Last year I wrote about US Army Private Donald Blackey’s surprising entry into Hitler’s bunker near the end of WW2. Ever since, I’ve been intrigued by war memorabilia and “militaria”—military articles of historical interest. So when I heard about the 2025 Military Antiques Extravaganza (MAX) held from September 19-21 in York, Pennsylvania, I decided to make a road trip. And it was a fascinating—even surprising—introduction to the world of military memorabilia shows.
Ohio Valley Military Society
The MAX is one of three military memorabilia shows sponsored annually by the Ohio Valley Military Society (OVMS). OVMS bills itself as the oldest and largest militaria collectors club in the world. Its mission is “to promote the study and collecting of historic military artifacts.” And their events draw participants from across the globe.
The MAX Show – Worthy of Its Name
The show I attended was held at the York Expo Center—a venue large enough to accommodate the nearly 1,000 tables set up by collectors and dealers. Day 1 of the three-day event was reserved for vendors and OVMS members. (Apparently that’s when a lot of big, private deals are made.) But the remaining days were open to the public. So I paid $12 to spend an afternoon exploring the venue.
The items on display skewed heavily toward WW2 militaria. But a thorough look at all the tables revealed memorabilia from other conflicts, including WW1, Vietnam, and even the Russian war on Ukraine.
A Stunning Variety of War Memorabilia
The quantity and variety of military artifacts and regalia were staggering. There were swords, knives, and daggers—both standard issue and ceremonial. And of course guns—lots and lots of guns, from all sides of every conflict.
Medals, patches, and helmets filled dozens of tables. Uniforms adorned mannequins and hung from racks. I even spotted toy soldiers and model vehicles, alongside propaganda posters and vintage photos. Some of the pictures were pulled from family albums—with glue and bits of the page still stuck to the back.
Surprising Discoveries Among the Military Artifacts
Several items surprised me. For example, the “sheet” of yellow cloth stars that Jews were required to wear in Nazi Germany—with several stars missing. And a glockenspiel bearing insignia of the Third Reich.
On a table filled with Soviet artifacts stood a Lenin prize and medal. Elsewhere, a pile of rusted German land mines. There was even a piece of the fuselage from a Luftwaffe plane. It bore the familiar balkenkreuz emblem—and the 15 bullet holes that presumably caused the aircraft’s demise.
Yosegaki Hinomaru – Japanese Good Luck Flags
I spotted a WW2 cap once worn by a Japanese pilot, along with a Yosegaki Hinomaru—a Japanese flag covered with handwritten messages for good luck and protection. These flags typically include the names of the service member and his loved ones. And they held strong sentimental value. In some quarters, efforts are underway to return the flags to the service members’ families. (Learn more about Yosegaki Hinomaru here.)
The Sinatra Suitcase
A piece of luggage also caught my eye, in part due to its $800 price tag. But also because of the handwritten markings on it— PFC Andy Sinatra, 1946, 6th Division, USMC, NYC-Okinawa-San Diego. Notes affixed to the suitcase claimed Andy Sinatra was singer Frank Sinatra’s cousin.
I wondered how PFC Sinatra’s suitcase came to be here—and what became of the young Marine. A bit of online sleuthing confirmed the New Jersey native survived the war, after earning two Purple Hearts for wounds received in Guam and Okinawa. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 93—outliving all ten of his siblings and leaving behind three children and multiple grandchildren. I would have loved to hear his stories.
Military Memorabilia Shows—The Missing Stories
Every genuine piece of militaria at the show once belonged to someone. I wanted to know all their stories. And how their belongings found their way from war zones in distant lands to these tables in a Pennsylvania convention hall.
“Spoils of War”
Some of the dealers referred to the artifacts—particularly the Nazi militaria—as the “spoils of war.” Others preferred the term “collectibles.” The volume of Nazi artifacts for sale startled me. Fellow attendees and I pondered the ethics of profiting from a regime that murdered more than 12 million non-combatant civilians.
The wife of one dealer—who accompanied her husband to five previous shows—told me this would be her last one. As an educator, she could no longer bring herself to walk past table after table of Third Reich memorabilia.
Range of Dealers
Vendors ran the gamut from hobbyists to serious collectors to large auction houses. Some collections had that familiar smell of mildew from attics and basements. Others were exhibited with slick display cases and fancy lighting.
I heard a lot of foreign accents among both dealers and buyers. And multiple foreign language conversations. But I was told international attendance was down this year at most of the military memorabilia shows.
Beware the Fakes
One collector with decades in the business suggested most of the goods for sale were fakes or reproductions. He advised against any large purchase without the aid of a trusted expert. To illustrate his point, he placed an authentic artifact alongside one produced for re-enactments. My untrained eye couldn’t tell the difference.
Further down the aisle, a vendor of genuine German helmets had a display of fakes to educate buyers about the differences. Later, I spotted a purported SS helmet with insignia that were inconsistent with standard practice. (There’s an interesting article about German helmet insignia here.)
Show Rules
OVMS rules prohibit “obvious fakes” and reproductions, and participants are encouraged to report violators. Also banned are “Holocaust relics”—including anti-Semitic propaganda and, notably, the Jewish stars I spotted. But Nazi artifacts and swastikas are permitted, as long as they’re not reproductions—although they must be displayed flat on a table.
Popularity of Military Memorabilia Shows
The OVMS sponsors an even larger show, appropriately named the “Show of Shows” or SOS. It will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, from January 29-31, 2026.
A complete schedule of military memorabilia shows throughout the United States is available here. I counted 32 militaria shows in just the next three months. Clearly there is interest in, and a market for, war memorabilia.
Final Thoughts
Military memorabilia shows are certain to pique the curiosity of any history buff. And the large number of unusual artifacts is certain to spark questions that will send you down online rabbit holes in search of answers. I’d be hesitant to spend a lot of money, though, without independently verifying the origin and authenticity of an item—what serious collectors call “provenance.”
The MAX show I attended was a good excuse for a road trip and a unique way to spend a Saturday afternoon. And I suspect I’ll attend more military memorabilia shows. But next time, I’ll make it a point to find vendors who can tell me in detail the history of a particular item. Because taken out of context, the artifacts are simply inanimate objects. What gives them meaning are the lives and stories of which they were a part.
Other Articles About WW2
Interested in more articles about WW2? See my previous posts about Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, WW2 sites in Malta, and the Prague Resistance during WW2.
Or learn about about Auschwitz through the eyes of a survivor, guided online tours of Auschwitz, and Stolpersteine—memorial brass cobblestones placed throughout Europe at the former homes and businesses of people murdered by the Nazis.
