While the hard-fought lessons of war may fade from global memory over time, soldiers weaponry and equipment live on as reminders of the heavy toll inflicted by military conflict. The interest in historical firearms, war relics and militaria seems unabated, and the category remains one of the most popular specialties at Milestone Auctions, whose next Firearms and Militaria Sale is slated for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25, in Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), Ohio. Collecting historical firearms and militaria is an international hobby. We pick up new bidders with every auction, especially through the internet, which is how many overseas collectors discover us, said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. We ship firearms and militaria all over the world: to Canada, Australia, China, the U.K. and many other European countries. The January sale could be one of our strongest to date. Our firearms expert, Dave Bushing, thinks the gun selection alone might do a million dollars. Several important flags will fly over the two-day event, including an American flag that bore witness to D-Day and Operation Overlord, the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy. The 48-star flag was flown on the mast of LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) (L)-413, which delivered the courageous 115th Infantry Regiment to the shores of Omaha Beach. The LCI was piloted by U.S. Navy Quartermaster Carroll Key Wood, the father of the flags consignor. A fascinating and extensive narrative about the flag, including the consignors boyhood recollections of his fathers return from WWII with the flag, appears in Milestones catalog online. The auction estimate is set at $50,000-$60,000. Another significant D-Day lot is a battle-used Rupert dummy paratrooper of the type dropped over German-occupied France in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Although such dummies probably didnt fool many German defenders, they were undoubtedly a distraction and caused confusion about where Allied troops were located, said King. The burlap dummy, which was made to be weighted with sand, is estimated at $6,000-$9,000. Rare WWII Nazi memorabilia in the sale includes medals, uniforms, helmets and headgear; boots, flags, numerous knives, daggers, swords and combat implements; and miscellaneous souvenir items. A Nazi German Heer (Army) generals IDd tunic with a decorative collar and epaulets and a hand-embroidered patch depicting an eagle holding a swastika is expected to make $4,000-$6,000. A 1939 Nazi German Knights Cross, made by Godet, is marked with a relief swastika and suspended from its original red, white and black ribbon. It will be estimated at $8,000-$10,000. An extremely rare 35-star silk guidon saw military service in the American Civil War and comes to auction from a prominent Chicago family with an extensive military background. The 35-star flag is the only flag whose star count falls squarely within the active period of the Civil War, noted King. Theyre considered very scarce because of the limited time they were allowed to fly, due to the secession of West Virginia from Virginia. It will be estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Dave Bushing selected two of the auctions Civil War-era guns for special mention. The first is an exceptional, unfired .52-caliber Sharps (Hartford, Conn.) Model 1863 military rifle, made in 1865 and of a type ordered to outfit U.S. Volunteers. This gun is simply outstanding, stated Bushing. If it werent for a couple of minor age freckles, you would swear it was made in the last couple of years. It would be impossible to find a nicer example. The rifle will be estimated at $15,000-$20,000. Another top-notch gun, an all-original .58-caliber Confederate musket dated 1865 and made in Georgia by Dickson & Nelson, was one of only 3,000 manufactured expressly for the State of Alabama. As the war escalated, Dickson & Nelson had to keep moving because its factory kept getting bombed out by the Yankees, according to Bushing. This is the most outstanding known example of all original, untouched survivors of its type. Its a very desirable gun. The estimate will be $12,500-$18,500. A handsome, high-condition Winchester Deluxe 1873 .22 caliber rifle is accompanied by a factory letter that confirms it was shipped in 1892 exactly as it appears today, with an octagon barrel, checkered stock with pistol grip, and special-order drop of stock 4.75-inch blued frame. Since most of these rifles were made for boys, very few were ordered in the deluxe configuration. Theyre extremely rare, and theres no doubt that this is one of the finest extant examples of this model, said Bushing. It will be estimated at $8,000-$12,000. The sale features superior-quality antique handguns from both sides of the Atlantic. A highly desirable .31-caliber New Haven Volcanic lever-action pistol is one of only 3,300 that were made from 1857-60. Significantly, its an early predecessor of the Winchester lever-action design, said Bushing. The estimate will be $7,500-$10,000. Milestones Jan. 24 and 25 auction will be held at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio. Start time will be 10 a.m. ET. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the internet through Milestone Auctions bidding platform or LiveAuctioneers. For additional information, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com, or visit www.milestoneauctions.com.