"Pawn Stars"

[Stony]

For those that have seen the TV show "Pawn Stars", I was watching it tonight and this guy brought in a 15th AF uniform set. He thinks it's his grandfather's, but he's not sure. Here is a list of what was in the group and the condition of all the pieces was good.

 

Bancroft crusher

OD 4 pocket jacket with bullion 15th AF patch, U.S. and officer's winged props and 2Lt bars (no wings or ribbons)

Pinks

OD pants

Overseas cap

 

The pawn shop doesn't know exactly what the stuff is worth, so he brings in his resident "militaria expert". The "expert" says the whole set is worth around $800. The pawn shop guy offers the owner $400 and the deal is done. In my opinion, the group wasn't worth the $400 he was paid. The crusher is the best piece and would probably bring around $250, but the rest isn't that great. IMO 15th AF bullion aren't that hard to come by, so no big $$$ on that one.

 

If the jacket had wings and some combat ribbons, then it might be worth $400.

 

 

Opinions?

[doyler]

I havent seen the show but a couple guys I know watch it and they told me about a ground down bayonet they appraised.THey should stick to buying tools and stolen property

 

RD

[Bob Hudson]

For those that have seen the TV show "Pawn Stars", I was watching it tonight and this guy brought in a 15th AF uniform set. He thinks it's his grandfather's, but he's not sure. Here is a list of what was in the group and the condition of all the pieces was good.

 

Bancroft crusher

OD 4 pocket jacket with bullion 15th AF patch, U.S. and officer's winged props and 2Lt bars (no wings or ribbons)

Pinks

OD pants

Overseas cap

 

The pawn shop doesn't know exactly what the stuff is worth, so he brings in his resident "militaria expert". The "expert" says the whole set is worth around $800. The pawn shop guy offers the owner $400 and the deal is done. In my opinion, the group wasn't worth the $400 he was paid. The crusher is the best piece and would probably bring around $250, but the rest isn't that great. IMO 15th AF bullion aren't that hard to come by, so no big $$$ on that one.

 

If the jacket had wings and some combat ribbons, then it might be worth $400.

Opinions?

 

I just watched that too and my guess was the same: about $400 tops, with half of that being for the cap. The guy who appraised was said to be a militaria dealer but perhaps he has shop and/or only sells at shows - those guys often price stuff at twice what it sells for on Ebay, but even then it's hard to imagine getting anything more than $400 for that getup.

 

I love this show and usually their appraisers seem fairly savvy, but this time I think they got a lemon.

[Holloman]

HA! I knew there would be a subject on this.

 

It's a good show, but it really caught my attention when I saw a QM tag on the screen.

[Shenkursk]

Paul and his wife run a shop in CA (Glendale, if I remember properly). They are extremely nice people, and very pleasant to deal with. I have purchased a few items from them at Bob Chatt's show in Pomona, and was more than pleased with the transactions.

 

Having recently participated in an event involving 'on-the-spot' appraisals, I found that it is very easy to shoot high unless you take your time and really think about it. The natural desire is to tell people what they want to hear, and you have to fight that as it can lead to inaccurate appraisals. Everybody is smiling when the numbers are large. When you say something like "the only real value it has is the heat it will put off when when you finally burn it", well - that does not generate as many smiles as you might think.

 

I always do best when I can sit in front of the computer and compare items to our records of past sales. Some guys can carry around an accurate encyclopedia of prices in their heads - not me. When the lights are on and everybody is looking at you, it would be very easy to announce an $800 price for an item that you might have marked $425 back in the shop with plenty of time to look it over and look at your sales records.

 

We all do this at shows from time to time, also. I notice that when the elbows are flying and the pressure is on early during the set-up period of a show, I often buy a few items that end up priced for far less than I paid for them after we get them back to the office and do the research. The trick is to keep that to an absolute minimum.

[teufelhunde.ret]

I watched as well... the fellow out to stick to running his gun shop... $800 :pinch: way over the top, partially stripped, no names stamped or written. Someone will likely "create" something from it.

[Troy13]

Saw this one also. I told my wife 350 tops and was dumbfounded at the $800 figure. I guess it makes the show more interesting when the shop owener can get a high appraisal and then get the item from the seller for nothing, but I agree he did pay too much for everything.

 

One thing that irked me was the the seller said he found the item at his grandmothers and would just wear it for Halloween and stuff. I know he did not know what he had, but to a collector, that's nails on a chalkboard.

 

Also, tha episode with the bayos and the cut down one....the seller said his father was in the 101st at Bastogne and such. But he came in with a Czech VZ (?) bayo, a WWI German sawback and the WWI German cutdown sawback. Once I saw this I discredited the man instantly, but I ask, could it be possible?

 

Troy

[Mr.Jerry]

The problem that they appraiser overprices stuff is not the real problem.

 

The problem is that that do it on Television.

 

Pawn Stars is the new poor man's "Antiques Road Show" and what happens is the overexcited tells the uninformed of value, and the whole country then believes it. Thanks to them I will now get people in MY shop wanting $400 for a $25 5th or 7th Army tunic. ) or worse an actual 15th that I could have used!

 

I wonder if they buy via mail order. I have plenty of $200 groups I would sell for $400.

 

But hey Chumley Rocks!

Anyone dumb enough to fire off a 1700's blunderbuss without protective gear purely for the entertainment of the nation is aces in my book!

[Capt.Confederacy]

I just watched that too and my guess was the same: about $400 tops, with half of that being for the cap. The guy who appraised was said to be a militaria dealer but perhaps he has shop and/or only sells at shows - those guys often price stuff at twice what it sells for on Ebay, but even then it's hard to imagine getting anything more than $400 for that getup.

 

I love this show and usually their appraisers seem fairly savvy, but this time I think they got a lemon.

 

I'd agree with that. $800.00 is far too high for the grouping. Still, I don't feel too sorry for the pawn guys given how the son on the show (the bald guy, not "big hoss") bought an autograph book crammed to the gills with autographed photos of everyone who was anyone in the 1950's and 1960's for $300.

[36-tex]

I watched the show as well. I was thinking $300 tops for the grouping with the crusher being the high dollar piece. The bayonet show was a joke, but the show with the early officers jacket from 1902 was cool. I like the show, but I like antiques and the joy I get watching the "CHUMLY"!

[Manchu Warrior]

I havent seen the show but a couple guys I know watch it and they told me about a ground down bayonet they appraised.THey should stick to buying tools and stolen property

 

RD

The bayonet lot included a WWI German sawback bayonet appraised at $250, not bad, and a clean Czech bayonet for $50, about right. The third bayonet was when the appraiser went off into left field. If I remember correctly the ground down one was a K-98 bayonet, and it was ground down to a nub, and the appraiser claimed that this was a theater made fighting knife and appraised it for $250. :crying: The cleanest K-98 bayonets with matching numbered scabbards are not even worth that kind of money. :thumbdown:

[Bob Hudson]

This show does have a bit of a Antique Roadshow antidote factor. Antique Roadshow lets people know how much stuff might ultimately be worth, but Pawn Stars over and over emphasizes that you are not going to get that ultimate price when you use a middleman. I see people walk away after rejecting an offer to buy and they say they'll just sell it themselves. They may get lucky and find a buyer on Craiglist, but for many high end items, an individual is just not in the position to market it properly by themselves. Ironically, some of those who walk away on Pawn Stars can use their segment on the show as an appraisal of sorts to sell to someone else.

 

I was talking to someone the other about gold and silver prices and how many people expect that if the current price of gold is $1,000 an ounce they can go to some place that buys gold and get paid $1,000 an ounce, not realizing that other folks along the chain need to make money, cover assay fees, etc. so this is something that applies not just too collectibles. It probably happens to in the car business when people expect a dealer will give them a trade-in credit equal to the full retail value of that car.

[Bluehawk]

What really gets me in this whole "antiques appraisal" thing is when people are advised to insure their artifact for MORE than projected retail!

 

I wonder how many of them go right home and phone in an increase to their coverage.

 

The inland-marine property insurance industry is laughing all the way to the bank.

[doyler]

The bayonet lot included a WWI German sawback bayonet appraised at $250, not bad, and a clean Czech bayonet for $50, about right. The third bayonet was when the appraiser went off into left field. If I remember correctly the ground down one was a K-98 bayonet, and it was ground down to a nub, and the appraiser claimed that this was a theater made fighting knife and appraised it for $250. :crying: The cleanest K-98 bayonets with matching numbered scabbards are not even worth that kind of money. :thumbdown:

 

 

Right on Manchu

 

RD

[doyler]

The bayonet lot included a WWI German sawback bayonet appraised at $250, not bad, and a clean Czech bayonet for $50, about right. The third bayonet was when the appraiser went off into left field. If I remember correctly the ground down one was a K-98 bayonet, and it was ground down to a nub, and the appraiser claimed that this was a theater made fighting knife and appraised it for $250. :crying: The cleanest K-98 bayonets with matching numbered scabbards are not even worth that kind of money. :thumbdown:

 

 

Right on Manchu,Thats the one

 

 

RD

[Wolfhounds]

Man, was I late in the game on this one, lol. I love watching Pawn Stars and I was looking forward to the episode that was on last night because I remember from the previous episode that some kind of uniform was going to be on there. When that guy appraised that 15th AF uniform group for $800 I almost choked on my beer. I was totally dumbfounded because there was absolutely nothing in that group that was worth even half that amount. The hat was nice, and the tunic was in good shape, but it was stripped bare. The only cool thing on it was the bullion 15th AAF patch, and that guy made it sound like that patch was so rare that it was priceless.

 

As much as I like that show the owner got totally hosed on that deal, and his so called "millitary expect" should stick to selling paintball gear. He stated on the show that he and his wife own a shop and have been business for 12 years or so, but I don't think he knows his a** from a hole in the ground when it comes to appraising militaria.

 

I'm tempted to take all of my uniforms in any see just how much they will give me for them. Pawn Stars is a cool show, and you can't really even begin to compare it to antiques roadshow because that show it totally lame. The problem is, as was stated above, that now everybody and their brother will think that grandpa's WWII 3rd or 4th AAF uniform or some 2nd or 4th Army uniform is now worth that kind of money.

 

Good show all in all, but last nights episode was WAY off of the mark, just my 2 cents worth.

[mes]

Hi Here is another case of the history of the uniform being lost because the grandson dosen't care enough to find out his grandfather did in ww2. Now we have a nice 15th air force uniform but no name or history What a shame, Mark

[vintageproductions]

As much as I like that show the owner got totally hosed on that deal, and his so called "millitary expect" should stick to selling paintball gear. He stated on the show that he and his wife own a shop and have been business for 12 years or so, but I don't think he knows his a** from a hole in the ground when it comes to appraising militaria.

 

Since we all know that television shows never edit out any information and we all know that we know everything that the show's producer tells this person to say, we can make these kind of comments.

Paul & Vicky Milbury have been a staple at all shows on the West Coast for many years. From the Great Western Gun Show up and including my show at Pomona, plus every gun show in between. They have had a shop here for years and have just recently finished moving it to Globe, Arizona. Paul is a great buyer, and is always fair with me. So before you start slinging your stones at someone you do not know, think about the fact that you are only seeing a couple of minutes worth of filmed footage that was probably closer to a 1/2 hour or more. The production crew edited out what they thought was useless or uninterestuing. This crew I am sure manipulates what they want you to see and hear.

[MAW]

I saw this episode last night....here are my misc. observations.

a

1) I like the show and try to watch it, but why is it on the "History Channel"? Am I missing something here?

 

2) I predicted to my wife the set would be $350-$400......going about $250 on the cap.

 

3) Why you don't get a name on the grouping, I'll never understand. Maybe the owner doesn't think about asking the question, but the supposed "expert" on WW1 and WW2 stuff ought to know better. He knew enough that it should be a "grouping".......

 

4) I wonder if there isn't an arrangement between the shop and the military appraiser.....the appraiser quotes double what he really thinks, knowing that the owner is going to not pay the full appraised amount. Then the owner can kick it back to the appraiser....even if he makes a $50 quick fee or something.......in other words, the owner could sell the uniform to the appraiser for $450ish with the $50 premium being a "you got first shot at it" fee.

 

I'm going to watch to see if there is a pattern with any other WW1/2 items.

 

Anyway....neat show to watch.

 

Chumley better have good insurance.

[KASTAUFFER]

Looks like I will be watching the episode on my Tivo tonight! $800 does seem a bit steep.

 

Did anyone catch the episode where the pawn shop bought the Model 1895 US Army undress uniform owned by General Griswald? What are everyones thoughts on that one?

 

Kurt

[Bob Hudson]

Looks like I will be watching the episode on my Tivo tonight! $800 does seem a bit steep.

 

Did anyone catch the episode where the pawn shop bought the Model 1895 US Army undress uniform owned by General Griswald? What are everyones thoughts on that one?

 

Kurt

 

 

That episode will air again on Thursday September 24 at 10:30 PM.

 

I saw that and a subsequent episode which indicated they still had it for sale in the store, but I can't remember what they valued it at. Here's some wikipedia info on him (he was from Nevada).

 

Oscar Wollverton Griswold (22 October 1886 - 28 September 1959) was an American soldier and General in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his command of the XIV Corps in the South Pacific Area and South West Pacific Area during World War II.

[Manchu Warrior]

That episode will air again on Thursday September 24 at 10:30 PM.

 

I saw that and a subsequent episode which indicated they still had it for sale in the store, but I can't remember what they valued it at. Here's some wikipedia info on him (he was from Nevada).

 

Oscar Wollverton Griswold (22 October 1886 - 28 September 1959) was an American soldier and General in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his command of the XIV Corps in the South Pacific Area and South West Pacific Area during World War II.

I am a little confuse because I thought General Griswold's West Point uniform was what was sold, or was it just the cape. And if I remember correctly it was appraised for 3 grand which seemed rather on the high side to me for what it was.

[JDK]

That episode will air again on Thursday September 24 at 10:30 PM.

 

I saw that and a subsequent episode which indicated they still had it for sale in the store, but I can't remember what they valued it at. Here's some wikipedia info on him (he was from Nevada).

 

Oscar Wollverton Griswold (22 October 1886 - 28 September 1959) was an American soldier and General in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his command of the XIV Corps in the South Pacific Area and South West Pacific Area during World War II.

 

 

They said on last nights show that the shop was selling Griswolds uniform for $3500 or $4500. I can't remember for sure which price, but it was one of those. The 15th uniform was high, but I remember the not so far ago days when nice Flighter crusher caps in larger sizes were selling for $300-$350 on Ebay.

 

JD

[kammo-man]

Guys ,

I have known Paul And Vicky for years .

They ran a tight little Militaria store near me ,and it was great to pick up odd little things .

Very old school; if you know what I mean .

Knowing TV producers Paul was TOLD to price high just to make an item look good on camera .

Paul is a quiet ,reserved kind of guy and I feel he was produced by the show and it worked because here we are talking about it days later !!!!

 

owen

kammoman

[BEAST]

Looks like I will be watching the episode on my Tivo tonight! $800 does seem a bit steep.

 

Did anyone catch the episode where the pawn shop bought the Model 1895 US Army undress uniform owned by General Griswald? What are everyones thoughts on that one?

 

Kurt

 

Kurt, I remember the coat, but I thought the insignia seemed odd. Didn't it have Commissary insignia on it? Not saying that it was wrong, but would need to know more about Griswold's pre-WWI service before I laid down that kind of money!

 

I really enjoy the show, but I like the old man the most! Was Chumley named after the walrus on Tennessee Tuxedo?