Where to start.

[tdogchristy90]

I've been bouncing around the forums a long time it seems. Well since doing some work here at Andersonville, I'm going whole hog on my military history. It was bound to become my singular focus eventually given my job, but it's now official. Aside from my interest in movies and working out for stress relief, I've done away with every other interest that distracts from my love of military history. Now with that out of the way here's my question.

 

With my coin interest it was pretty straight forward, there are only 30 or so US designs to dabble in. With history and especially the industrialization of war there are literally thousands if not millions of choices.

 

Now I definitely have my interests, I'm more of a "personal" kind of guy. I enjoy lighters, dog tags, paperwork, ect. However as a history person I really enjoy and or want it all. There isn't a militaria I don't enjoy from a history perspective, be it military, Homefront, male or female.

 

So where should I start? I've danced around completing a musette bag set with all its potential contents. However something usually distracts me and I buy something that doesn't complete that particular goal. (The 75mm shell for example)

 

I've also become more interested in pieces with personal stories, especially desiring to focus on soldiers from my home state of Missouri.

 

Similarly I've slowly gained an interest in medals although haven't pulled the trigger on collecting them.

 

So where or how do you all figure out where to start and what to put your energy towards?

 

To give some insight, here's where I sit right now.

 

Musette bag

-handkerchief

-face paint/instructions

-p-38 in envelope

-zippo

-lucky stricks

-ww2 dog tags

 

-ww1 dog tags w/ enlistment/discharge papers

 

-Vietnam bible

 

-Bataan pow shell

 

Thoughts? Thanks.

[Brig]

As time progresses, you will notice your interests narrowing into focuses...the true passions choose you, not the other way around. In time, it'll become clear

[Jumpin Jack]

Brig is certainly right with his advice.I would like to amplify on that a bit if I may.I'm in the twilight years of my collecting, having started in July 1944, built an amazing collection of Third Reich, then switched over to WWII U.S. My advice is to give it some serious thought where you want to go, and how to go about making it work for you. When you make that determination (that occurs when your mind and your juices converge. That's the time to pick an area that really stimulates your interest an pursue that. Remember that we can't have it although some of us try. Take into consideration the financial outlay, the display, the rarity of your subject matter, etc. When you find your path, follow it, and enjoy all that brings to you. Jack

[themick]

Sage advice from two sages. Take your time, don't feel you need to buy everything you come across. Do research on the prices things go for. Realize that you can't have it all, (darn it!!) think about how much you can actually spend, and what of it seriously appeals to you, and why it does. Since we can't have it all, focus is key. I need to add here, having collected for over 45 years, though not so much now, when I say focus, that doesn't necessarily mean on a particular item or subject (such as uniforms, or USAAF items), but focus on the items which really cry out to you, (as suggested above, "your mind and juices converge" ) as opposed to like, oh gee, that canteen is a year earlier than the one I have, so I have to have it (even though it doesn't do anything for me.) Congratulations in this fun, and at time, exasperating hobby!!

 

Steve

[Fiziwater]

Your budding collection already shows a tendency towards US Army infantry, especially WW2. I started that way, acquiring field equipment, uniforms and head gear. That lead to interest in the lineage of belts and canteens which lead to my WW1 US Army infantry collection. Looking through reference books has provoked my interest in sub-collections, such as Mackinaw coat variations, all M1910 canteen variations, and US Army pistol/cartridge belts from 1903 through 1945. Setting out to acquire all examples of a sub-category and then filling in the holes is an aspect of collecting that appeals to me.

[Brig]

I'll add a bit more...this is what I've noticed about a lot of collectors' development, and mine was quite similar.

 

It should be something that interests you long-term, not a passing phase. Everyone starts with the gotta have it all bug-all countries, all eras. That's impractical.

 

Then people shift to a broad category, such as all helmets, or all Third Reich, or all WWII. Very often it's Third Reich. After a year or two of being bullied by egotistical collectors (the TR side is loaded with them) and burned by scumbag sellers, people tend to leave it. The only thing the TR community loves more than chasing away new collectors is whining about having no new blood in the hobby and dropping prices. It's not all of them, there are some good guys in that field, but it is quite common, sadly.

 

Once the collector finds his way to the US side (congrats, you're here early), they tend to focus on something like ALL helmets, or an entire branch or war. Also impractical. Interests and experience and budget tend to drive the narrowing focus. Army collar insignia and patches are often stepping stones into the hobby, plenty of variation, lots of affordable pieces to keep you busy as you learn. Some guys love field gear (beware the kooks who only want combat worn, preferably blood stained). Some guys collect from an MOS that they themselves have held (I like infantry stuff...not because of war movies, but because I've spent 13+ years in the MOS).

 

Eventually, you have to decide, do you want a large variety of run of the mill, loosely related stuff...or a smaller selection of quality items? What really calls to you? It's okay to have sub-collections, but as your interests change, be sure you're really sure you want to leave it...it may reignite one day. You can find a lot of regret on this forum of members selling stuff only to have their interests rekindled.

 

My journey has been a long one...everything, then Third Reich...eventually tired of fakes and egos and switched to US...joined the USMC and switched to USMC...eventually focused on the iconic EGA, marksmanship badges, portraits, medals, and ranks...realized it was still too much, so dropped medals and ranks...got burned out of being tasked and loaned out as a marksmanship instructor and my interest in the marksmanship collecting fell aside...eventually realized that good stuff is expensive, and had to focus more if I wanted to continue to increase quality...the story goes on and on

 

Look at your chosen career. It's very important to realize that there's not good money in a history degree, so it's out of passion. Perhaps collecting named stuff that you can research the man behind...this allows an outlet and good way to practice your desired career, and also practical application of your curriculum. Who knows, maybe the story behind one of the pieces in your collector leads to the topic of one of your assignments.

[gwb123]

One piece of advice that is often given... buy quality over quantity.

 

Having said that, make sure you do your homework enough to be confident that the pricey item you are buying is the real thing.

 

Reference books, sometimes expensive themselves, can save you a lot of money, mistakes and embarrassment in the future.

[tdogchristy90]

Sage advice from two sages. Take your time, don't feel you need to buy everything you come across. Do research on the prices things go for. Realize that you can't have it all, (darn it!!) think about how much you can actually spend, and what of it seriously appeals to you, and why it does. Since we can't have it all, focus is key. I need to add here, having collected for over 45 years, though not so much now, when I say focus, that doesn't necessarily mean on a particular item or subject (such as uniforms, or USAAF items), but focus on the items which really cry out to you, (as suggested above, "your mind and juices converge" ) as opposed to like, oh gee, that canteen is a year earlier than the one I have, so I have to have it (even though it doesn't do anything for me.) Congratulations in this fun, and at time, exasperating hobby!!

 

Steve

Thanks you all for the advice. This is what I was referring to. I'm aware I can't have it all, I'm also aware from my coin days that having "every date of a coin" doesn't appeal to me. Why do I need 100 Mercury dimes when the only distinguishing factor is a date. In that way I'm more of a "type" person. Have an example of every "type" of something instead of many of the exact same thing.

 

I'm also very much a "personal" person. Items that are ID'd and have some sort of human connection are what I crave more than a random unamed uniform.

 

I'm also a quality over quantity type of person. I much prefer having 1-2 quality pieces over cluttering my surroundings with junk.

 

I just need a focus. I've always needed a focus, somewhere to focus my energy. Otherwise I'm just shooting at randomness with no objective or goal. (No spray and pray...guided missile through a door)

 

So with all that in mind I've been doing a lot of thinking and here's my conclusion....

 

My love for everything military will be "solved" by collecting an example of everything that interests me. I'll do this only when there are down times in my main focus. I'll buy that random piece while I'm waiting for that next "main focus" piece to come about and is avialable.

 

My main focus pieces are going to be US dog tags. I've had the dog tag itch for a long time. Just never made the jump. They fit a lot of what I enjoy. They are one of the most "personal" items because they include a name, unit, number, and are researchable. They are small and easy to display like in a frame and thus fit into my minimalist lifestyle. Finally they also cover a wide range of interests and I can go into different variations (similar to coins varieties where the same coin may have a ribbon on one date and no ribbon on the other) I can cover the civil war through Vietnam, I can do Pacific, Europe, Marines, Army, Pearl Harbor, POW, the USS Missouri, you name it I can cover it.

 

So it's because of this I think I'll make dog tags my focus and then fill the downtime with the "other stuff" be it revolutionary war bayonets, civil war buttons, or ww2 mess kits. The best of both worlds, a personal focus and abundant variety.

 

Cheers