I recently saw a dagger advertised for sale that allegedly belonged to Günther Rall, the third most successful fighter ace in aviation history. The attribution was dubious, and the pricetag was over $100,000 - about 40x the value of the dagger without the famous tie-in. Regardless of whether or not the seller's claim is true, the example illustrates the fact that attributed artifacts carry a premium that can boost the price of an artifact considerably. This example brings to mind the collecting proverb, "Buy the piece, not the story." In my view, unless the attribution can be corroborated via period photos of the piece in question that demonstrate a clear connection between the piece and its alleged owner, stay away.

There is one set of exceptions to this rule: pieces that are by definition associated with a person, by nature of an engraving or serial number. To be a "sure bet" these engravings or numbers must be typical for each and every piece that appears. German Blood Orders and Luftwaffe Honor Goblets, and SS Totenkopf rings come to mind. These pieces characteristically carry a name or a serial number that can be researched, and are therefore a safe bet for collectors who want to buy a piece of history with an identifiable historical tie-in.

That's not to say that one should not consider pieces with custom engravings, documented chains of custody, or other identifying characteristics. It's just that great care must be taken when evaluating the connection between a historical personage and the artifact in question. If the connection is not virtually irrefutable, the piece should be avoided unless you can buy it for its stand-alone value.