M38 Fallschirmjager helmet authentication

[Botmalin]

Hello,

I would like to ask you to help me to identify my Luftwaffe M38 Fallschirmjager helmet. Bought in Greece. I was told that it is a German M 38 parachute helmet from the battles of the Allied forces with the German in the Battle of Crete in May 1941. It doesn't look like a fake but I’ve not found any marks inside. Is it an original one? Anyone can help, please.

Regards
Botmalin

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[MAP]

I do not like this at all.

The liner is fake as well as the liner band and chinstrap.

I can not be sure about the shell but it looks aged and fake to me as well.

I have never seen the large rubber/foam pads like this either but I will defer to others if they have seen this on originals too. This however doesn't change the facts.

One to walk away from.

[BrodieBartfast]

Looks like an aged repro to me. The profile of the shell looks 'off', and the wear looks rather contrived. Not sure how much you paid for this one, but authentic M38 DD helmets have price tags in the tens of thousands.

It's also best not to disassemble helmets, as this can devalue an original piece by a considerable amount. One of the first things an experienced helmet collector will do is check the liner rivets to see if they've been tampered with.

Regards, B.B.

[rbminis]

One of the first things an experienced helmet collector will do is check the liner rivets to see if they've been tampered with.

Regards, B.B.

These do not have rivets, they have screws and nuts.
Ralph.

[HARRY THE MOLE]

It IS a fake... When you look head on at the front rim of a fj helmet, there should be a slight dip downwards in the middle section. This one does not have it... I really hope that you did not pay loads of money for it.

Cheers,
Steve

[BrodieBartfast]

These do not have rivets, they have screws and nuts.
Ralph.

I used 'rivets' as a catchall term. My observation on tampering remains the same. Whatever the attachment method, any signs of them being played with is a red flag.

B.B.

[AndyM35]

Another cheap Chinese fake. How come these M38’s always seem to have liners made by Karl Heisler of Berlin? Lol.
Andy

[HARRY THE MOLE]

Another cheap Chinese fake. How come these M38’s always seem to have liners made by Karl Heisler of Berlin? Lol.
Andy

Because Heisler set up a subsidiary company in China after the war to make fake liners.

[AndyM35]

That’s what I thought Steve.

[HoundsTooth]

I'm not well versed with M38 helmets, but my first instinct was also a fake.
Glad to see others agree.
Nick