Collecting OEF/OIF- too soon affects this forum?

I've been considering about it.... Everyone knows that OEF/OIF is still going on. I noticed that a lot of collectors don't think highly of moderns (like we discussed in IACMC). I think it is because war is still going on so to them, OEF/OIF is not quite "collectible". BUT most of us modern collectors are stocking up all of stuff while they are cheap so we won't regret we didn't pick items here and there because of value gone up. In retro, Vietnam war era was frowned upon by WW2 collectors then now Vietnam War collectors get their own class and respect.

Since we all are "underclass" right now, this OEF/OIF forum is probably frowned upon by some vets and big time collectors. Note small number of members here and we didn't make much of progress in growing numbers of members here. What we should to do is continue to contribute reference photos, photos of your collection, discuss about such equipment and gear, etc... As much as possible so one day (probably a year or even more later) when OEF/OIF is becoming more popular and gained some interests from younger collectors from new generation. They would find this forum so in their nature of curiosity, they look through this forum and found that this forum is already packed with useful information which would help us gain more members.

Another way to spread a word about this forum is by like I stated above, we should have many threads with reference photos and discussions so that way if we're visiting another forum (USMF or IACMC for example) and we spot one topic when a person asked a question that we had already discussed in this forum, we could direct this person to thread. He would probably find it helpful.

Don't think that this forum is failing. It is only nature that new forums always have fewer members. I read somewhere that USMF was so small that they wondered that they would success and eventually they did, look at how many posts they made daily. Look at IACMC, it is expanding slowly but surely after only two years. We probably won't have as much members as because this forum is totally narrowed down to ONE conflict, but we may one day have a good number of members and posts.

Just a thought.

AMEN from me too...

I concur. however; lately i've been seeing DCUs dry up in some stores and areas....though I'll be headed up to Portland weekend of March 20nd to attend the military collectors show/market thing going on there...will see if i can run into other collectors lol one nice thing is that we now have more opportunity to buy from vets and such who arejust getting out of the Military, OR have their old uniforms after getting their ACUs....I think we will be seeing used ACUs pop up, but we may well have a problem here due to the removable stuff on them...

I just noticed something on USMF. There is another WW2/Vietnam collector who has just jumped ship and is starting to buy OEF/OIF. He says it is cheaper and he doesn't have to worry about trumped up WW2 items at gun shows. Our collecting field is becoming more crowded as the days progress. All I can say......buy it when you can now.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69821

Arch, invite him to this forum.

well here is now a very good question; if more WW2 and VN collectors are paying more for patched DCUS; whats to stop very good fakers?

CamoDeafie wrote:well here is now a very good question; if more WW2 and VN collectors are paying more for patched DCUS; whats to stop very good fakers?

In short....NOTHING. Another reason to buy what you can now before the fakers start pumping out reproductions. As long as people are willing to pay money for a collectible, there will always be someone ready to defraud people of their cash.

As of right now, the only real money is in Special Forces type items and hero badged DCU's. That is why these areas are more heavily faked than anything else. Just a bit of information, it is always best to get items off of the soldier directly or find the items around a base. If you rely on Ebay...be careful of fakers. They will more frequently use this medium for sales due to the fact that you can't inspect items in person before buying.

yeah, your reference to stripped DCUS got me thinking

What I have a problem with is this...There was a situation on IACMC where the was discussion of some DCU jackets, and one fellow mentioned a couple of guys here, but my self & at least 1 other fellow was not mentioned. Now you say who cares...well you are right, it was not that big of a deal...But that situation made me think about the future. I mean, I know Arch & I have collected OEF/OIF since 2002 or 2003 and in Arch's case earlier, I am not sure about you other fellows, but I am pretty sure it is more recent than us..NOW, we see WWII collectors showing up and getting into the mix, and Lord knows who else. So a number of years from now, when OEF/OIF is BIGTIME...some of these "new & recent" guys to the field will magically become the "masters", the "gurus" the "go-to guys" etc. and THAT will piss me off to no end. There are a VERY SMALL number of "plankowners" if you will to OEF/OIF collecting, and by that, I mean the guy's who are almost exclusive OEF/OIF collectors and have been collecting it since the beginning more or less. And some of us in this forum ARE THOSE GUYS. And it is going to be SICKENING to see guys barely new to collecting this stuff become the so called "experts", We see that same thing on other forums & other venues.

I mean...does someone collecting OEF/OIF militaria for 1 1/2 years know more than someone collecting for 8 or 9 years or longer...Well, I will say they don't, BUT we are most assuredly going to see it sooner or later... So I figure ALL we can do is keep doing what we are, and do AS MUCH research as we can, so we can put the "experts" in their place when they step out of line

OH...and I will put my thoughts on getting the other OEF/OIF collectors into here, so we can all be a "Band of Brothers", There are fellows in the USMF & other forums who are dedicated OEF/OIF collectors...well we need to reach out the hand of membership to them. Unfortunately I don't know them enough to message them. BUT I do have the OEF/OIF banner in my signature there, And even if you have other stuff in your signature line, you can still add our banner here with it. All you have to do is size it down, so it is not so "overbearing" and the more posting you do...the more they see the banner & will hopefully join us here. And when you conduct business with the other members like buying DCU's etc...invite them...I know I have been doing that...except it was for IACMC that many have joined...BUT with preserverance & not too much effort, we should be able to gain some new folks here to share in our exuberance for OEF/OIF

Steven