MAX-ing it out in 2024!

For those who don’t quite have the room (or the budget) to display a collection of 19th century uniforms, there is the option of going smaller with a collection of miniatures, like these seen at the 2024 MAX Show.

Fall typically means cooler weather, back to school, and the start of football season; but for those in the military collectible community, it means the Military Antique eXtravaganza. The MAX Show has been going strong for nearly four decades, and despite changing locations on numerous occasions, many of the usual faces were still there this year (though sadly a few are no longer with us).

This year marked the fourth time the show was held in its new “permanent” home at the York Expo Center in York, PA., and as it settled into what could be a routine, the 2024 show still felt “fresh,” with plenty of objects that seemed straight “out of the woodwork” and ready to find new homes.

Talking to a few dealers, it was estimated that there were nearly a million artifacts on sale at the show — enough to fill several military history museums. As former Ohio Valley Military Society (OVMS) ClubPresident Bill Combs long reminded attendees, the MAX is among the events where military history meets military collecting.

That was certainly true once again this year. It isn’t just the collecting that matters, it is the history of the items and the stories they could tell.

This set of the Axis leaders propaganda items mock Tojo, Hitler, and Mussolini. Such items were common during World War II, but few examples have been widely preserved. Peter Suciu

A Japanese Special Naval Landing Force tunic with correct cap and field gear that was ready to display. Peter Suciu

A life preserver from the U.S. Navy’s Altanta-class light cruiser USS San Juan (CL-54) was offered for sale by Advanced Guard Militaria (AGM). Following a shake-down cruise in early 1942, the warship was deployed to the Pacific Theater, earning 13 battle stars for her World War II service. Like so many other warships, CL-54 was sold for scrap after being placed in the reserve fleet. Fortunately, items like this life preserver will help keep her story alive. Peter Suciu

For the ordnance collector who has everything, there was an ENTAC (Engin Téléguidé Anti-Char) wired-guided missile and launcher! Designed by the French-based Nord Aviation in the early stages of the Cold War, it was briefly adopted and could be used against enemy tanks, armored combat vehicles and defensive installations. It would certainly be a great conversation piece and serve as a de facto “war room” coffee table. Peter Suciu

The baseplate for the Austro-Hungarian-designed kleine Granatenwerfer 16 or Gr.W.16 spigot mortar is one of those items that collectors (who own the mortar) may seek for years without any luck. But one just happened to be at the MAX this year. Peter Suciu

A collection of small arms from the Russian Front – including an SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle (often erroneously described at the Soviet M1 Garand) and an extremely rare transferable PPS-43 submachine gun, along with a deactivated German MG-34. Peter Suciu

A deactivated Japanese Type 11 light machine gun, arguably the worst firearm ever designed. It was one of Kijirō Nambu’s many dubious designs. The Type 11 serves to remind us that Nambu’s firearm creations ranged from the barely adequate to the downright terrible Peter Suciu

Chinese statesman Chiang Kai-shek served as the head of the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party, and then as the leader of the Republic of China on Taiwan until his death in 1975. This bust would be an item not likely to be found in the People’s Republic of China (“Red China”) today! Peter Suciu

Introduced in 1944, the M2 Flamethrower saw use in World War II (mainly in the Pacific), the Korean War, and Vietnam. It was later adopted by more than a dozen nations around the world. Most of them were scrapped in the 1970s, making this particular item a rare find indeed. Peter Suciu

A British PIAT launcher and a Portuguese 60mm mortar – two items ready to display in the man cave. The PIAT was the British Army’s primary anti-tank weapon in Europe during World War II, while the 60mm mortar saw use in the Portuguese colonial wars (1961-1974). Peter Suciu

A tank tread from a destroyed Russian T-72 main battle tank (MBT) in the ongoing war in Ukraine. This particular piece wasn’t offered for sale – but would be donated to anyone who could provide an ambulance to Kyiv’s forces. Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu

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Peter SuciuAuthor

Peter Suciu is a freelance journalist and when he isn't writing about militaria you can find him covering topics such as cybersecurity, social media and streaming TV services for Forbes, TechNewsWorld and ClearanceJobs. He is the author of several books on military hats and helmets including the 2019 title, A Gallery of Military Headdress. Email him and he'd happily sell you a copy!

MAX-ing it out in 2024!

Treasures abound at annual MAX Show in York, PA

Peter Suciu