Late war helmets
- Thread starter M45
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Nope, not on others I have with similar type air rusting. While many times digitial / internet pics can be misleading as to true colors, I can see the original feldgrau color in the helmet. If it was stored in such a way as to get water condensation all over it, which is quite likely with any temperature change, it would rust evenly like that which rust would bloom through the paint. Left in such a state it would indeed corrode completely, but obviously the oxidation process was stopped.
M45
Well-known member
In hand it is clearly paint. Using your zoom feature, it should not be that difficult to see. There is no original feldgrau color anywhere on this helmet. Another CKL factory example that has double SA/FHH decals can be found in L. Baer p.319, 1985 edition. The Thale factory certainly produced special order ND helmets for the FHH.
Nope, not on others I have with similar type air rusting. While many times digitial / internet pics can be misleading as to true colors, I can see the original feldgrau color in the helmet. If it was stored in such a way as to get water condensation all over it, which is quite likely with any temperature change, it would rust evenly like that which rust would bloom through the paint. Left in such a state it would indeed corrode completely, but obviously the oxidation process was stopped.
I have seen helmets with rust blooming through the paint and the fine rust completely covers the helmet. So why did it cover every square inch of the helmet but not on top of each letter of the ink stamp? The factory ink stamp was applied on top of paint.
Nope, not on others I have with similar type air rusting. While many times digitial / internet pics can be misleading as to true colors, I can see the original feldgrau color in the helmet. If it was stored in such a way as to get water condensation all over it, which is quite likely with any temperature change, it would rust evenly like that which rust would bloom through the paint. Left in such a state it would indeed corrode completely, but obviously the oxidation process was stopped.
I have seen helmets with rust blooming through the paint and the fine rust completely covers the helmet. So why did it cover every square inch of the helmet but not on top of each letter of the ink stamp? The factory ink stamp was applied on top of paint.
My monitor shows feldgrau in the background, "behind" the rust patina. If you have some kind of rare FHH M.42 no decal, congrats. I've never seen one, but seen plenty of browned feldgrau helmets due to air rust, corrosion, which look similar, with ink stamps intact. Could be just my monitor, but additional pics, with flash, different light, would be helpful in showing the brown color. BTW, I've seen that color on overpaints as well, but it could never be established whether it was postwar or what. The inkstamp OVER a brown paint is surely helpful, but those are knocked off. What does the inkstamp say?
M45
Well-known member
Hello hambone! Its me, Brian from MCF of late war helmets fame. Thanks for the congrats! This was a difficult helmet to find.
The instamp is the same type found in the book "Germany's Combat Helmets 1933-1945" by Ken Niewiarowicz, p. 444 bottom.
It reads: "Abgennomen, Wehrmacht- Beschaffungsamt, Bekleidungs und Ausrustung."
It has been seen in many late war CKL M42 helmets.
These photos were taken in natural sunlight. I'll see what other photos I have.
Cheers, Brian
The instamp is the same type found in the book "Germany's Combat Helmets 1933-1945" by Ken Niewiarowicz, p. 444 bottom.
It reads: "Abgennomen, Wehrmacht- Beschaffungsamt, Bekleidungs und Ausrustung."
It has been seen in many late war CKL M42 helmets.
These photos were taken in natural sunlight. I'll see what other photos I have.
Cheers, Brian
Hello Brian,
Good to have you here. I know that from the old "ventless M.45" battles you had at WAF that you support your positions with facts, logic, and good information. Of course, that got you censored and banned (or at least suspended) there, but we welcome correct info here over anything else so you are in the right place. I think you got suspended at WAF right after you produced a period pic or two showing ventless M.42s which the mods said didn't exist
Looking at the helmet, on my monitor, my take on it was feldgrau M.42, browned by rust. Looking at the interior pic close I see your point and trust your opinions, particularly as they relate to your helmet, in hand. Would like to see other pics as it is quite unusual, I've never seen one. Again, welcome, you're in the right place
Regards,
HB
M45
Well-known member
Thanks for the warm welcome HB! Your efforts in promoting truth and honesty in this hobby are well appreciated!
I've been busy with 3 books on German helmets; a lot number book and two late war helmet books.
Late war helmet research has been progressing well! I recently found a late depot reissue with unusual liner/strap arrangement.
Cheers, Brian
I've been busy with 3 books on German helmets; a lot number book and two late war helmet books.
Late war helmet research has been progressing well! I recently found a late depot reissue with unusual liner/strap arrangement.
Cheers, Brian
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M45
Well-known member
I'd give Hambones right testicle for a ventless M42, I've never had a chance to buy one. Welcome aboard Brian! I think you recently sold a bunch of late M42's on ebay? If that was you there were some nice ones!
Farb: yes, that was me. Ventless helmets are certainly difficult to find! The period photos I've seen showed them in use by the HJ in 1945.
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M45
Well-known member
Thanks Wolf!
HB, as you know, WAF originally said that they wanted documents/period photos etc before they would concede the ventless was real. Photos of my own example was naturally not good enough since they had earlier said it didn't exist.
I did manage to find a very interesting photo of a purported M45 (I'll try to find it), but I mentioned to Kelly Hicks that I wanted to have the ventless authenticated. He directed me to send the helmet to Ken N., who printed up a COA ($80). When I posted the COA on WAF, Ken conceded the ventless and thus the rest of WAF.
But by and large, WAF does not like to be forced to concede anything, and thus I got my first 'A' rating ('A' meaning a$$hole).
I would achieve a triple A-A-A rating before being banned over a fake M38 camo helmet!
The photo shows the underside rim of the flat finish brown helmet with paint runs.
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Brian, I've never found that censorship of the WAF variety advanced anything but the interests of the censor and his croanies. No quicker way to get censored or banned at WAF than to show a WAFmod or WAFtard to be wrong or a buffoon (which there is no shortage of). Don't you find it a bit bizarre that you needed to pay a WAFdealer $80 for a COA before the ventless M.45 would be deemed real? Is he magic? That was the danger of XRFacts.
In any event, you've sold me on the color of the helmet. However, it looks to me like an overpaint. Was it a feldgrau overpainted in this brown? But if so, how would it get the oval ink stamp? I own a camo overpaint in a similar mustard brown color, original vet bringback helmet, but it's an overpainted M.40. Very unusual helmet. What's the back story? Additional pics?
In any event, you've sold me on the color of the helmet. However, it looks to me like an overpaint. Was it a feldgrau overpainted in this brown? But if so, how would it get the oval ink stamp? I own a camo overpaint in a similar mustard brown color, original vet bringback helmet, but it's an overpainted M.40. Very unusual helmet. What's the back story? Additional pics?
FWIW, this is a a helmet I picked up in a junk / antique store for $50.00, plus tax around ten years ago. The inner leather was completely torn out and no chin strap,but everything, band etc. else was still in place. I put new leather in it and a chin strap.
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tjg79
Senior Member
For only $170 more you could have had it zapped in David May's lap and gotten an XRFacts COA with hologram.
What a scam to be made to pay $80 for a forum to accept your helmet as legit. I don't understand why collectors participate on such a forum. There are forums that will give you an opinion based on good digital pictures alone. Why would anyone care about what WAF mods think about anything. They have been shown to wrong on many things. That should be enough information to cause concern about their knowledge and judgment.