MOHAWK ARMS’ SUMMER AUCTION #73

BOUCKVILLE, N.Y. – The uniform worn by German WWII Luftwaffe Lt. Gen. Josef Schmid, a recipient of the Knight’s Cross and former commander of all Hermann Göring and Afrikakorps Panzer units after the departure of Erwin “The Desert Fox” Rommel, sold for $20,800 at Auction #73, an internet and catalog auction held June 26-27 by Mohawk Arms, Inc.

The lot consisted of Lt. Gen. Schmid’s tunic, breeches, rain cape and “Soldbuch,” or personal effects, which included a photo of Schmid wearing his Knight’s Cross, an ink signature and two “General Command” ink stampings. Schmid was an early supporter of the Nazi Party. He took part in the infamous “Beer Hall Putsch” of 1923 and was the recipient of a Blood Order medal.

The auction was held online (through the Mohawk Arms website, www.MilitaryRelics.com, as well as via LiveAuctioneers.com), and at the firm’s showroom located on Rte. 20 in Bouckville, in central New York state, not far from I-90 and I-81. The auction was originally scheduled for early June, but a steady stream of great consignments continued to pour in, in many categories.

These included antique firearms (like Spencer and Joslyn carbines), Civil War edged weapons, Imperial German uniforms (Navy and Colonial), helmets, steins, old swords, a Third Reich book collection, personality items (like a Hitler autographed photo), uniforms (Nazi, American WWI and WWII, etc.), ethnographic items, leather goods, Napoleonic and British prints, and headgear.

“It was a good sale overall, but an unpredictable sale too,” said Ray Zyla of Mohawk Arms, Inc. “Items I never expected to do well – common medals, for example – sold for three or four times their high estimates. Other lots fell flat or were stagnant, such as World War I uniforms, certain firearms such as sporting guns and common-type muskets, and the common Civil War artifacts.”

But, he added, Colt, Winchester, and Civil War carbine weapons “continue to hold their own,” and Civil War presentation swords, especially from the Confederacy, as well as the CSA belts, buckles and bayonets, always seem to do well. “It’s a fickle market,” Zyla said. “The demand for certain items is high, but things are a bit flat from where they were five years ago.”

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, which could range from 16-22 percent, depending on how the bid was submitted.

Mohawk Arms, Inc.’s next big internet and catalog auction is scheduled for sometime in the fall, probably November. Already consigned is a pair of medals from the Mexican War and the Civil War earned by the same person (one medal for each war), daggers, medals, badges, uniforms, ephemera, and more. Watch the website for details as fall approaches.

Mohawk Arms, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, a collection or an estate, you may call them at (315) 893-7888; or, you can e-mail them at Mohawk@MilitaryRelics.com. To learn more about Mohawk Arms and Auction #74, slated to be held sometime in November, visit www.MilitaryRelics.com.