Let me add a little Weimar era GEIST   From 1930 Lotte Lenya Mack the Knife from the  1928 play The Three Penny Opera , Auf Deutsch Die Dreigroschenoper  the lied Mackie Messer.    Lenya played Jenny Diver on stage and screen, she didn't sing the song in either the play or the 1931 film but simply recorded it independently here in 1930.   Play  opened in Berlin 13 August 1928: Theater am Schiffbauerdamm.      

I recently acquired this Kepi almost a American Civil War McDowell style.  Just something tells me about it that its not US.  Might just be a US Civil War copy or even a studio prop but again just curious if someone might be able to identify as a Non-US kepi.  Its very old, my thoughts  almost too old to be a CW reenactor copy.  Anyhow any thoughts great appreciated.  Many thanks.  

Nice, Indeed.  The blood spilled for those medals....   -Ski

Lol!  What a steal!  Typical.....   -Ski

While at the flea market this morning I found one of my rarest finds I actually found a 91/30 bayonet it may not be very special but it's something I don't find very often, I asked the seller how much they wanted for it and guess what it was a grand old price of $130 unfortunately I didn't have that much money with me, did I make a mistake not buying it. LOL hahaha.. I was going to ask him if Joseph Stalin's arm was still attached to it for that price...lol

Not really.  One finds a lot of light, or sloppy, strikes on these inspection markings.  Particularly late in the war.      

Nice.  The paperwork looks like it came out of his personnel file since it has the two holes.  

Yeah, I hope someone more knowledgeable will give their opinion. But I would not say, that they are "just" buttons :)) Everything holds historic value even buttons. And they are their own field, where there are rare or unusual ones and more common ones, that are interesting to collect on their own :))   They could very well be German. Usually, at least on the ones I have seen, there are markings on the back indicating the year and manufacturer. I agree, that bakelite mainly dates to the 1930s and 1940s, but even if they were from a later period, they still hold historic value. But did you test, that they are bakelite?

the expensive ones could be rare models like the East German SKS , North Vietnam war trophy with capture papers , North Korean capture with papers , those would still be valuable without the original war trophy papers   a common surplus Chinese SKS with import markings would probably have the lowest value in the $300 price range   back in the 1980's 1990's they were dirt cheap on the surplus market around $60 - $69 each brand new unissued were $99 ea

the helmet looks like it might be a Chinese mfg sun helmet

eBay item number:168125250159 Original Victorian Army Service Corps Officers Home Service Helmet - Named "A beautiful original Victorian officers home service helmet for the Army Service Corps. This example dates from the late 19th century, circa 1880-1902. (actually per-1890 since Hawkes moved to Savile Row in 1890). Complete with all original officers gilt elements, chinstrap, hangers, ball spike and base etc. Extremely fine officers pink silk liner In excellent condition except for the pink liner partly detached. Named to 156 Hamersley, and marked as size 6 & 7/8. With makers stamp for Hawkes & Co, 14 Piccadilly. Any comments? I am thinking of purchasing it. I don't have any experience with Home Service Helmets. Just ordered   "GUIDE TO THE BRITISH HOME SERVICE HELMET AND ITS BADGES 1878 – 1914" 

Thanks I have corrected that