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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Collecting militaria, big and small   List Roy Bassett Next   Collecting militaria - from photos to full-sized tanks   By Roy Bassett When it comes to militaria, you have to salute the numerous avid collectors around the world who devote lifetimes to the hunt.   They collect everything from lightweight patches, photographs and badges to full-sized tanks, ships and warplanes.   It is all a matter of access - and budget.   Militaria, by the way, refers to "the collecting of any item related to the military, from ancient times to the present day."   Museums throughout the world are the largest collectors of militaria, making their collections available to the general public.   As an individual, you have to decide which military objects you wish to collect. For most of us, choosing smaller items fits our display space, if not always our budget.   You also have to consider what is available on the market. By searching online and live auctions, you will soon learn of the many smaller military items available, such as medals, badges, edged weapons, firearms, uniforms, photographs etc.   While you will rarely see tanks, aircraft, ships and other large military items, there are some collectors who specialize in these items.   I recently read an article about a Russian tank, in pristine condition, being recovered from the bottom of a lake after 60 years. Shortly after the recovery, with a little servicing, the diesel engine roared to life. This tank could end up in the collection of an armoured vehicle collector or a museum.   One of the best armoured vehicle museums is located in Bovington, Dorset, England. Whenever I visit England, I always pay this museum a visit and have never tired of seeing the exhibits and reading all the information available there.   There are literally hundreds of vehicles displayed throughout the huge indoor area, together with a very large collection of medals awarded to Armoured Corps personnel. Should you decide to visit, be prepared to spend most of the day and even then, it is unlikely you will see the entire collection.   On most days, museum personnel put on a show of tanks and other military vehicles going through their paces on a four-acre field. Make sure you take your camera.   Another large military collectors' piece is the warplane. You might be amazed at how many collectors of these birds there are around the world.   On a smaller scale, swords, firearms, knives and bayonets are very popular collectibles and have a history going back hundreds of years. Should you decide to collect any of these, I would suggest you restrict yourself to weapons of the 20th century.   And should you choose firearms, research will show you gunpowder was used by the Chinese a thousand years ago and the firearm was born in the early 1300s, evolving over the centuries to what it is today.   It is believed the first use of the term "handgun" in English records was in 1386. You will find examples of these firearms in museums, but very unlikely for sale.   In the 20th century, almost all countries issued various makes and types of handguns to military officers. In our part of the world, the most famous handgun was the one adopted by the United States in 1911 - the Colt semi-automatic .45 calibre, known as the model 1911. By the end of WW1, over half a million of these guns had been made.   During the war, there was a shortage of the 1911s so Smith and Wesson and Colt produced a .45 calibre model 1917 revolver.   These two revolvers were also used during WW2 by military police and security personnel, but after WW2 they were not issued as a standard weapon in any army. In 1926, the Colt model 1911 was modified and became model 1911A1 and has been the standard U.S. military pistol since that date.   In addition to those pistols, U.S. forces have, and do, use various other pistols for specialized purposes. They include the Colt .32 and .380 calibre semi-automatic pistols, the .38 calibre detective special, police positive and the special official police revolvers, Smith and Wesson military and police revolvers chambered for the .38 special cartridge and the .38 Smith and Wesson cartridge.   Swords are another popular choice for collectors and some that are hundreds of years old are still available to collectors. Over 100 years ago, military personnel carried swords as weapons, but in modern times they are strictly ceremonial.   Many swords bearing the regimental crest and sometimes the name of the original owner are highly sought after by collectors.   I was a soldier and served for five years in a heavy tank regiment and apart from collecting medals, my other military collecting interest is with warplanes. I have never been in a position where I could afford a real plane, so I am content with collecting models of them.   I also have a collection of limited edition prints, mostly by Robert Taylor, with some of them signed by WW2 aces, such as those who fought in the Battle of Britain.   Many of these vintage planes can be viewed close up at air shows, especially in the United States. I have great memories and photographs taken at shows in Florida.   Many years ago, I purchased a model of a spitfire as flown by Sir Douglas Bader DSO DFC RAF. Only 100 of these models were made and Douglas Bader signed the certificate of authenticity. A print by Robert Taylor came with the model and it was also signed by Bader.   About this time, I was on my way to Toronto City Hall courts and after getting off the streetcar I took a shortcut through the Simpson's store on Yonge Street. Going through the store, I saw a few people in a group in front of a table with a man sitting down. I went up to the table to see what was going on and to my surprise and elation there was Douglas Bader signing books.   I was already a few minutes late for court, but I did spend a few minutes talking to Mr. Bader. I went to the court with the intention of returning, but the case was a long one and when I did return Mr. Bader had left. But what a thrill it was to meet him.   Had I not been a collector of militaria, I would not have had the pleasure of meeting a Battle of Britain ace. If you are not aware of Douglas Bader's exploits, look him up on the Internet. You will be amazed at his story.   Another Battle of Britain pilot I had the pleasure of meeting was the legendary ace Johnny Johnson, a Canadian who flew with the RAF.   The appeal of militaria is every item has a story and an attachment to the men and women, allies and enemies, who have been members of the armed forces.   Good luck with your collections.   Photos: 1 - Pristine WW2 Russian tank recovered from a lake 2 - Patton Commemorative Colt. 45 as owned by U.S. General George Patton, now in a military museum 3 - A first day cover showing Patton with one of his pistols   Roy Bassett is a veteran of the British Army (1950s) and a retired Toronto policeman. He can be reached at ninelancer@gmail.com     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2008 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster