Jim M asked about HJ prices. In addition to prices of everything going up, I have a few thoughts. I saw an almost immediate spike in prices after Saving Private Ryan came out. Some people think this is falacy but it is not. The guy who never had heard of one then had his eyes opened and low and behold you could find one on ebay and not have to leave your home to purchase & more importantly for some no one know you bought it (be it either the wife, family or those who look down on and misunderstand our hobby). I was at that time paying $60-75 for average conditin HJs just for scabbards, diamonds or variations. Rarely did I pay over $100. Then they went to $200 and up. Then the series came out on the history chanel (not everyone has HBO including me) and they went higher. I quit buying for parts and minor variation. As the prices of Heer and Lufts, Kreigs etc went up due in part to the publication of the Wittmann series (so people had something to go by) the interest in HJs increased because for the most part they are an entry level collectable. Although they have always been my area of greatest interest my interest began because I could buy them locally in the 1960's at a "trade lot" (as opposed to the modern day flea marker with everything new and imported) for $2 when Armys were $8 and 10. With a $5 per month allowance I could get 2 a month and have a buck for the moveis rather than saving for 2 months with nothing. The point then as now, new collector affordability. Most grow out of HJs I just never did. People just getting into the hobby may spend $225 now for an average authentic HJ rather than the $400 for an SA or Heer. The beginner and long time collector alike realize its easier to collect by maker and variation in HJs price wise than it is other daggers. This contributes to increased demand. I have dealers contact me often to see if I have any available. The only time I sell is if I upgrade or had to buy 2 or 3 from the vet to get the one I wanted.
Condition wise I think it has finally dawned on the collecting community that unlike Heer Luft SA SS Npea NSKK etc these knives were actually intended to be used and were USED. Thus it is much harder in my opinion to find a pristine HJ than an SS dagger. I recently sold a truly pristine Voos with provience for $825. I thought it was a very fair price as I upgraded to one of the few absolute mint HJs I have ever seen. 3 days later a dealer has one in lesser condition on his website for $1295 and our own JR here had one listed for about the same. Both are no longer listed and I don't know the actual price realized but everyone is catching on that condition in an HJ brings as much as if not more than any common dagger excluding SS
daggers.
Lastly and also to be considered is storage. People have so much stuff these days as we all know that a guy who wants a 3R relic collection living in confined spaces has more room for HJs than helmets or swords. I have seen many folks collect HJs because they could display them and amore of them than they could another collectable from the period. Russ

Great insight Russ. I agree, HJ's in near mint condition are tough. In 25 years, I have only bought 12 HJ's in near mint condition...pretty much regardless of price. In that same time frame I've bought over 200 near mint SA's...though I'm down to about a dozen of those now. Diplaying/storing does become an issue. I think when you run out of room, you trade the more common daggers for fewer but more valuable daggers. Either that, or pay for the kids college education. ;-)

Thanks for the indepth answer Russ. I have never owned one of these but that should be changing tomorrow!
Jim

Really interesting and informative Russ,this is what I come to this website for! JohnJ