US military field manuals value?

psychohellbilly666 · September 12, 2010, 05:31 PM

I recently picked us some old US military field manuals and was wondering what if any value they may hold. I picked up the lot for $20. The list includes:
1. Guidbook for Marines printed 1981
2. AR320-5 Military Terms Abbreviations and Symbols printed 1958
3. FM101-5 Staff Officers Field Manual Staff Organization and Procedure printed 1954
4. TM3-215/AFM355-7 Military Chemistry and Chemical Agents printed 1956
5. TM3-216/AFM355-6 Military Biology and Biological warfare Agents printed 1956
6. TM3-220/TO39c-10b-1 Decontamination printed 1953
7. NAVEDTRA 10479-C Seabee Combat Handbook printed 1985
8. FM17-100 Armored Division and Combat Command printed 1949
9. FM27-10 Rules of Land Warfare printed 1940
10. FM22-5 Drill and Ceremonies printed 1950 and also 1 printed in 1958
11. FM21-5 Basic Field manual printed 1941
12. NAVAER13-1-501 Survival on Land and Sea printed 1944

All are origianl I believe and not reprints like are prsently sold in army surplus stores. All are in very good shape. Any ideas on value.

psychohellbilly666 · September 12, 2010, 05:32 PM

more pics

GeorgeF · September 12, 2010, 08:48 PM

I inherited a huge number of manuals from my father and did research on them. There really is no value in those things. Most field manuals can be found on CD, and there really is no historical value to them.

The only exception I have seen is on the firearm-specific manuals, and even those get little increase in value - maybe $5 - $10 each tops.

HiBC · September 12, 2010, 10:27 PM

I had one long ago I speculate might have had some value.Maybe 4 1/2 in by 5 1/2 in,or so.A mustardish yellow hard bound cover.
It was the cavalry sabre training manual written by some Lieutenent George something...Patton,that was it.Lt George Patton.
I gave it to a gentleman I used to fence with.He was a collector of swords and knives.

Buzzcook · September 12, 2010, 10:51 PM

They were on line before 2001. Still are if you're military.

They're interesting.

Chris_B · September 27, 2010, 08:23 PM

People do collect original things like that; they are not value-less. Hard to put a CD-ROM in a display case and point to it and say 'look, an original 1940 field manual', even if the CD does actually have the scans of an original manual. It's not the same

try usmilitariaforum.com

Chris_B · September 29, 2010, 05:29 PM

Actually, I wouldn't mind owning the manuals # 9, 11, 12, for my militaria collection. I'd vastly prefer originals to repros

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September 12, 2010, 08:48 PM	#3
GeorgeF Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2004 Posts: 572	I inherited a huge number of manuals from my father and did research on them. There really is no value in those things. Most field manuals can be found on CD, and there really is no historical value to them. The only exception I have seen is on the firearm-specific manuals, and even those get little increase in value - maybe $5 - $10 each tops.

September 12, 2010, 10:27 PM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	I had one long ago I speculate might have had some value.Maybe 4 1/2 in by 5 1/2 in,or so.A mustardish yellow hard bound cover. It was the cavalry sabre training manual written by some Lieutenent George something...Patton,that was it.Lt George Patton. I gave it to a gentleman I used to fence with.He was a collector of swords and knives.

September 12, 2010, 10:51 PM	#5
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	They were on line before 2001. Still are if you're military. They're interesting.

September 27, 2010, 08:23 PM	#6
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	People do collect original things like that; they are not value-less. Hard to put a CD-ROM in a display case and point to it and say 'look, an original 1940 field manual', even if the CD does actually have the scans of an original manual. It's not the same try usmilitariaforum.com

September 29, 2010, 05:29 PM	#7
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Actually, I wouldn't mind owning the manuals # 9, 11, 12, for my militaria collection. I'd vastly prefer originals to repros