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How to Identify WW2 War Artifacts

The collection of artifacts from World War II has been going on since the war ended. The market for these artifacts has exploded in the last decade. Collectors tend to specialize in the area of Japanese, German, Italian or American artifacts. They often collect from a certain region. Recent finds in the Philippines and other Pacific islands has spiked interest. It is vital to collectors to be able to tell real artifacts from reproductions or forgeries.

Things You'll Need

Reference books
Independent authenticator
Price and auction guides

Instructions

- 1
  Study the history of the artifact and the area that it is from. Verify that the aging of the article is genuine and has not been artificially created. Study photos of genuine World War II artifacts similar to the one you are trying to identify. Note colors used, design details, and types of materials. Be sure these details such as Nazi emblems and Italian unit patches match the region where the article was found. Read details of how the artifact was used and where it was used. Note how many of the items were created and who manufactured them.
- 2
  Have the item evaluated by someone who has no vested interest in the purchase of the item. Consult with a museum curator who has experience in World War II artifacts. Consult with other collectors of similar war items who may have experience authenticating similar artifacts. Have an appraisal done by an independent World War II appraiser.
- 3
  Consult price and auction guides for World War II items. Use them to determine the value of your item and to get clues to its authenticity. Use a variety of references and sources to ensure accuracy. Use historic World War II photographs provided in reference materials to confirm details on genuine articles.

Collecting Memorabilia