Last weekend, I visited an "Antique" shop in Radium, BC. The proprietor had in her display case a US-issue military helmet - circa 1975 - priced at $850, the liner and chin strap missing and slight damage in evidence to the steel helmet. The same dealer was also offering a c1942 Canadian Army helmet for $350.

Also being offered as "original, undamaged" was a circa 1910 Ross Rifle bayonet with "Prince Edward Island Horse" issue-stampings, and a blade-point that had been ground down and altered to a curve...for what may have been ideal for skinning Moose.

The owner, Cope, promotes a self-styled card claiming to be a "Certified Appraiser."

What we need in this country is a regulatory body that prevents ridicule of the antique business, greater focus on training individuals in select genre and a guide-line to fair pricing, in the hope that an unsuspecting customer is not badly gouged by pricing generated by ineptitude.