words of wisdom?

Since I was a kid I have always had an interest in military stuff and particularly WWII both German and US. Only recently I got to a position I could actually start buying a little bit. I am supposed to go meet up with a guy selling his Imperial and Third Reich collection of insignia, swords, badges pins and equipment. Problem is I don't know enought about this stuff to know what's real and what's not. I have spent hours and hours researching, looking at books and websites and such. What I really have learned has almost scared me away from collecting, that fakes abound.

Another phrase I have heard is it appraised for X amount but make me an offer, you might be suprised. He says this collection appraised for $4,000 in 2001. He is selling out because he needs the room.

All I plan to do tomorrow is take a bunch of pictures and then do more research unless I feel really good about something. Any bits of advice someone can throw my way? I know thought I won't be able to give $4K.

There are SCADS of fakes in the Nazi collectables. They may well be the most faked of the collectables. If you took pics and then put them here you will get informed opinions and perhaps you can make a personal contact with a professional or two. Then you can perhaps get started collecting. Don`t hope for a winfall the first go. You could well be out substantial coin and there's no point collecting fakes. All you have is a fake. Be careful!

I wouldn't jump into a $4000 collection feet first, unless you can afford the schooling. The best way to gain knowledge in a collecting field is to view known original items and learn the differences between them and the re-production items. Like Jim stated, there are many fakes in the Nazi collecting field.

Good Luck !!

Emri

I did look and bought a few pieces. Some things I had no idea what they were and shied away from. The pieces I bought were things I had at least read some about. But that he accepted offers quite a bit less than he had them valued at concerns me a little. I did what I do on the rare occasion I go to a casino. I set an amount I don't mind loosing and don't go over that. I will get some pictures posted and find out more about the items I bought.