post WWII Bulgarian M51/72 sold as a WWII Russian M40 ?

[battle gear]

World War 2 Russian Red Army Helmet | eBay


Ended:

Aug 23, 2012 19:50:56 PDT
Winning bid:

US $123.50

auction description:

This is a Red Army Model 40 Helmet from world war 2. My grandfather was in the war from 1943 til it ended. Even after the war was over, he stayed in Europe til Spring of 1948. During that time he sent home many boxes of items he found. This helmet was one of those items he sent home.

- - Updated - -

isnt this a Bulgarian M51/72 from the 1980's cold war era?

[Greg Pickersgill]

Certainly looks like one. Whatever it is it isn't a Russian Ssh40, that's 100percent certain. It seems quite incredible to me that people will pay a significant amount of money for something which they clearly know little or nothing about. I don't necessarily blame the seller for deception, its up to *us* to know what we're looking at.

[moaning minnie]

spot on greg,the simple rule on collecting is learn your stuff and do your homework,there are plenty of top guys on WRF to help and guide you,plus independant google sites are very educating,i remember the nam M1 went for £78,it was a euro lid+liner,i think dumbstruck was the right word,regards minnie.

[Greg Pickersgill]

It's always very easy to assume that the seller is trying it on, representing something as being what it is not, in the hope of making money from the unwary or ignorant. In actuality it is just as likely that the seller has no idea of what they're talking about either, and may well be making an innocent (although ignorant) assertion based on a little knowledge (dangerous thing etc) or someone else's uninformed advice.

I've been searching the web, and when I can militaria shops and fairs, for helmets for fourteen years now, and I am continually astounded by the low level of knowledge even amongst people who represent themselves as militaria specialists. A lot of these people genuinely do not know what they are selling, or have any idea of realistic values, but that doesn't stop them claiming all kinds of fanciful things. And sometimes getting quite irritable about it when one points out the difference between fancy and fact.

Specialist web-based militaria dealers are often the worst for this, and I feel it is the more reprehensible as they are claiming True Knowledge, whereas some doink knocking out essentially found junk on eBay is really just making it up as he goes along and not claiming any credentials. It's always up to us as the buyers either way, and I would counsel the same caution when dealing with the average eBayer or all but the most eminent 'professional'.

[moaning minnie]

very well said greg.dont take anyone's word for anything,do your research find as much info and true value of historic items,so regardless of what your told you then know whats correct and what isn't,ok i know the risks and bad reputation of online auctions such as ebay,granted most high end items commanding ridiculous prices are corrupt,and without guarentees,but the lower end stuff,in other words common items which are plentiful and maybe not so sort after for the advanced collector is still the cheapest place to buy,regards minnie.

[battle gear]

I even contacted the seller and let him know it was a post WWII Bulgarian helmet but he didnt reply