About MGN Military Antiques
My interest in the Second World War started early. As a boy, I was drawn to the stories of the men who served, through books, documentaries and visits to the military surplus shop in our neighborhood. I wanted to understand not just the battles but the people behind them, and the objects they carried turned out to be the most direct link to that history.
That curiosity grew through high school, where I read everything I could find on the period and began studying the uniforms, insignia and equipment of the German and American forces in detail. At Fordham University in New York, I studied Economics and Theology, which gave me a disciplined approach to research, sources and historical context. I still bring that approach to every piece that passes through my hands.
I founded MGN Military Antiques in 2005 to share that passion with fellow collectors. In the years since, I have handled and researched a wide range of original WWII militaria and written detailed descriptions for many of them. That work led to my book, Verborgen – Treasures of the German Combat Forces of WWII, a hardcover of more than 300 pages coming in Spring 2027. It documents some of the best examples of militaria found in the decades after the war.
Being based in the New York Tri-State area gives us access to one of the largest networks of collectors in the country. It is also a region with deep roots in the war. During the Second World War, the New York Port of Embarkation, centered on the Brooklyn Army Terminal, was the main gateway for American troops heading to Europe, and countless soldiers came home through these same docks with the souvenirs they carried back from the front. Generations later, the families of those veterans still live here, and many of our pieces come directly from them, from local estates and from long-standing collectors. Many have never been offered on the open market.
From the start, MGN has been built on a few simple commitments:
- Offer only original, carefully examined pieces.
- Bring collectors items that are rarely, if ever, offered for sale.
- Earn a reputation for accuracy and honesty, one sale at a time.
- Share our knowledge freely, so every collector understands exactly what they are buying.
Every item we offer is described honestly, with its maker, period, markings and condition. We believe collectors deserve accurate information, clear photographs and a dealer who stands behind every sale.
We are always looking for quality pieces, whether it is a single item or an entire collection. If you are thinking of selling, I would be glad to hear from you.
To me, these objects are more than collectibles. They are tangible pieces of history, and preserving them and the stories they carry is what MGN Military Antiques is all about. Thank you for visiting, and welcome.