04-03-2003, 09:53 AM
My strategy, like that of most collectors, has changed over time. I have basically changed my "inventory" about three times now.
However, I always had a few underlying principles.
1) Tunic or hat is better than medal. That is obviously a very personal opinion and one which is different from the majority of the group. But for me, it did not matter what I had to spend, $50, $200, $1500, when choosing between an order or medal for that price and a uniform I almost always chose the uniform. I still have many lesser medals and orders but they are not my focus and I won't pass up a uniform for them.
2) History is everything. I did not collect other militaria before I collected Soviet militaria. I began collecting Soviet militaria out of an interest in the Soviet military which I studied for many years. Therefore the more history the item had the better. So I a more interested in say a $20 medal with document identifying the unit of the awardee than a $200 medal without any "personality". Named uniform over unknown.
3) Somethings are just cool. They may not fit my "strategy of the day" but they are too cool to miss. It is strictly for this reason that I own a set of WWII Soviet "rabbit ears" trench binoculars and tripod. I don't collect field gear or optics but to me these are just too cool to pass up.
My first strategy was - "buy everything I could find and afford". This was in the 1988-1993 period. There was not much around, no Ebay, no collectors group, few resources. My collection consisted of 1970s-80s era hats, uniforms, badges and medals.
Eventually I learned a very important lesson. Most collectors will reach the point where they have "discovered Atlantis" or "hit paydirt". That is where it is no longer a question of actively looking for Soviet militaria but where you discovered that a huge range of stuff is available. If you have discovered this forum then you are already there! Check out the websites of the members and search a few famous online auctions and you will discover more stuff for sale than you can ever hope to afford - or store. Once a collector reaches this point you MUST have a strategy. You now have fewer resources than the opportunities out there and have to focus and specialize and plan.
My next strategy was to take a concept Ed talks about above and try to buy the best and rarest that I can afford of the stuff that interests me - basically uniforms. In this period, say 1993-1997, my collection consisted of a bit rarer uniforms from the modern (1970s-80s) period - generals, KGB, naval infantry, etc. and some earlier stuff, mainly M1955 officer parade uniforms. I had a bit more money and much better sources than in my first strategy period.
Eventually, as I started to actually work for a living and get a bit more money I found that I was actually breaking Ed's rule about quality. I could now afford better uniforms than I had in my collection, and I knew where to find them. I started to get some WWII uniforms - officers and even a few generals - NKVD stuff, etc.
Finally, I reached the strategy I am at now. I have little space but lots of stuff, much of it is not what I would buy today. So I will only keep, and continue to buy, absolute top quality items - in terms of either rarity, history, or (still) coolness factor. I am down to about 10 uniforms (not including what is in my "for sale" pile when I break it out of storage), only one is under general rank and none are later than 1945. Almost half are named and that is all I will look for in the future. I also keep unit standards, original marked battle maps, genuine state seuciryt IDs and other rare stuff.
I love my collection and think I have a good strategy. I even have some focusses within this strategy since I can't afford all the stuff I want - I try to lean towards Engineering uniforms and M40 uniforms for example.
However, there is also a big problem with my current strategy. I now get very few items, as they are all very expensive. I have no fun searching as I get almost everything from one source and the stuff "finds me".
So I had to do something else as well. I actually do three something elses to stay happy.
1) Research. I try to do in depth research on units and individuals related to my collection. This takes up much more time than actually handling my collection itself does. It fills some evenings more productively than drooling yet again over my existing collection. Besides, my wife will have me committed if I spend much more time staring at old uniforms.
2) I also collect something unrelated - ancient and medieval maceheads.
3) Finally, I have a small militaria side collection. I collect enamled orders, medals and badges from East European countries. Here I collect whatever catches my fancy. I spend little so as not to drain my real savings. I also intentionally break Ed's rule about buying the best you can afford. In fact I often buy the cheapest specifically so as not to drain my savings. One reason I chose east european stuff is you can get many nice looking items for cheap - say the $20 range. This side hobby gves me the pleasure of knowing that when I go to a militaria show or check out stores or flea markets when I travel I have the chance of finding something. I usually have the stuff for sale when I have a table at a militaria show - it fills space and raises a tiny bit of money. Maybe one day I will use some of this stuff to introduce my children to collecting.
I hope these ramblings have been of some use in examining ones own strategy.
Shawn
However, I always had a few underlying principles.
1) Tunic or hat is better than medal. That is obviously a very personal opinion and one which is different from the majority of the group. But for me, it did not matter what I had to spend, $50, $200, $1500, when choosing between an order or medal for that price and a uniform I almost always chose the uniform. I still have many lesser medals and orders but they are not my focus and I won't pass up a uniform for them.
2) History is everything. I did not collect other militaria before I collected Soviet militaria. I began collecting Soviet militaria out of an interest in the Soviet military which I studied for many years. Therefore the more history the item had the better. So I a more interested in say a $20 medal with document identifying the unit of the awardee than a $200 medal without any "personality". Named uniform over unknown.
3) Somethings are just cool. They may not fit my "strategy of the day" but they are too cool to miss. It is strictly for this reason that I own a set of WWII Soviet "rabbit ears" trench binoculars and tripod. I don't collect field gear or optics but to me these are just too cool to pass up.
My first strategy was - "buy everything I could find and afford". This was in the 1988-1993 period. There was not much around, no Ebay, no collectors group, few resources. My collection consisted of 1970s-80s era hats, uniforms, badges and medals.
Eventually I learned a very important lesson. Most collectors will reach the point where they have "discovered Atlantis" or "hit paydirt". That is where it is no longer a question of actively looking for Soviet militaria but where you discovered that a huge range of stuff is available. If you have discovered this forum then you are already there! Check out the websites of the members and search a few famous online auctions and you will discover more stuff for sale than you can ever hope to afford - or store. Once a collector reaches this point you MUST have a strategy. You now have fewer resources than the opportunities out there and have to focus and specialize and plan.
My next strategy was to take a concept Ed talks about above and try to buy the best and rarest that I can afford of the stuff that interests me - basically uniforms. In this period, say 1993-1997, my collection consisted of a bit rarer uniforms from the modern (1970s-80s) period - generals, KGB, naval infantry, etc. and some earlier stuff, mainly M1955 officer parade uniforms. I had a bit more money and much better sources than in my first strategy period.
Eventually, as I started to actually work for a living and get a bit more money I found that I was actually breaking Ed's rule about quality. I could now afford better uniforms than I had in my collection, and I knew where to find them. I started to get some WWII uniforms - officers and even a few generals - NKVD stuff, etc.
Finally, I reached the strategy I am at now. I have little space but lots of stuff, much of it is not what I would buy today. So I will only keep, and continue to buy, absolute top quality items - in terms of either rarity, history, or (still) coolness factor. I am down to about 10 uniforms (not including what is in my "for sale" pile when I break it out of storage), only one is under general rank and none are later than 1945. Almost half are named and that is all I will look for in the future. I also keep unit standards, original marked battle maps, genuine state seuciryt IDs and other rare stuff.
I love my collection and think I have a good strategy. I even have some focusses within this strategy since I can't afford all the stuff I want - I try to lean towards Engineering uniforms and M40 uniforms for example.
However, there is also a big problem with my current strategy. I now get very few items, as they are all very expensive. I have no fun searching as I get almost everything from one source and the stuff "finds me".
So I had to do something else as well. I actually do three something elses to stay happy.
1) Research. I try to do in depth research on units and individuals related to my collection. This takes up much more time than actually handling my collection itself does. It fills some evenings more productively than drooling yet again over my existing collection. Besides, my wife will have me committed if I spend much more time staring at old uniforms.
2) I also collect something unrelated - ancient and medieval maceheads.
3) Finally, I have a small militaria side collection. I collect enamled orders, medals and badges from East European countries. Here I collect whatever catches my fancy. I spend little so as not to drain my real savings. I also intentionally break Ed's rule about buying the best you can afford. In fact I often buy the cheapest specifically so as not to drain my savings. One reason I chose east european stuff is you can get many nice looking items for cheap - say the $20 range. This side hobby gves me the pleasure of knowing that when I go to a militaria show or check out stores or flea markets when I travel I have the chance of finding something. I usually have the stuff for sale when I have a table at a militaria show - it fills space and raises a tiny bit of money. Maybe one day I will use some of this stuff to introduce my children to collecting.
I hope these ramblings have been of some use in examining ones own strategy.
Shawn
