My WW2 Collection

[SmokinLoon]

We have an Arisaka Type 38, IIRC. Very pretty gun, in prestige condition. Of course the rising sun is grinded off, but its a very pretty gun. I'm not too sure if I'd ever want to shoot it though.

Nothing is ground off on mine, the 'mum is %100 intact.  You are correct in it being a "Type 38", caliber 6.5x50 "Jap".  It is a fine rifle and I'm not really sure why the Japanese thought they had to increase calibers to 7.7 "Jap".  The 6.5mm was very flat shooting and a very accurate cartridge.  Oh well.  My rifle also has the dust cover, most of them were thrown away by Japanese soldiers because they were quite noisy.  I do not shoot mine either, it has been cleaned thoroughly and put in to the gun safe along side the Enfield, Mosin-Nagant, Carcano, Garand, Steyr, M1 Carbine, 1903-A1, and k98.    

[Flipperk]

Not knocking the collection (great stuff!), but why do most people I've seen who collect WWII stuff only seem to collect Nazi stuff? Whenever I go to a collection auction looking for WWI and WWII stuff, it 95% Nazi medals, daggers, and badges with the odd everything else thrown in. I think there's more Iron Crosses and Knights Crosses for sale at my local antique shop than there are surviving recipients of our Medal of Honor (which is 85 at the moment).

It is simple...we live in America...no one wants American collectables, I mean even looking back in WWII, American soldiers could care less if they had a M-1 Carbine...they wanted a German Luger or Knife...

Same concept, different era.

[1pLUs44]

Nothing is ground off on mine, the 'mum is %100 intact.  You are correct in it being a "Type 38", caliber 6.5x50 "Jap".  It is a fine rifle and I'm not really sure why the Japanese thought they had to increase calibers to 7.7 "Jap".  The 6.5mm was very flat shooting and a very accurate cartridge.  Oh well.  My rifle also has the dust cover, most of them were thrown away by Japanese soldiers because they were quite noisy.  I do not shoot mine either, it has been cleaned thoroughly and put in to the gun safe along side the Enfield, Mosin-Nagant, Carcano, Garand, Steyr, M1 Carbine, 1903-A1, and k98.    

I think mine has the dust cover you're talking about too. My sister's dad was a gunsmitch, and its in VERY nice condition. It sits next to my 1917 Lee Enfield No 1 Mk III

[Latrobe]

We have an Arisaka Type 38, IIRC. Very pretty gun, in prestige condition. Of course the rising sun is grinded off, but its a very pretty gun. I'm not too sure if I'd ever want to shoot it though.

I have that rifle too. Very nice rifle and fun to shoot!

[sirvlad]

Here`s 2 small pennants from the Winter Olympics

[sirvlad]

2 Civic Police Helmets same type different models.

[sirvlad]

Here`s a very rare veterans flag


The reverse side of the other large flag

[sirvlad]

Heres a relic helmet from the Kurland Pocket area and a unissued Luft gas mask

[sirvlad]

2 small pennants from the Annexation of Austria

[MarineUS]

Not knocking the collection (great stuff!), but why do most people I've seen who collect WWII stuff only seem to collect Nazi stuff? Whenever I go to a collection auction looking for WWI and WWII stuff, it 95% Nazi medals, daggers, and badges with the odd everything else thrown in. I think there's more Iron Crosses and Knights Crosses for sale at my local antique shop than there are surviving recipients of our Medal of Honor (which is 85 at the moment).

Because the side who lost, normally has the most valuable items. Look at the Civil War/ War Between the States.

Stuff from the north is cool and all but the REAL money is in Confederate items.

The items are harder to find, thus more valuable.



EXCELLENT collection. I'm jealous.
 

[zack1234]

Whats that gas mask for?

[VDALLAS]

I have my grandfather's Hitler Youth knife

[Shuffler]

Fairly extensive collection. Thanks for posting.

[sirvlad]

The gas mask is to protect you from a gas attack like they had in ww1.Everyone owned 1 of these,they even had them for horses.VDallas if ya get a chance post a pic of it here.Just curious,does yours have a engraved blade?Those are the earlier versions.

[cpxxx]

German stuff is always popular all over the world. It's getting rarer now. I would love a decent Wehrmacht WW2 helmet. But all I have is reproduction.

On the other hand, WW2 US M1 helmets are getting expensive, particularly some of the rarer versions. I love the US stuff. I have four
M1 helmets now, two WW2 and a Vietnam era helmet plus a 1976 model of the last US steel helmet. It can cost as much as $500 for rarer versions. But even a basic original WW2 US helmet can be over $200. People are still throwing US helmets in the trash not knowing what they're worth.

I also have some British and Canadian helmets. Not so valuable but historically interesting nonetheless. Plus I have a British made MKII helmet which was used by the Irish army. I actually wore one while serving as a reservist back in the eighties. I bought it from an American, how it ended up in Ohio is anyone's guess.

But my pride and joy is a British made Brodie helmet from 1917 which was issued to the American expedionary force. It just reeks of history.

To finish my collection I have a some of the British nylon Mk6s and an American Kevlar from 1983.

Actually my collection isn't finished. I still need some German stuff and a good early war British helmet. Plus of course, I only have four M1 helmets. That's only the start.