Coincidentally, both sales include items linked to Gen. George Patton's Third Army.

Beginning at 9 a.m. in Hatfield, Alderfer Auction Co. will offer more than 300 lots of military collectibles from various countries and periods, though the emphasis is on World War II field gear, such as belts, buckles, canteens, backpacks, coats and binoculars.

One highlight is headgear, such as a World War I German spiked helmet, German caps, and Afrika Korps pith helmets. Alderfer associate Lon Clemmer says presale estimates for the helmets are in the $400-to-$600 and $800-to-$1,200 ranges.

Weapons to be offered are mostly U.S. and German daggers, swords and bayonets, although there is also an MP-40 Schmeisser machine pistol.

Memorabilia belonging to World War II Navy veteran Matthew S. Schmidling, U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1935 (he served on the Arizona, among other ships), includes uniforms, manuals, and other literature pertaining to his Annapolis days. Clemmer says the grouping of literature could bring "a couple of thousand" dollars.

Also from Schmidling's estate is a large wooden ship's wheel, a German army dagger, and a Luftwaffe honor goblet. An Alderfer news release says the dagger and goblet may have been given to Schmidling by a relative serving in Patton's unit.

Among other items in the Alderfer sale are paperweights, canes and walking sticks, and a collection of bird and animal carvings by John Dale, whose work has been part of previous catalog sales there.

Preview is from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. to sale time Thursday at the Alderfer Auction Center, 501 Fairgrounds Rd. For more information call 215-393-3023 or go to www.alderferauction.com..

More military gear. The second sale, sponsored by the William Penn Sportsmen Club, will be conducted by Barry S. Slosberg Inc. beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday at its gallery in Port Richmond. Featured will be items from World Wars I and II, as well as vintage and antique firearms. The World War II lots include German army swords (for dress uniforms) and a Japanese samurai sword.

Among the antique weapons are a Sharpe English flintlock pistol dating to about 1820 and a 19th-century Ned Parker flintlock.

The flintlock pistol is probably the top item in the auction, says Slosberg associate Eric Cohen. It comes from a Jersey Shore estate and is expected to sell for $800 to $1,500, he says.

The most unusual consignment in the auction is a collection of pre-World War II "tinnie" pins dating to Nazi-era 1930s that were consigned by a man whose grandfather was a sergeant in Patton's army and who recovered them from a single home.

The 60 to 70 pins, including two made of glass, have Nazi and anti-Semitic themes; they include a Gau pin and one inscribed "Volkerfrieden oder Judendiktatur" (roughly translated: "Peace for the people or Jewish dictatorship"). Despite the message, Cohen says, such items are deemed a form of Judaica. He plans to sell the pins in lots of one to five with a presale estimate of $150 to $250 per lot.

A World War I silk scarf from Hawaii is expected to sell for $100 to $150 because of its well-preserved condition.

Vintage firearms in the auction - those not old enough (100 years) to be rated antiques - include a Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle with scope and a snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Chief's Airweight .38 Special.

Also to be offered are the contents of an indoor air-gun shooting range in Holicong, including about a dozen stationary and movable targets.

Preview is from 3 p.m. to sale time Thursday at the gallery, 2501 E. Ontario St. Information: 215-425-7030.

Christmas in July. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Rhoads and Rhoads Auction Center in Spring City, Ron Rhoads Auctioneer will conduct a Christmas in July Auction featuring Santa Claus figures, 1950s Christmas decorations, Nativity figures, and an off-season chance to be photographed with Santa. But Easter and Halloween items also will be offered.

Preview is from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the center, 20 Bonnie Brae Rd. Information: 610-385-4818.