Luftwaffe Helmet Real/Fake

[1nyro]

Hi All,

I bought a Luftwaffe Helmet at a militaria fair recently. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a guide on checking the authenticity of helmets and whether this one is real/fake? It has a decal on each side, the number 730 etched (I think) next to a hand-drawn swastika at the underside of the back and the reference Q64 at the left underside. What model is this?

Thanks,

Nick

[FALLSCHIRMJAGER]

Hi Nick, welcome to the forum. I am sorry to say that in my opinion the adler(drooptail)decal on this one is a fake. I think this is a genuine M35 model helmet(but it may be an M40, difficult to be sure with these images). The liner looks like a good 1940 re-fit and the chinstrap also looks good, but the "drooptail" decal really looks poor. You can also see an area of "rubbing/sanding" around the adler where the original decal was but was removed and replaced with this one. Leon.

[DeLuxxe]

Both decals look aged IMO. The droop tail being the most poorly done. Looks like an M35

[KradSpam]

Need clearer pictures I'm afraid.

[centigas]

Real shame about that decal, looks like a decent helmet other wise. Did the dealer give you any kind of guarantee?

[TheGoon]

Decals look like aged reproductions.

[harryamb2]

helmet good badge bad.

[kurland kessel]

fake

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fake

[williamsong]