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German Helmet Vault - Tracking the Fakes and Q&A forumGerman WW2 Helmets: German Helmets : Questions & AnswersNew guy in town, looking for some …Post Reply

Post Reply: New guy in town, looking for some insight and education

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-default" href="#">Guppy35</a> on March 6, 2021, 8:19 pm</div>First time posting, looking for some wisdom.  Not a dedicated German helmet collector mainly due to  the costs, but my interest goes back to the late 1960s where as a kid I was shown bring back helmets by two different uncles of my parents.  When I got old enough to ask about them again, I found out that one had been given to a neighborhood kid.  The other, an M42 is still with the family. I've been trying to get photos of it for a while without luck.

Anyway, while out running errands with the Mrs. two days ago looking for antique quilts, I noticed a small display of WW2 bits for sale in the little antique store in the middle of nowhere in South Dakota.  The older man who owned the shop had no backstory other than it was with a batch of US WW2 gear he purchased at an estate sale.  He was not a militaria specialist by any means.  Figuring the price would be far beyond my limits, I asked if I could look at it. I was allowed to have it in hand.  I was reminded of those two bring back helmets I'd seen as a kid, and figuring in my fantasy that this was the one my great uncle had given away way back in the day.

What struck me about it was the rough textured paint.  When I looked closer I could see two shades of green and also brown.  The interior looked to be the original paint without any camo paint on it.  It's an M40 Q62 on the left inside and DN156 in the back inside.  While I hadn't planned on buying anything, the Mrs told me I should do it. Always good to have that kind of support :)

I did post it in a Facebrook group and any responses have all said it's a fake.  When they said the liner was fake I took it out.  Then the response changed to the frame is real, but the leather is fake.   Having read all the info I could find, mainly on this site but elsewhere, I can say there is no paint smell at all.  The Patina question seems to be answered as the colors are not vibrant but seem to have faded over time.

He was not asking what I assumed would be asked, and when I offered a bit less, he took it.  I'm of the belief if he knew what he had, he'd have been asking a heckuva lot more than he was, and he'd not have taken a lower offer.  If it is fake, so be it. The helmet itself is still the real deal, and it has filled that 50 year old hole I've had since handling those to bring backs :)

Thanks in advance for the education.

Dan</blockquote><br>

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German Helmet Vault

Collecting German WW2 helmets

Post Reply: New guy in town, looking for some insight and education

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