Catfan, your're right, I've looked at this thread a number of times and sat on the fence.
They look too good to be true to me, it all hinges on how much you can find out about the guy that owned them. This is a case where you need to hold and smell them to get a good feeling. That being said, repro Japanese helmets are around, but fake to this level I think is very unusual.
Things that puzzle me are:
1. The label on the liner, overboard for a repro, I don't think a fake would need to have it, that would lean to original.
2. The liners look new, not old and unused, the are no marks where they have been stacked for 60 years.
3. The strap material looks a bit nylony, it could be the picture, but they don't look right.
4, The helmet shell shows a few scars, would be original but may have a repro or replacement liner fitted.
The helmet covers I'm not faniliar with but there are fakes of these around, rust on the inner but no signs of fading is a bit odd to me.
The jury is still out, which doesn't help you I'm afraid.
Steve.
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