Nazy military figurines on display at d'Artagnan's Collectibles in Pointe Claire.
Historically accurate military figurines
For some military figurine collectors, authenticity is far more important than dwelling on past foreign policies.
At d’Artagnan’s Collectibles in the Complex Pointe Claire shopping mall, the most enthusiastic of collectors, can find accurately detailed World War II figurines from graphic wounded British infantry to Adolf Hitler. “These figurines are for serious collectors; they usually buy them and form marching battalions,” said Richard Repper, president of d’Artagnan's and adjacent Multimags. “A collector of any war will want to get all sides.” D’Artagnan's, a relatively new store in the West Island, carries other statuettes manufactured by King and Country, a leading maker of military figurines, including Egyptian armies to the Napoleonic era without a thought to offending anyone seeing as the figurines are strictly for collecting purposes, according to Repper. "At the end of the day, if you look at the collection we have all kinds of nationalities on display, it’s impossible not to offend anyone,” he said. Collecting military figurines is a rare hobby in Canada, aside from d'Artagnan's, three other stores in Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto carry the carefully crafted statuettes. Collectors won't restrict themselves with just controversial figurines for their hobby, they will likely acquire aircrafts and tanks as well. At Ted's Hobby Shop in Pointe Claire Plaza, owner Peter Grant also carried Nazi crafts for collectible purposes without fear of offending anyone. "I've been at the store for 22 years, and I've never had a complaint," said Grant. "Even if I did it wouldn't stop me from carrying (Nazi collectibles). "These are supposed to be historically accurate. If anything, I noticed toys that had the swastika on them no longer put them," he added. Military collectibles can range from about $35 up to $200.
john nicklas
Comment online since October 24th 2008i feel there should be no restrictions concerning the swastika on collectibles...i myself am angry at people trying to change history and hide the fact that the swastika was a political symbol which later was adopted by others as a hate symbol....my word to them..MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS..WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I STARTED A PROTEST CONDEMN THE STAR IF ISRAEL????