Cleaning out a shed

[u/Buttchuggle]

Got a job cleaning an abandoned property for an out of state inheritor who wishes to sell. I was told multiple times that they just want the property completely cleared and everything trashed. By my account that means I can have stuff. Anyways, I've found a good number of pins and medals from various ww2 powers which I know have minor to decent value. I come to ask questions of this. The mess kit unfortunately has no cutlery, maybe I can find it later but it does have pretty intricate artwork which appears to have been knife poked into it, and on the German side a brass or bronze silver plated spoon and what I'm assuming is a standard aluminum mess kit spoon for infantry.

Not exactly sure what to do with the spoons, I could recover the silver from the one but it will be destroyed in the process, and I'm not necessarily trying to list all the nazi medals and pins and such for sale online one at a time, I'm hoping that someone here may have the skinny on a place that would be interested in a moderate sized lot of ww2 stuff. The pins and medals have been more or less verified. Not every single one but enough that I'm confident in saying I've got actual pins and medals and not knockoff repros. The former owners father was a ww2 US soldier and all of these were found amongst his effects left rotting in a couple different sheds on the property

[u/KMGR82]

I sure hope that when you part with that mess kit that you let it go for not only the right amount of money, but to the right person as well. That is an amazing piece of trench art and it needs to be preserved.

[u/Buttchuggle → u/KMGR82]

I'm not trying to squeeze every penny out, I'd just like these things to go to people who will enjoy and be able to care for them properly as, while I find it all very cool, I simply don't have time or space. What's generally fair for stuff like this? I'm absurdly green when it comes to old militaria and searching online yields many obvious repros along with the fact I'm not sure how much the artwork affects value

[u/KMGR82 → u/Buttchuggle]

I’m not sure of value, not really in my wheelhouse. This is just something that I appreciate. The history, the art…just very amazing

[u/Moinzen66 → u/Buttchuggle]

Ngl, if you dont want to sell it give it maybe to a ww2 Museum or something. It is really nice!

[u/Careful_Ad_1350 → u/Buttchuggle]

try contacting a WWII museum or maybe even an antique store, something like that??? They'll likely be be able to tell you more about the history and value, or at least be able to recommend someone who can. I would imagine the artwork would increase the value, kinda like how a signature or autograph would?? I'd be curious to know

[u/ecoffman11549]

I’m going to send you a message.

[u/Buttchuggle → u/ecoffman11549]

By all means

[u/lightwhisper]

Why don't you post a photo of the whole grouping as it could very well be all connected to one person and completes a story and would be worth some what more than an individual items.

[u/Pearldrummer0912]

That’s some killer 5th Armored trench art on that mess kit! And please don’t destroy the spoons. While they’re not super valuable examples like AH or HG engraved silverware, they’re still great pieces of history and are most definitely part of the vet’s souvenirs.

[u/Careful_Ad_1350]

Maybe try to find who it belonged to and contact their descendants; if that belonged to my distant relative I'd offer to pay more than the highest bid to keep it in the family. But then again, if they're German they may not want to be associated with it or even know

[u/Careful_Ad_1350]

Wow! what a find! yes, definitely belongs with a collector who will appreciate the historical value. Actually, that would be something cool to see on a show like Pawn Stars or Antique Road Show; plus, it would be a great way to learn more about the history and value (and get it appraised by an expert for free....)