Welcome to The Vault Militaria
Welcome to
The Vault Militaria
Authentic pieces. Timeless stories. Exceptional service.
The Vault Militaria is the UK’s newest destination for authentic wartime memorabilia and collectables. Specialising in rare and hard-to-find items from World War I and World War II, we offer history enthusiasts and collectors a carefully curated selection of genuine artefacts.
new items every week
Rare finds
Our team of experts meticulously sources, authenticates, and catalogues each piece, ensuring that you receive only the finest quality items with verified provenance. And we’re adding more and more items on a regular basis.
From battle-worn uniforms and medals to vintage weapons, field equipment, and personal effects, The Vault Militaria brings you closer to the tangible remnants of wartime history.
knowledge & experience
We buy & sell
The founders of The Vault Militaria bring over 50 years of combined collecting experience to the table. They have a pair of keen eyes for the unusual together with an extensive knowledge of wartime collectables to ensure that every item offered is both authentic and exceptional.
With decades spent honing their expertise, they’ve developed an unparalleled ability to source and validate rare military artifacts, making The Vault Militaria a trusted name in the field.
Contact Mark on 07471 058445 or Andrew on 07944 609319
Contact Mark on 07471 058445
or Andrew on 07944 609319
latest additions
Browse our latest items
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WW2 RAF Benevolent Fund Trophy
£55.00 SKU: 0100AThis is a WW2 trophy piece, made for the RAF Benevolent Fund out of melted down metal sourced from German planes that were shot down over Britain. The RAF Benevolent Fund is the Royal Air Force’s leading welfare charity, set up to provide lifelong support to serving members of the RAF, veterans and their families. It was founded in 1919, just after the RAF itself was created, to help airmen returning from WW1. During WW2 the Fund played a critical part in supporting the families of those killed or wounded, as well as airmen returning from combat. It also financed and maintained RAF memorials – the most famous being the Battle of Britain Memorial in London (erected 1946). This piece here, has been marked with “R.A.F. Benevolent Fund. Cast in metal from German aircraft shot down over Britain 1939-1945” round the outside base, and has notable figures on it too. Notably; Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt. Stalin here has quite a few tiny dents on and around him but the rest of this piece is in a fine condition. There are two ‘handles’ on the top, cast together and threaded into the main body. Which means, they can be removed (see photos) if you really wanted to take them off. This is a really nice, ornate piece that’s not only cast from scrap metal from shot down German planes, but is beautifully made too. It’s a real mantle piece item and stands out in any collection. -
WW2 Hand Made French Ball Toss Game. Hitler, Mussolini, Goering & “The Moon”
£450.00 SKU: 0099AThis is a WW2 (1940’s) hand made French ball toss game. Here, we have Hitler, Mussolini, Goering and “The Moon” all cut out of wood, hand painted, mounted and made into a ball toss game. We know it’s of French origin because “La Lune” is French for, The Moon. Without beating around the bush, it’s a lady, ‘mooning’ the person playing the game. It’s a one of a kind collection, hand made and while there are no markings on it, when you see it, it’s clear it’s from the 1940’s. It’s a beautiful collection and the addition of “The Moon” is a nice touch that reminds you, this is just a fair ground game. However, it gives you an idea of the vibe of the time. It’s no surprise people wanted to use these figures as targets to throw things at. Someone appears to have gotten lucky and managed to take Hitler’s nose off, poetic justice perhaps? The other figures here are all in amazing condition, the paintwork on them is not only very well done, comical and cartoonish, it’s also in excellent condition. The wood has no real significant dents and you can see from the photos there are only minor chips here and there. The handles are all nice and tight still, holding nice and strong. Two appear to have some kind of weight nailed to them at the base. As stated, this is a one of a kind collection of items so if you like odd pieces, or incredibly rare pieces, this is a must have. -
WW2 German K98 Bayonet – Matching Numbers – Frog – 1936
£335.00 SKU: 0292MHere we have a great example of the famous German K98 bayonet, issued for use with the Karabiner 98k rifle during the second World War.Blade
The blade remains unsharpened and retains around 95% of its original wartime bluing, with a sharp clean tip. One side of the ricasso is stamped with the serial number 7518, which matches the scabbard. The reverse side carries the maker code S/244,36, confirming manufacturer by Mundlos AG, Magdeburg, 1936.Grips/Hilt
Dark bakelite grips in excellent condition, and secured by two screw bolts. The hilt shows two Waffenamt inspection stamps, as expected, along with a fully functioning rifle retaining button. Light surface rust is present on the hilt but overall in nice untouched condition.Scabbard
Undented, with original bluing, although, there is light surface rust present from honest age. The throat screw is present. The scabbard bears the matching serial number 7518 on one side, and on the reverse the same S/244,36, markings as the blade - a desirable feature that tells us the two pieces have always lived together. The lower scabbard ball also carries a Waffenamt stamp.Frog/Fit
Accompanied by a very good condition leather K98 frog. The leather remains strong, with all stitching and rivets intact. The bayonet fits the scabbard perfectly, exactly as a matching pair should.Summary
An excellent, untouched, and desirable example of a 1936 Mundlos AG K98 bayonet, complete with its matching scabbard and strong, intact frog.
We sell to the USA, Europe, and most worldwide destinations.
All items are securely packed for safe transit.
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Post WW2 Mk 2/2 Illumination Mortar Shell
£40.00 SKU: 0098AThe Mk 2/2 illuminating mortar bomb is a parachute-flared projectile intended to be fired from the British 2-inch mortar. It was used to light the battlefield at night for observation, artillery adjustment, or to expose enemy movement. Used during WW2, the British 2-inch mortar was actually invented in 1938. In addition to illumination shells, high-explosive, smoke and even practice variants were used. This one here (inert of course) has plenty of numbers and marking on it, indicating it is a post war piece, made in 1966. The marking of 223 likely related to a lot number or serial code. Military codes and coding systems are famously elusive but taken on face value, we can determine that this is a post war piece, likely made in an Australian factory (perhaps Orange/Lithgow annex in Australia). It is in a good condition, and all markings are clearly readable. Obviously the ‘head’ is missing, and the insides too as this piece is inert. The tail fins are present, not dented, buckled or damaged. Usually, pieces like this receive dents on their bodies through the years but not this one. There are additional markings on the tail, which indicate the screw off tail cap were made before the shell, and also in a British factory. Eley-Kynoch, which is a well known British ammunition factory, and the 4/64 marking indicate April of 1964. The S marking is likely an inspectors stamp, and the ORB3 marking often indicate ordnance/acceptance codes or depot/factory identifiers. In short, it’s a post war piece, made in the 1960’s and has British markings, and Australian markings too. Given that a LOT of Bren guns were made in Australia for the British, this isn’t strange at all. -
WW2 Nipper Annual 1941
£28.00 SKU: 0089ANipper, was a character in the ‘Nipper Annuals’ which started circulation in the mid 1930’s. This one, dated 1941 makes it from the WW2 era. 1941 was an interesting year for this annual because it was the first year that the annuals were slimmed down and made smaller (this one is 6 x 8.5 inches), due to paper shortages during the war. These were often given as Christmas gifts to young children which makes them interesting because most pieces from this time are more ‘grown up’. Items garnering children’s interest are rarer. This one here, CLEARLY marked on the cover as being from 1941 only has a VERY minor dog-eared corner. Aside from that, it’s in AMAZING condition. Also, turning one page in reveals an advert for a rug company, with an order form one could fill in and send – this is still intact and in its original form which is a lovely touch. It’s full of heart warming nostalgia from adverts for Marmite, boot/ shoe polish to a painting competition and an antacid advert. The content for the children comes in the form of cartoons which make up the bulk of the annual. This is a must have for any Home Front collection. -
Swiss Model 1918 Bayonet by Elsener Schwyz (Superb Condition)
£135.00 SKU: 0291MThis is an excellent example of the Swiss Model 1918 bayonet, issued for use with the Schmidt-Rubin K11 and K31 straight-pull rifles. The bayonet is in superb condition throughout. The wooden grips are in very nice condition, showing hardly any wear, and are secured with two rivets. The rifle retaining button functions perfectly. The blade remains bright and clean, forming into a fine tip. It carries the maker's mark "Elsener Schwyz" crisply struck on the ricasso - the well known firm that later became Victorinox, famed worldwide for their Swiss Army knives. The crossguard is struck with its original army-issued serial number, linking it to its rifle. The scabbard is equally well preserved. It retains the majority of its original blued finish and remains undented, with the throat screw present. Importantly, the scabbard still has its leather belt tab, which is often missing. A Swiss cross stamp can also be found on the lower ball finial. Overall, this is a superbly preserved bayonet, that would be hard to upgrade.
We sell to the USA, Europe, and most worldwide destinations.
All items are securely packed for safe transit.
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WW2 RAF Gibson Girl Radio Aerial Launching Kite
£150.00 SKU: 0087AIn WW2 “Gibson Girl” was a given nickname to an emergency radio transmitter carried in RAF aircraft and lifeboats. It needed a kite to get it high enough in the air, and this piece here is one of those kites. It comes in two sections, that you’d have to assemble yourself. Included on the holding tube, are some instructions and a diagram, listing the parts and also how to assemble. The kite itself is one of the metal versions (ones were made with wooden struts too) which makes this a late WW2 piece. Oddly, the late war ones like this one are rarer than the wooden version – we believe simply because more wooden versions were made which gives this piece a certain quirkiness to it. The body of the kite is a simple yellow/ orange fabric. Interestingly, the body also has some instructions on it. Amazingly, the tube is in very good condition. Made from sheet metal, one would expect it to be dented heavily, but there are only a couple of this one. It comes with original screw top lid as well which works flawlessly. This is quite a rare and very quirky piece of history and fills a late war position nicely. When fully assembled, the kite is 37” x 17” x 17”. The tube it comes in is 22” x 3”. -
WW2 German K98 Bayonet – WKC 1938 – Mint Blade
£225.00 SKU: 0290MThe German K98 bayonet is one of the most iconic edged weapons of the second World War, designed to fit the Mauser Karabiner service rifle, and carried by millions of German soldiers on every front. This particular example is in lovely condition. The blade is unsharpened, retaining virtually all of its original bluing, and finishing to a fine sharp tip. It is maker-marked WKC (Weyersberg, Kirschaum & Cie.), one of Solingen's most prolific edged-weapon manufacturer's, with the date 38 stamped on the spine and the serial number 7512 on the reverse ricasso. The dark bakelite grips are in excellent condition, and secured by two screw bolts. The hilt has a fully functional rifle retaining button, and a diamond chequered flash guard. There are multiple Waffenamt inspection stamps present: one above the flash-guard, two on the hilt, and one on the retaining button itself. All the metal fittings show the majority of its original bluing. The scabbard is undented, retaining a strong portion of its original bluing. A Waffenamt stamp is also present on the lower scabbard ball. The reverse is marked 43 AGV, identifying the maker as (Berg & Co, Solingen), and the date 1943. The opposite side shows the serial number 8179. Interestingly, the throat is secured with a late-war aluminium rivet instead of the earlier steel screw - a wartime economy measure reflecting Germany's shortages of steel in the later years. The bayonet fits the scabbard perfectly, and overall this is a fine example of the famous K98 bayonet - combining early-war blade production by WKC with a later war scabbard by Borg & Co, and showing both the quality of manufacturer and the adaptations forced by wartime shortages.
We sell to the USA, Europe, and most worldwide destinations.
All items are securely packed for safe transit.
