Hi,
I just returned from Ciney militaria fair in Belgium http://www.cineyexpo.be/agenda/evenement.php?id=288.
Few impressions:
- huge exhibition space, lost of sellers. Felt like a kid in a candy store.
- most were insignia and weapons: knives, swords, guns. There were even vintage barrel Colt, Remington asking prices 1000-2000 euros.
- most of items were old collectibles, few repros and some contemporary camo/guns
- old collectibles most from 20th century, few from 19th (helmets, armours). Most from Europe. However a surprising amount of American ww2 US army ones (Ike jackets, overcoats, uniforms). However prices on american ones were a bit high (green overcoat 150 euro, ike jacket around 200 euro).
- surprising lots of ww2 German militaria: caps, uniforms, insignia, flags, accessories. And lots of stands visitors (compared to other stands). Prices were kind of prohibitive: iron corss 30-200 euro, ww2 cap 300-1000 euro. There was one stand with high quality german repros of ww2 caps 150 euros, they looked almost close to the originals.
- there was lots of stuff, I tried to stay away from things I did not know.
- deals I passed (had not enough cash on me): Luftwaffe pants (close to mint) 250 euro, RAF jacket size 42 (GC, fairly clean, not rotten) 500 euro + 300 euros Raf pants. Luftwaffe sheepsking Kanal jacket - bit dirty but otherwise gc - 500 euro
- one guy had a M444(flaked, ok condition, size 40 i would say, had painted patch) asking 800 euros. He was insisting it was a B3
. He had then a ww2 German pilot brown jacket in good conditon with insignia on it (iron cross, lw eagle, shoulder boards fixed by button + loop), ZIPP zipper if I recall - asking 2000 euros(honestly there are so many LW fakes that is hard to tell if genuine). He had aslo a beat up m442 jacket (leather scuffed, abrasions, collar almost completely worn-off) asking for it 600 euros - no thanks.
- repros there were there were the B15 and A-2 from Brabander. B-15 were a size bigger (sleeve length and width) - 150 euro - not bad for the price. The A-2's sleeves were looking kind of strange - really straight like cones. Leather looked better than average jacket leather but far from impressive. Shoulder boards were off. I find Cooper/Avirex average repros to be more accurate.
- I bought a pair of QMaster buckle back jeans - selfedge quite thick denim 13-14 oz I estimate. They are looking quite impressive. 50 euros
- there were even old military(US army ww2) vehicles on sale. There was a Jeep Willis completely restored(Netherlands company) with og engine for 43.000 euro. Amazing
Lots of interesting stuff but prices were high compared to online. The advantage to check and see them at one place. Among the sellers were also well established vintage shops. Also repro shops - Solider of fortune - that had a big stand, pretty good stuff. I really liked their ww2 army sweaters - looked high quality and close to originals.
Next fair at Ciney is on April if I recall, check the website. However there are also others in NW Europe.
I just returned from Ciney militaria fair in Belgium http://www.cineyexpo.be/agenda/evenement.php?id=288.
Few impressions:
- huge exhibition space, lost of sellers. Felt like a kid in a candy store.
- most were insignia and weapons: knives, swords, guns. There were even vintage barrel Colt, Remington asking prices 1000-2000 euros.
- most of items were old collectibles, few repros and some contemporary camo/guns
- old collectibles most from 20th century, few from 19th (helmets, armours). Most from Europe. However a surprising amount of American ww2 US army ones (Ike jackets, overcoats, uniforms). However prices on american ones were a bit high (green overcoat 150 euro, ike jacket around 200 euro).
- surprising lots of ww2 German militaria: caps, uniforms, insignia, flags, accessories. And lots of stands visitors (compared to other stands). Prices were kind of prohibitive: iron corss 30-200 euro, ww2 cap 300-1000 euro. There was one stand with high quality german repros of ww2 caps 150 euros, they looked almost close to the originals.
- there was lots of stuff, I tried to stay away from things I did not know.
- deals I passed (had not enough cash on me): Luftwaffe pants (close to mint) 250 euro, RAF jacket size 42 (GC, fairly clean, not rotten) 500 euro + 300 euros Raf pants. Luftwaffe sheepsking Kanal jacket - bit dirty but otherwise gc - 500 euro
- one guy had a M444(flaked, ok condition, size 40 i would say, had painted patch) asking 800 euros. He was insisting it was a B3
. He had then a ww2 German pilot brown jacket in good conditon with insignia on it (iron cross, lw eagle, shoulder boards fixed by button + loop), ZIPP zipper if I recall - asking 2000 euros(honestly there are so many LW fakes that is hard to tell if genuine). He had aslo a beat up m442 jacket (leather scuffed, abrasions, collar almost completely worn-off) asking for it 600 euros - no thanks.- repros there were there were the B15 and A-2 from Brabander. B-15 were a size bigger (sleeve length and width) - 150 euro - not bad for the price. The A-2's sleeves were looking kind of strange - really straight like cones. Leather looked better than average jacket leather but far from impressive. Shoulder boards were off. I find Cooper/Avirex average repros to be more accurate.
- I bought a pair of QMaster buckle back jeans - selfedge quite thick denim 13-14 oz I estimate. They are looking quite impressive. 50 euros
- there were even old military(US army ww2) vehicles on sale. There was a Jeep Willis completely restored(Netherlands company) with og engine for 43.000 euro. Amazing
Lots of interesting stuff but prices were high compared to online. The advantage to check and see them at one place. Among the sellers were also well established vintage shops. Also repro shops - Solider of fortune - that had a big stand, pretty good stuff. I really liked their ww2 army sweaters - looked high quality and close to originals.
Next fair at Ciney is on April if I recall, check the website. However there are also others in NW Europe.
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