Quality Over Quantity

[Cpl. Punishment]

Hello all,

 

I have been a member of the forum for a few years, and have been a collector longer. 
 

My collecting has changed significantly in every way since my first interest as a kid, as most collectors’ do. My interests have shifted and settled for a while in Vietnam. 
 

Life changes, things happen, moves take place and lugging a collection is certainly no easy task. I have recently come to a realization, perhaps the first time in my collecting years, to focus on the quality of my collection rather than quantity. I should explain, I don’t simply refer to the price of the artifact, rather, the overall quality to include rarity, condition, and specificity to collecting interests. 
 

I used to be the kid that would pick up items regardless of any sort of canon. I always believed in keeping groupings together, collecting provenance, etc. but I lacked focus. Maybe, perhaps, I still do but I have certainly been evaluating that. 
 

In all of this transition, I have realized that one day, when I am gone or unable to do this hobby, if I continue the way I had been, I’d be a hoarder with an endless amount of unrelated groupings. I recently decided to keep my collection succinct - letting go of and reconsidering the collection. At the end of this hobby deconstruction, I have started to truly allow just a few items to remain. I realize that at the end of the day, this is a hobby I love deeply, but it is also an investment (even if my wife or family will be the ones to cash it in). A historical gun dealer and stand-up guy, David Rachwal, told me once that the museum quality pieces will be the things that will always hold and increase in value; I’ve found this to be true by every collecting genre of militaria I’ve seen. 
 

Much of this is just me rambling, but I would love to hear how you all balance quality and quantity in your collection. I want to again reiterate that this is not to be determined on just the monetary value of the collection and rather, a more wholistic view. I want to also point out this is not an exclusive conversation where you must have a million dollar collection; this is open to all collectors. After all, valuation will always vary and frankly, as long as you are happy, that is what is important.

 

I would love to hear from you all! There are always great insights that I hadn’t considered on here.

[danimal03]

Hello,

I've been a collector as long as I can remember.  I got my first CS button at around age 9 (I collected junk earlier).  And went from there.  Fast forward around 40 years and I had a famous author in my house the other day.  He looked at my collection and remarked at how diverse it was.  He seemed amazed I had so many focus areas.

 

I realize I have 'too many irons in too many fires' and do try and stay focused.  That being said, the last time I moved I asked a friend for help.  There were several small boxes left in one room.  My buddy thought, 'no problem', I will grab them.  Well inside one was a 32lb solid shot shell.  When he whimsically grabbed it, its weigh arrested his body swing movement.

 

He said to me, 'only you would have a 50lb piece of artillery in a small box that I thought was a small box of junk'.

 

So I often wonder myself, sell off most, and invest in like one high value piece?  But the other side of that coin is a burglar could easily grab that one item in a few minutes.  My collection would take hours to move even under a 'smash and grab' scenario.  

 

So I have no answer here.  I can see pluses and minuses to both sides of the coin, so to speak....  I am at a loss...

 

But for me I think it comes down to, 'the thrill of the chase'. Meaning I need to search for neat, historical items regardless of value.  I think I would get bored if I only picked up one high end item a year, etc.

 

I think I need a 'fix' of at LEAST once a month.  I get restless when I sit things out.

 

I bought a small WWII container of dice the other day not really thinking about it.  It was cheap.  And I thought 'what the heck', I'll find a place for it.  When I got home, I looked closely at the dice.  I then realized they had a King George 'Tax Act Stamp' on them.  I was floored.  These were pre–Rev Was dice.  Dice that likely some WWII GI recycled out of a family 'game box' as most people have in a closet.  For me I guess this is the answer... my house is a shelter for relics... waiting to be re-homed down the road...

 

 

[Cpl. Punishment]

Wonderful points! I would not have considered the “safety in numbers” so-to-speak! 
 

I have acted upon the theory of investing in just a few things but I still have an itch to pick up everything! I have a soft spot for bringback items and just simply can’t figure out what to do about it!

 

Thank you for your thoughtful perspective! 

[manayunkman]

My focus is a quantity of quality.

[ShibaLegend]

1 hour ago, manayunkman said:

My focus is a quantity of quality.

I second that one, although how well I do at that goal can be argued.

[Cpl. Punishment]

1 hour ago, manayunkman said:

My focus is a quantity of quality.

You, sir, are on to something! Haha.

[manayunkman]

44 minutes ago, ShibaLegend said:

I second that one, although how well I do at that goal can be argued.

Im sure you are doing better than you think and its not over yet so you will only improve.

[manayunkman]

35 minutes ago, Cpl. Punishment said:

You, sir, are on to something! Haha.

I’m on to it for sure.