Milestones first Premier Military Auction of 2025 commanded collectors attention with 705 lots of high-quality items that tracked a 250-year timeline from the Revolutionary War through the modern-war era. The Jan. 18 auction took in a hefty $725,000 and was led by an exciting, fresh-to-the-market discovery: a rare, untouched and well-preserved original Confederate sword made by Thomas Leech of Memphis, Tenn. Of a type known as a floating CS staff and field officers sword, the coveted Thomas Leech production featured a 30-inch blade identified to, and engraved with the name of, Lieut. W. B. Spencer 31st, Regt. Tenn. Vols. It was a recent discovery that crowned a selection of approximately one dozen Confederate entries and sold for $22,000. Its presale estimate had been set at $10,000-$15,000. In addition to Confederate items, there were many desirable Union pieces available. A Civil War officers shabraque, a decorative saddle cover, was reflective of a style used by the European light cavalry in the 18th and 19th centuries but American-manufactured in distinctive U.S. Union colors. Created from midnight-blue wool, lined in oil cloth and trimmed with gold braid and black leather edging, the attractive equine accessory was bid to $3,813 against an estimate of $500-$1,000. The most active auction category was World War II relics, especially those emblematic of the Nazi Party. The top lot within the specialty classification was a trunk grouping originally belonging to WWII Nazi German Panzer General and Knights Cross with Oak Leaves recipient Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin. The trunks contents included a tailored, Italian-made wood uniform comprised of a tunic, trousers and cap, plus leather marching boots, a buckled belt, dagger, and many other military accessories and items of ephemera. Formerly displayed at the now-closed AAF Tank Museum in Danville, Va., this trunk grouping sold for $15,990 against an estimate of $6,000-$10,000. From the Italian side of the Axis of Evil came a WWII MVSN (Fascist militia) generals M1933 helmet displaying a highly-visible painted image of a large, age-toned gold Roman eagle holding a fasces (a bundle of rods with a projecting axe blade). This avian depiction was an emblem of authority both in Fascist Italy and, many centuries earlier, in Ancient Rome. Estimated at $500-$1,000, it attracted 67 bids before retiring at $5,166. An American A-2-patched flight jacket was worn during WWII by JB Bass when he was with the U.S. 1st Combat Cargo Group, 1st Squadron, a heroic outfit that flew dangerous supply missions in Asian combat zones. Decorated with several fantastic-looking China-Burma-India Theater leather insignias on its front and a large American Flag and blood chit on its back, this jacket was made in 1936. The date is significant, as it suggests Bass may have been an early member of the Army Air Corps. It sold above high estimate for $5,535. Bold and highly visible with its red-and-white rising sun motif, a captured WWII Japanese National Flag was hand-signed by approximately 100 members of the 124th Field Artillery Battalion of the 33rd Infantry Division. This battalion saw significant action in the Pacific theater, incurring 2,426 battle casualties. Another 396 of its troops were wounded in action, one was taken as a prisoner of war, and there were 2,024 MIAs. The bottom of this important flag shows both the battalions insignia and Battle Honors of the 33rd Division with its own insignia. Against a $500-$800 estimate, the unique memento rose to $3,567. After the hammer fell on the final lot, Milestone Auctions co-owner and principal auctioneer Miles King remarked, We were very pleased with the results of this sale. It was a good, solid lineup with the types of rare and interesting pieces collectors want. Several bidders complimented us on the catalog descriptions, many of which were quite in-depth. Much of the enjoyment of owning any piece of antique or vintage militaria comes from knowing as much of its history as possible. It can be very time-consuming for our experts, but they are committed to leaving no stone unturned in digging up the fine details. All prices quoted in this press release are inclusive of buyers premium, as detailed on Milestones website. To learn more, call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. All images courtesy of Milestone Auctions.