Starting a modest WWII collection

[vermintrex]

I don't think its a good time to start collecting, more a good time to start thinking about selling (if you plan to make money out of this) next year is going to be the 100 year anniversary & 75 year anniversary of the the start of WW1 & the start of WW2 & for the next few years the 100 year anniversary & 75 year anniversary of every event that took place during those two wars, followed by the 100 year anniversary & 75 year anniversary of the end of the 2 world wars, i believe we will see a good increase in the value of anything related to the wars.

depends if you are collecting for profit...or for your own passion for the history. I haven't bought a single piece yet with intention of flipping it. I do this for me...if I can recover costs due to some life event that leaves me no choice but to liquidate, fine....but profit has never been part of the equation for me.

 

[5THBATT]

depends if you are collecting for profit...or for your own passion for the history. I haven't bought a single piece yet with intention of flipping it. I do this for me...if I can recover costs due to some life event that leaves me no choice but to liquidate, fine....but profit has never been part of the equation for me.

Dont worry i'm same as you, not in this for profit, but at the same time, not one to shy away from selling to aquire that sort after item.

 

[vermintrex]

Dont worry i'm same as you, not in this for profit, but at the same time, not one to shy away from selling to aquire that sort after item.

fair enough...can get behind that

 

[Tom E Gun]

US&S 1911a1

Here is my recently arrived US&S. While it is a shame that someone refinished the pistol, I must say it is still a beautiful and very nice quality 1911. It appears to be all matching while my Ithaca is a Frankenstien gun with all sorts of mismatched parts.

 

[Claven2]

I'd be tempted to have that US&S professionally restored. It's not been buffed too badly, it could be saved with markings still visible.

 

[Tom E Gun]

I'd be tempted to have that US&S professionally restored. It's not been buffed too badly, it could be saved with markings still visible.

Claven;
That had not really occurred to me. I suspect that refinishing would be costly, and not really add any value to the pistol. My initial short term plan was to keep the "Frankenstien" Ithica and blued US&S and add an original finish Rem. Rand and Colt. Long term I may sell the Ithica &/or US&S if a nicer one comes on the market at a reasonable price (although that is unlikely with the US&S, I must admit, given the huge cost of an original in nice shape)


This US&S recently sold for $5525 USD on Bun Broker:

 

[Tom E Gun]

September Update

I noticed that a lot of the pictures on this thread had disappeared, so I have replaced them. On Tuesday I received my latest purchases.
A 1944 Inglis Hi Power and a 1940 Luger:

That is it, for my collection for now, until I find one of the items listed in my signature.
TEG

 

[Tom E Gun]

NOV 2013 Update

The last few days have seen a flurry of purchases and sales as far as my WWII collection is concerned.
First I purchased a Nazi stamped Hi-Power, then I tried,but failed to buy one of John H's (Wolverine Supplies) Stens. Almost immediately after that I struck a deal for a really nice 1943 Sten, and then, that same day, John H sold me an MP38 (I had never seen one of these for sale in Canada before, I am pretty excited about this one!). This has made for an expensive few days, so I reluctantly decide to sell my 2 M1 Carbines (both have deals pending) to raise some much needed cash. I think I will stick to WWII pistols and a few SMGs.

These are going:

These are on their way:

 

[vermintrex]

hate to see the rifles going....but I get it

thanks for sharing the evolution

 

[Klunk]

Nice stuff!!

are the machine guns dewatted or are you blessed with the grandpa license?

 

[Tom E Gun]

Nice stuff!!

are the machine guns dewatted or are you blessed with the grandpa license?

Unfortunately, all are dewat, I joined the party much too late for any 12(x) licences. However they all have removable mags, the Sten is #### and click, and the mag rotates into storage position (vertical) and the MP38 will have a movable action but solid trigger.

 

[johg2]

hey Tom E Gun . Reading over your posts here, wow you've been busy for the last few months and last couple weeks.. I guess with Fall now here, all the money from those trees you've been growing have slowed down? great collection.. a Thompson is on my ultimate wish list too.. and having shot a live one (and a few other WW2 guns ) in Vegas, made it even more so.. cheers

 

[Tom E Gun]

hey Tom E Gun . Reading over your posts here, wow you've been busy for the last few months and last couple weeks.. I guess with Fall now here, all the money from those trees you've been growing have slowed down? great collection.. a Thompson is on my ultimate wish list too.. and having shot a live one (and a few other WW2 guns ) in Vegas, made it even more so.. cheers

A Vegas trip to fire a few full autos is definitely on my "TO DO" list.

 

[Ghost1]

I am also slowly building my milsurp collection. To me these firearms are such beautiful pieces. I love these historical firearms especially the ones from both world wars. Cheers buddy

 

[Tom E Gun]

Thanks Ghost1. Care to share some pics of your collection?

 

[can14]

It's easy to tell who made the M1 and M1A! Thompson's....the US Property Marks are place different on the Auto-Ordnance and Savage receivers. Savage property
marks are two line behind the rear sight and you can read it by looking down. Auto-Ordnance property marks are one line and you have to turn the gun around to read it
behind the rear sight. The lower receiver has a small s for savage or aoc for auto ordnance corporation. Also the early Savage and Auto Ordnance guns made before 1943 have the serial number's stamped on the side of the receiver and the trigger guard of the lower receiver. Production ended in 1944 for all 1928's,M1's and M1a1's.

 

[Tom E Gun]

It's easy to tell who made the M1 and M1A! Thompson's....the US Property Marks are place different on the Auto-Ordnance and Savage receivers. Savage property
marks are two line behind the rear sight and you can read it by looking down. Auto-Ordnance property marks are one line and you have to turn the gun around to read it
behind the rear sight. The lower receiver has a small s for savage or aoc for auto ordnance corporation. Also the early Savage and Auto Ordnance guns made before 1943 have the serial number's stamped on the side of the receiver and the trigger guard of the lower receiver. Production ended in 1944 for all 1928's,M1's and M1a1's.

Sorry I missed this post previously. Thanks for the information!

 

[Tom E Gun]

MP 38 Pictures

The MP 38 arrived today.....WOOHOO!
With special thanks to John H at Wolverine for making this happen for me
Man there are a lot of stamps and serial numbers on this thing. This a numbers matching gun, even the bakelite parts have serial numbers.

 

[Tom E Gun]

German Hi Power

Another German Milsurp showed up today. Here it is with its Canadian cousin:

...and with its German brother in arms:

 

[wbaad]

That is one beautiful collection!