West Coast Historical Militaria Collectors Show
Those who remember the Great Western Gun Show know it as the “good old days.” It was a massive show that eclipsed most others gun shows and attracted firearms enthusiasts, militaria collectors and even celebrities. Yet it still had a “California vibe” as it was held at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona and spread out over several buildings. In those good old days it was common to see movie stars in attendance. Of course, for many years the show’s home base was just a short drive from Hollywood.
The Great Western is as much in the past as the Old West, and today California is hardly the epicenter for anything gun related (perhaps except for the gun control movement). In 1999 the fairgrounds banned gun shows and the show was forced to move to Las Vegas. It didn’t so much stay in Vegas as it simply died in Vegas.
{default}However, thanks to Bob Chatt of Vintage Productions the show—or at least its spirit—lives on in the annual West Coast Historical Militaria Collectors Show. This event, along with the Ohio Valley Military Society’s Show of Shows (SOS) and the Maryland Antique Arms Collectors Association’s Baltimore Show, is one of the true “must attend” spring events.
The West Coast show has been rightfully dubbed the “third jewel in the triple crown” of military collectible events; and unlike the slow-dying Military Antique Xtravaganza (MAX) this show offers much, much more than just overpriced Third Reich items. It is a show that caters to the collectors, the re-enactor and the history buff. There were plenty of war-themed movie props and displays from local museums including the Fort MacArthur Museum and the USS Iowa Battleship Museum.
Among the items was one of the largest offerings of First World War trench art from Advanced Guard Militaria’s Jeff Shrader, who along with his wife made an epic trek from eastern Missouri. While not exactly a Grapes of Wrath journey to the “promised land,” the show is part of Shrader’s usual travel schedule.
“This is one I don’t miss,” he said. “I do very well at this show and meet people who can’t come out east.”
Mixed in with real militaria—of which there was much—there is also plenty of great-looking gear for the aforementioned re-enactor, much of it made by Hollywood pros, since the show is just a short drive from Tinsel Town
“The original stuff is too fragile to use in a re-enactment,” said Rob Lihani, who produced Mail Call for The History Channel and who recently supplied props for the upcoming Brad Pitt film Fury.
While there were plenty of dealers offering militaria from the Civil War to the modern day, the show brought out re-enactors, military vehicle enthusiasts and casual onlookers.
“I’ve never been to anything like this,” one attendee told this reporter. “I’m not into this stuff and came with my buddy. Now I can see why he collects, so maybe I should say I wasn’t into this stuff.”
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- Bob Chatt of Vintage Production opens this year’s West Coast Historical Militaria Collectors Show. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- The Jeep used on History Channel’s Mail Call with R. Lee Emery (aka ‘The Gunny’). Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- American ‘Steel Pots’ are becoming increasingly harder to find but were not in short supply at the show. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- A collection of American Vietnam Era uniforms—these even had a real ‘been there’ smell. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- Veteran war correspondent Ernie Pyle’s coat was among the centerpiece of fine offerings from Bob Chatt’s Vintage Productions. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- The Japanese World War II re-enactor equipment looks so good it probably could fool some novice collectors. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- A German World War I Maxim looked ready to stop an attack through No Man’s Land. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- A blast from the past. Who needs a flat-panel TV or Smartphone when you could have all this vintage American radio equipment! Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- With the greenery of the Fairplex as a background these two Japanese WWII re-enactors look like they just stepped out of the jungles of Burma. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- With the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War just around the corner our friend here looks the part of a mid-war Austrian soldier. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- Say what you will about the French Army, but they had style that seems right at home in California. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- Gun shows are all but gone in California but that doesn’t mean you can’t pack some serious artillery in the state! Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- There was plenty of trench art offered by Jeff Shrader of Advanced Guard Militaria. Photo by Peter Suciu.
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- A collection of Middle Eastern and Asian swords; this dealer was fixed for blades! Photo by Peter Suciu.
I have military equipment that I would like to sell. Sherman, half track, jeeps, trucks, etc. please advise if interested. Just as nice as the Littleton collection.
my 5 trips back to vietnam,i helped with MIAS remains came home to USA, also found military things piece of ch 53 shot down khe sanh seige traced thru sikorski proved it was one, 2 clay more mines that during k s seige ammo dump blew these survive no c4 nor ball beaings yet 2 blasting caps stillon them. where can i get these to museum or sold ?i have pictures etc. cushing mn 320 749 2565