Helmet authentication

**Major Tom** · 05-05-2013, 08:02 AM

by Schwerpunkt

Yes the shell is real. My helmets also sit on a bookshelf but I want them to be 100% Original period examples. You need to post more pictures of the liner.

Here you are Schwerpunkt,

The liner is stiff as a board and its wedged in the helmet really tight so I cant bend anything around to much

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 05-05-2013 08:02 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**FALLSCHIRMJAGER** · 05-05-2013, 08:04 AM

Artificial ageing solution will stiffen up the leather like that. Leon.

**Major Tom** · 05-05-2013, 08:16 AM

Thanks Leon,
Why in the world would a faker want to stiffen up the liner? that's weird the war was only 69-70 years ago 1944/45 leather stiffens that fast?, I can only conclude the lady running the yard sale her grandfather probably bought this online or something. It would be interesting to know what he paid for it?.

**Major Tom** · 05-05-2013, 08:21 AM

Thankyou again Leon.
This is true and I am finding this out fast.

**DougB** · 05-05-2013, 02:43 PM

The Latvians make liners with the holes to appear "stretched", some rubbing around the edges and treat them to make them brittle. Leather will age depending on the storage and environmental conditions. I've seen leather as nice as the day it was made, and some stiff as a board. But the stiff liners are also in poor condition, and not Latvian.

If you want just a shell ditch this dog and buy a nice original shell with an original decal from a reputable collector or dealer for $150 or so. You will find it much more satisfactory than this once you get it.

**Major Tom** · 05-05-2013, 06:46 PM

Thankyou Doug,
I definitely will start researching better and keep that as a option, for now I think Ill keep it as a teaching tool and a comparable shell against a nice original as Fallshirmjager had stated, if you or any other collectors here on the forum have advice on who to trust on the internet please let me know, Im lost in that department. Thankyou again DougB for that information., I know your looking out for my interest as a new collector.

**FALLSCHIRMJAGER** · 05-05-2013, 07:12 PM

Hi,Kelly Hicks sells great helmets but they are not cheap,just quality!!!In my opinion from the UK there are only two dealers I like to deal with and they are HISCOLL MILITARY ANTIQUES in Holland & HANNAHS REICH ,UK,but they get helmets few and far between as they only sell "GENUINE"! As ever these dealers will not be cheap,but you get what you pay for(not $80??). Leon.

**DeLuxxe** · 05-05-2013, 07:29 PM

by DougB

The Latvians make liners with the holes to appear "stretched", some rubbing around the edges and treat them to make them brittle. Leather will age depending on the storage and environmental conditions. I've seen leather as nice as the day it was made, and some stiff as a board. But the stiff liners are also in poor condition, and not Latvian.

If you want just a shell ditch this dog and buy a nice original shell with an original decal from a reputable collector or dealer for $150 or so. You will find it much more satisfactory than this once you get it.

$150 for a shell with genuine decals? Tell me where I can buy such a thing so i can buy 10 of them

**DougB** · 05-05-2013, 07:42 PM

I sold 3 of them last year or two...watch Dave Shirlins site. Ken N has his bargain basement. They're out there, you need to know where and when to look. And I'm not talking about mint shells with 99% decals. I'm talking about a salty M42 with a 20-30% decal. But you won't find 10 of them.

**MD Helmets** · 05-05-2013, 07:52 PM

Hi, Major. Welcome to WRF. You will find no shortage of friends here to help you in your helmet collecting ventures. There is a lot of experience here. Study material should include, but not limited to, a book by Ken Niewiarowicz (I could only spell that because its sitting in front of me) titled Germany's Combat Helmets 1933-45 A Modern Study. It is difficult to find and when it is found, its not cheap. But try to find a copy if you can. You will learn so much. And always try to post helmets you are thinking of buying. Much better to be disappointed before you lose money than to be disappointed and have already spent the money. $80 might seem ok now but the more it weighs on you that it's a doctored up helmet, the more it will begin to bother you. Nothing is more satisfying than buying an authentic helmet and holding it in hand. That will always beat out a Latvian piece of crapola! Good luck helmet hunting and enjoy it. It's extremely rewarding!