This Model 1902 Imperial German tropical helmet is among the rarest of any pre-WWI German helmets.Īmong the prized German helmets at the show was an early pre-World War II double-decal Waffen SS helmet that sold for more than $8,000. The author found a true “Holy Grail” at SOS. Other collectors seemed to agree, and by the end of the show the table was bare, with the helmets selling in record time. The prices were fair but firm, and the examples were worth every penny. These included more than 25 helmets from the various branches of the German Wehrmacht, along with unique camouflaged examples. One notable advanced collector was on hand to sell nearly his entire collection of early Model 1935 German helmets. The stahlhelm, or steel helmet, remains one of the most recognizable collectibles, and the SOS had some of the finest examples ever seen, mixed in with plenty of high-end (and not so high-end) fakes. The premier collectors are still regarded by many of the old timers to be those of the Third Reich, and there was no shortage of daggers, swords, flags, uniforms, and helmets. Plus, this venue is close to all the major hotels, restaurants, and most importantly to some, the airport.” “The Kentucky Expo Center has the ability to put on more than one show of such magnitude at the same time. “I thought this year’s SOS was the best of the past three that I’ve attended,” said longtime collector and dealer Tom Buck, who traveled from Virginia Beach for the three-day event. This original Dutch pattern “zischargge” helmet is of the style used during the English Civil War. If that were not enough, the show coincided with the National Gun Day & Civil War Show, which was held just down the hall with another 3,000-plus tables. There was a heavy mix of Imperial German, British, American, and Japanese items. The 2007 Show of Shows saw more than 1,650 tables devoted to collectibles from the English Civil War to complete Iraqi Republican Guard uniforms. As word of this atmosphere has spread, more and dealers are buying or trying to buy tables, and more and more collectors are making a major commitment of time and travel to attend.” There is simply too much merchandise to be absorbed. “The result is something of a giant ‘ecosystem,’ for lack of a better word. “There is something there for everyone, whether you collect $100,000 Nazi baubles or $3 patches,” noted Jeff Shrader of Advance Guard Militaria, who regularly travels to a variety of shows, large and small. The annual show, which is held in Louisville in February, features more than 1,600 tables, with a wide variety of collectibles. For many collectors, last year’s show in Indianapolis fell short of expectations.īy contrast, the Show of Shows has repeatedly sold out in recent years. Over time the MAX was launched, and while that show grew in size and scope, it also suffered from repeated changes in venue. The largest was the annual Cincinnati, Ohio, show sponsored by the Ohio Valley Military Society, with about 400 tables. In the early 1980s, only a few regional events anywhere in the country were devoted entirely to militaria, and most of these were 200- or 300-table shows. Prior to its beginning in 1992, there were few events even close to mega-show status. Today, the Show of Shows is the largest collectibles show in the world. A complete World War I German uniform was available for viewing, if not purchase. While rival events such as the Military Antiques Xtravaganza, or MAX, focus almost exclusively on Third Reich collectibles, the SOS offers a much more eclectic mixture of fine items. The Show of Shows is just one of three shows the group sponsors, but it has also become the largest in the world, attracting flocks of international dealers and collectors to the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center. As one of the oldest and largest militaria collector’s clubs in the world, the OVMS boasts more than 2,000 current members. The Ohio Valley Military Society sponsors the annual collectibles show each February. With enough equipment present to mount a major military campaign and enough uniforms to hold an impressive victory parade, it was an event that more than lived up to its name. One of the finest collections of militaria ever housed in one room was on hand in Louisville, Kentucky, at the 15th annual Show of Shows.
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