My Odd Hobby · 6:49am Jun 5th, 2017
So for a few years now, I've had a hobby that while typically it eats up hundreds of dollars, it's been surprisingly cheap for me to do. That hobby is collecting old military relics like uniforms and such. Thanks in part to me doing volunteer work with a museum (which is where I've gotten most of my uniforms), I typically get things either super cheap or for free. A few of my item include (price paid is listed with them):
A US Third Army officer's uniform from WWII. Cost: $10
A Canadian tanker's jerkin from WWII. Cost: $0
A WWII 82nd Airborne greatcoat. Cost: $0
A Korean War USMC Ike jacket. Cost: $10
A footlocker originally owned by a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot who died on June 10, 1944 at the young age of 22 after being shot down over Argentan, Normandy where a town holiday is held every year in his honor. Cost: $0
And one of my favorite collection pieces, an unissued Southern Cross of Honor, the Confederate equivalent to the famous Medal of Honor. Cost: $7 (and currently worth around $250)
Pretty dumb sounding hobby, I know. But to me there's a story to each one and each story is connected to a person who was willing to risk their life for their country or their cause. And to me all these stories deserve to be preserved and told to those of us who'll listen.
I think your collections pretty cool and it's a good start. I'm kind of starting a little collection of my own.