Newbie question/comments

[prestoncohunter]

First let me begin by saying thank you so much to all who have helped me identify items we found at my late FILs. You all are a great source of information to a person who isn't a collector but is still very interested in the history of the WW2 items we have found. I don't really see myself becoming a true collector but after much reading I do have a clue of a few things I will be keeping an eye out for at yard/estate sales, etc.

 

Now to my question. I don't remember the topic exactly but a knife was being talked about that while it was original it had been sharpened and some thought that hurt the value. I realize in some cases millions of, in this case a knife, would have been issued and some never left the US and would be in much better over all condition than one that spent months or in some cases years in a combat zone. So how do you figure value of normal use vs unissued. I understand that a piece that can be verified of being issued to a historical figure or decorated person will have higher value but most of these pieces who actually used them will never be known.

 

It seems to contradict what some posts lean toward a item be more highly sought after if it was used in combat vs a piece being higher value by being NIB. Seems that you can't have it both ways, if issued for use then it will have wear on it. Or does it just depend on the individual of wanting to make a museum type display vs the person wanting a representative as used piece of history.

 

Hope what I'm asking makes sense, cause after reading the post I'm not sure I understand it lol.

[JBFloyd]

In any militaria field, there are condition fanatics and utility fanatics. You'd hardly believe they all collected the same things.

 

Personally, I'm in the utility camp. I prefer items that were used for their intended purpose. Within that area, I certainly prefer better condition, but that's not paramount. An item with a story interests me more than a glistening example without the story. In the back of my mind, I always see the crispy MIB item as the prized possession of some PX commando who spent his enlistment scheduling tee times at the officers golf course. The rusty, crusty item with a name scratched on it or a field repair and strong evidence of regular use is much more likely to have been used by a combat soldier.

 

Someone in the condition camp is likely to argue that an MIB item was never abused and represents the way the piece was issued.

 

It all comes down to what the collector wants the item to represent. The raging arguments will continue forever, but neither side is wrong.

[prestoncohunter]

That makes sense, if/when I ever become a collector I can see the utility side and wondering of the untold stories the piece holds.

 

Though I would never disparage the state side vet, most were just men who did what duty they were assigned and IMHO were still a huge part of the war effort.

[Mr.Jerry]

I got a knife from a WWII combat pilot that was unissued, still in the wrapper. 50 missions "I never used it" he said. I think each has to be judged on their own merits. I think ID'ed knives, stateside or combat hold more interest than unattributed ones. But there will always be condition collectors too.