav

I was wondering, if perhaps, you know of a website that lists all the servicemen from the Hq. Troop-102nd Cav. Instead of selling it, I would much rather donate it to a WWII reenactment group – if they could use it.

Here’s how I acquired it: My Mom purchased it a garage sale during the 1970′s in the Elizabeth, NJ area

Thank you for any help you can give me.

By: Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:19:39 +0000

Sherri,
You married into a family with interesting military history and all the items you mention have value to historians and collectors, particularly the silver cup with attribution to Lt. Col. George A Griswold of the 101st Airborne Division. Did you know he invented the “Griswold Bag”, a padded bag used by paratroopers to protect their Garand rifles when making combat jumps?

These are interesting items in their own right, but their provenance from being linked to your family is what really gives the items value. Consider using “Ask a Worthologist” at WorthPoint to get an assessment of their fair market value.

Thanks for reading!

—Chris Hughes