craig gottlieb militaria

Next Auction Jan 14-28

2011-11-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

Our next auction at Craig Gottlieb Militaria is scheduled for January 14-28, 2012. Although we will be accepting consignments through the first week of December, we've already received over 400 quality artifacts for you to bid on. And as always, there will be no reserve, low opening bids, and the same lifetime guarantee of authenticity we're known for.

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2011-01-31T06:46:00.000-08:00

After many months of negotiations, I have just secured perhaps the most significant piece of World War II History to surface in decades. It is the massive bronze desk set that Hitler used to sign the Munich Pact. This fantastic artifact upon which the fate of nations was decided, was liberated from Hitler's Munich office by 2nd Lieutenant Jack McConn in 1945. It is pictured in news reels of the Munich Pact signing, and also appears in a color photo essay in Life Magazine, circa 1940. Weighing in at approximately 50 pounds, the piece includes two large ink-wells, a large blotter, and the massive base. Jack and his son Burke spent the weekend with me after hand-delivering the set. The stories Jack tells of his exploits during the war are the stuff that movies are made of. I will be displaying this item at the Show of Shows in Louisville.

Nazi Kitten Grenade Play

2010-12-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so that's the weirdest title to any blog post you'll find! I found this image on the internet today, and hope you find it as amusing as I do. Are they playing with the kitty, introducing it to friendly Mr. grenade, or trying to feed it a flower? Priceless.

Schloss Klessheim Hoard

2010-10-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's taken 12 years, but I've finally hit my first Schloss Klessheim hoard, and this one is from a living veteran, who I had the honor of interviewing on the telephone about his adventures in Salsburg at the end of the war. The hoard includes some of the most common medals (themselves very rare) found in such hoards: Knight's Cross, RK KVK in Gold, German Cross in Silver, and a Grand Cross set for the Eagle Order series. For those of you who don't know, Schloss Klessheim was a castle outside Salsburg, Austria,where the Nazi Medals Office moved their supply of high level awards from Berlin, in anticipation of the coming combat that was approaching the nation's capital city. After the war, many veterans removed large quantities of these medals to take home. These veterans have become known as "Schloss Klessheim Veterans" by collectors.

SS Hoard

2010-10-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a nice hoard of material for over two months now, and patience is definitely a virtue. Fresh out of the woodwork from Northern California, this little hoard of fine SS artifacts (and a few other nice non-SS bits) was quite a find. It's not the first hoard of the week, however, nor is it the largest. More news to follow. For the moment, enjoy the teaser snapshot. Forgot to include the bags that each sword came in, in this photo.

NRA Interview

2010-10-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I co-own and operate another company, Direct Action Solutions (www.directactionsolutions.net). We are one of the very few companies in California licensed to buy and sell machineguns and other Title II firearms . Last weekend, I was interviewed by the NRA at a sporting clay tournament. Click below to view.

Ede Gembruch SS

2010-08-27T10:33:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a run lately, and I haven't had to leave my city! I just got this SS dagger out of the woodwork locally. It's the ultra-rare Ed Gembruch manufactured dagger, and is the first SS dagger by this manufacturer I've found privately. In fact, I've only seen a few of these at all, so it was a fun day for me. It's got an outstanding handle, plenty of lacqueur on the scabbard, uncleaned nickle fittings, and some light spotting on the blade. It would have been better if it were mint, but I'm not complaining!

Latest Group

2010-08-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

Things are still rolling into CGM. In fact, they're coming in at such a hectic pace, I've got piles of stuff waiting to be listed. Here's today's score, most of which is already up on the website. None are related to each other, but the pile does make a nice picture! One black widow, one Steinhaur & Luck Iron Cross in a rare coffin-style case (almost identical to an Oakleaves case), and a pair of unissued gloves. Almost forgot the visor cap - the bargain of the group.

When it Rains, it Pours

2010-08-14T07:19:00.001-07:00

Just after I got the TK ring in the blog post below, I got a call from a gentlemen just around the corner from my office (well, about 20 miles away). Saving you the boring details, I drove out, and in the mix was a Knights Cross in mint condition. It's a micro-800 A type, by S&L. Came with some other bits. The whole hoard was brought back by a family member, and had been placed on a local version of Craig's List. I've bought many far rarer and more valuable artifacts out of the woodwork, but this is my first ever Knight's Cross.

Totenkopf Ring and Box

2010-08-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

I just bought, out of the woodwork, this mint condition ring and box. The group came directly from a family, a member of which posted this group on WAF, for some pointers on how to sell it. After sending it to Don Boyle for a certificate of authenticity (and after an embarrassing situation that occured between Boyle and the owner), the ring was returned, and shipped to me, whereupon I was fortunate enough to buy it. It's in mint condition, and exhibits a 100% original box. I'm currently researching the set, and hope to hit a researchable match.

Always Go

2010-03-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

I titled this blog entry "Always Go" because I almost didn't. Got a call late last week from the family of a 101st Airborne veteran, who said they had a couple of daggers and some patches that their father had brought back from the war. Although I had a busy schedule this week, I made time to stop by for a few minutes yesterday because they lived only an hour away and I was going to be in their area. Well, a few minutes became a few hours. Met a wonderful family, and bought their father's war booty: a hoard of mint condition daggers that had been carefully preserved by him since war's end. They gave me photographs, a copy of his DD214, a bag of medals and insignia (not pictured), and his named M42 Paratrooper jacket. They even included a photo of him wearing the jacket during the war! Overall, a good day.

2010-02-20T03:34:00.000-08:00

DE Standard Day on Friday. A Mint Condition DE standard with Polltop, floating around for the past year, just walked in to the show and too my booth, where it will be staying until I get back to my office, and add it to the display! (I bought it). Well, it WAS my first annual 39th birthday yesterday, so I guess it was a nice present! The flag is in mint condition, and the polls and tassles are superb. Other items purchased coming soon to a website near you!

2010-02-18T02:15:00.000-08:00

Greetings from SOS. Well, for the first time in history (with lots of help), we're fully set-up and ready to go. My segway is unpacked, fully charged, and I'm ready to hunt. Not that last night's room hunts did not pull in some great buried treasure. Picked up the mintiest 1939 Spange in the box and carton, that I have ever laid eyes on. Also bought a great looking P38 and two great daggers: a Customs dagger and a RAD Officer, both with lots of lacquer remaining. I also picked up a stunning Japanese Navy Sword, and a minty take-down paratrooper knife.

2010-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

Show of Shows is next week, and anticipation is in the air. This is the first show of 2010, when most people say the financial crisis is so "last year." Well, whatever the future holds, I know that next week is shaping up to be one heck of a show. Tables are sold out, and so are the hotels, last I heard. Hopefully, we won't get snowed in with an "Eastern Front" winter storm. I hope to see you all next week. I'm in the hall, turn left, and walk to the end of the row!

2010-02-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

Just in from a private source, a beautiful damascus Luftwaffe dagger by Fridricus. Featuring a mint condition blade, needle tip, and a P+D marked tang, this is one of the harder to find exotic daggers. Originally out of the woodwork, this dagger originally came out of the family of a holocaust survivor. I have no proof of this, but the dagger stands on its own two feet. This is the first one of these that I've ever gotten out of the woodwork. Neat that they're still out there.

2010-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the Las Vegas Antique Arms show. I had a lot of fun, and got to meet some great people including Bob Simpson of Simpson, Ltd (thanks for looking over a few guns for me, Bob). I stayed at a 1 bedroom suite at Palms Place, and had a couple of wonderful meals with some old friends in the business. Didn't purchase a lot at the show, but what I did find was worth the 4 hour drive from San Diego. I purchased a beautiful Nambu pistol and holster, the finest WWII Remington 45 you will ever see: truly a 100% gun, and in the original shipping box! Bought a CYQ P-38 in 99% condition. The most frustrating part of the trip was when I drove out to see a fellow I'd met at the show, who claimed to have a factory engraved PPK at home. Well, he was right, if you collect 1960s vintage PPKs produced at the Ulm plant! Oh well, for every great score, you have to go on 10 wild goose chases! Look for the new gun updates in a few days.

2010-01-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

It's only the first week in the new year, and I'm already pulling in a lot of great inventory. Just today I purchased a very nice collection of oustanding daggers and swords (and even a Black Widow Luger) from a local collector here in San Diego. Nothing came cheap, but every item was worth buying. Look for these items in addition to some other great artifacts in the coming weeks. I'm off to Miami tomorrow to evaluate a firearms collection and to meet with a renowned hat collector. I get back next Tuesday, and then it's off to Vegas for the Antique Arms show, and then off to Europe for a week of deliveries and pick-ups. If this is January, I am scared to see February!

2010-01-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a photo I ran across in my archive. It's a photograph of Russian troops during the Mayday parade, I believe in 1945. The sad thing is that not only are they holding the LAH DE poll-top and box, but a fortune in other standards, streamers, poll-tops. Thank God they didn't throw the LAH piece under the tanks, which they did a lot of. The DE is now in one of the military museums. The stunning thing is, this is just the front row; there seems to be an entire row of soldiers slightly off camera, holding standards!

2010-01-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

After many years of wondering where it is, I have just located the Reinhard Heydrich Totenkopf Ring document in a private collection. As you can see in the photograph, it's a rare 1933 document, of which only a few are known (two such documents are pictured in my book on Totenkopf rings). How pleasing to know that this document has survived history intact. If only we could locate the ring!

2009-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-12-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting article in the Financial Times from December 24th about the market for antique orders and medals. Nowhere in the article do they talk about Third Reich material, but I believe the message is the same. Click here. It's apparent that as worries over inflation begin to take hold, people are putting their money into collectibles. In mid to late 1990s, the internet sparked the last big price move in collectibles, and maybe financial fears will drive the next round of increases. Lets stay tuned!

2009-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

As 2010 draws to a close, I would like to summarize my view of the market for 2009, and offer an outlook for 2010. Despite the world financial crisis, militaria retained a strong showing in most areas this year. Uniforms and headgear were slow sellers, but the very best material in every category showed no signs of slowing down. The two elements of our field that were hit hard were the sale of private collections, and the ability to predict selling trends.

First, with respect to the sale of private collections, 2009 was not a good year to sell if you were getting out of the field. The reason is that if you had a very nice collection for sale, you had to price compete with those collectors who were hardest hit by the financial crisis, and were holding a fire-sale of their collections. And with many collections selling out at 50 cents on the dollar, that forced many retiring collectors to put off their plans until and unless the economy improves.

Second, with respect to predicting selling trends: gone are the days when a dealer or selling-collector could predict what something would sell for and when it could reasonably be expected to sell. In years past, with experience this was possible. You knew your customers, you knew the market, and you could make educated buying decisions. As 2009 drew to a close, it was very difficult to make predictions. As a result, buying became a very dangerous game, with disasterious consequences if you misjudged the market.

Hopefully as 2010 unfolds, our world economic situation will improve. However, with world governments launching wealth redistribution schemes to pay for lavish new spending programs, any economic recovery is tenuous at best. Unless countries figure out a way to reduce their debt without printing money, we could find ourselves in a "currency bubble" that would make the dot-com bubble and the real estate bubble seem tame by comparison. However, if inflation does hit (as it will if the government printing presses keep making new money), you can expect the price of everything to go up - including militaria.

New Collection

2009-09-20T09:03:00.001-07:00

I just received a new collection of fine edged weapons in, to include a mint Government Official with hangers, a mint Railway Leader with hangers and knot, several beautiful swords, bayonets, and even a few guns. I'll update this post shortly with an image.

Brimfield MA Antique Fair

2009-09-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Brimfield, Mass. I'm at the huge outdoor antique fair, walking the many antique-stuffed rural fields in search of hidden treasures. Although the militaria pickings are slim, I did manage to score a beautiful SA Dagger by Wustof with remnants of the Rohm dedication intact, in addition to some other non-militaria antiques. It rained all day, making frequent stops at the coffee stands a must. We've got one more day here, so hopefully I'll hit the mother load! Bill Shea is only an hour away, and I would have stopped in for a visit, but he's on his way to the Union show in New Jersey. Oh well, something for next time!

General Officer Tunic Found

2009-09-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

So this is getting silly. In the past two months, I've found an NSKK High Leader, a presented damascus Luftwaffe, a complete Adolf Hitler smoking set, a HJ Leader Dagger, and now this. It's a beautiful General's uniform named to Knights Cross winning General Friedrich Fangohr. Tunic is in pristine mint condition, and came complete with the veteran's uniforms and dog tags! Quite a neat hit. Please note: medals have been added for the photograph.

Voos Pattern Army with Ivory Grip

2009-08-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Although I bought this out of the woodwork several weeks ago through a picker, I have just had time to photograph it. Found locally, this is actually the 2nd of two identical dagger I have purchased out of the woodwork here in the past month. Quite a coincidence! Features a beautiful Ivory grip with age striations, this piece will appear for sale shortly.

Hitler Youth Leader

2009-08-24T10:58:00.001-07:00

This week started off with a bang! About 45 minutes from my home, I just purchased this Hitler Youth Leader from the grand-niece of the veteran who returned from the battlefields of Europe with it. It features a gorgeous blade, pristine leather, and about 45% lacqueur remaining to the fittings. It's not an NSKK High Leader or damascus-paneled Luftwaffe, but it's not a bad way to start off a Monday!

Damasacus Luftwaffe with Gold Panels

2009-08-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

This month has been extraordinary. Just in from a veteran's family in the United Kingdom, comes this exquisite example of artificial damascus with raised gold features on both sides of the blade. This dagger has never been in a collection, and is presented for the first time to the collecting public. Please see my website for more photographs.

NSKK High Leader Out of Woodwork

2009-08-18T07:25:00.001-07:00

I just purchased an NSKK High Leader out of the woodwork, directly from the family of the veteran, outside Pittsburgh. Although the photo to the left is NOT the exact dagger I bought (I have not taken photos of the actual dagger yet), this dagger has been in the hands of the vet and the family since it was returned with the soldier in 1945. This discovery puts to rest once and for all the concept that these daggers are somehow not authentic. The dagger is in nearly perfect condition, and is actually named to an NSKK Brigadefuhrer, via a beautifully executed personalization on the upper scabbard fitting. Look for this new and exciting find to appear for the first time in print in Tom Wittmann's upcoming SA book. The dagger will make its debut at MAX 2009.

Unissued Belt Buckle Hoard

2009-08-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest, directly out of the woodwork. It's a set of 4 steel belt buckles, with the majority of the silver spray intact. The real cherry piece in this group is a tagged 155/40 marked buckle with the original Assmann RZM tag affixed! I have photographed this group on top of the relevant page in the Assmann catalog (only the tagged buckle is an Assmann). I suppose the vet must have gained access to an RZM storehouse or something.

Cross Set

2009-08-01T18:52:00.001-07:00

When it rains, it pours. Last month, it was a cased Oakleaves set and also an Oakleaves and Swords set. Then came 4 Knights Crosses a couple of weeks ago. Now, this wonderful set has come in. It's the very set that is pictured in several reference books, and has been displayed at several MAX and SOS shows over the past couple of years. Originally sold by Bill Shea several years ago, this has got to be one of the highest-echelon Knights Cross specimens available on the collector market.

SA Honor

2009-07-30T06:44:00.001-07:00

I've just received a beautiful SA Honor Dagger. The dagger is in very nice condition, and will be featured on my website in an upcoming update. It's the early SA Honor without chain, and featuring maidenhair damascus and the small oval trademark of Eickhorn. This is the rarest of the damascus SA series, due to the fact that most were upgraded with a chain in 1936 or 1937.

Allach Ebay Scandal

2009-07-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dennis Porrell who spotted someone actually trying to sell my Allach Luftwaffe Officer on Ebay. The seller was offering the item as if it were his own, with a very high buy-price, thousands more than the specimen is worth. He was using my photos and had even copied my guarantee language from my website. How pathetic. I contacted the seller, who told me "he was new at this online selling business and didn't know the etetquitte." My foot!

Hitler's Beneficiaries

2009-07-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite books that offers a new theory to explain how normal German citizens ignored clear evidence that something sinister was happening to a segment of their population during what I call Nazi Germany's "Holocaust Years" (1941-1945). If you haven't read this book, buy it in paperback, or you can order a hard-copy from me (I have 1 extra book for sale in my bookstore, under Craig's Favorites).

Knight's Crosses

2009-07-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

It was Steinhauer & Luck Day at CGM! I was happy to purchase 4 cased Knights Crosses by S&L this week. I bought two Type A 800 marked examples, and two micro-800s. They're all close to mint, and came with ribbons and boxes (one box was a round-corner type box normally associated with K&Q crosses). Overall, not a bad group. Look for them to appear on my website just as soon as I can get them photographed. Of course, some of them may not last that long!

Del Mar Gun Show

2009-07-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'll be setting up at the Del Mar Gun Show this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. With any luck, I'll pick up some nice Curio & Relic firearms. And with even more luck, something good will walk in, or I'll find a good out-of-the-woodwork piece. San Diego has been good to me in that regard.

Voos Army Dagger

2009-07-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've just bought, out of the woodwork in California, a beautiful Army dagger by Emil Voos with trademark, etched blade, and ivory grip. The dagger was purchased from an estate that responded to one of my local advertisements. I'll be posting it in the next couple of weeks. The dagger is in near mint condition, with one handsome age-fissure running the length of the grip body.

History's Jackpot

2009-07-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

I'm in the final editing stages of my latest book, History's Jackpot, scheduled for fall release. I've been working on this book for over 3 years, and it's filled with a lot of solid information and candid advice on the subject of profiting from antiques and collectibles. This isn't a "how to get rich quick" book for speculators looking to make a quick buck flipping beanie-babies, but an in-depth look at principles and strategies that serious collectors and investors can use to profit from owning investment grade artifacts. I draw on the experience of top experts in various fields, including coins, sports memorabilia, military antiques, stamps, posters, wine and other collecting genres. The book is over 250 pages long, and will retail for only $29.95.