M45
Well-known member
Peiper, I would not be taken in by this kamo just because Doug owned it.
I look at more than just one factor in my critiques. Looking at the sheer amount of camo remaining (nearly 100%) is a red flag in itself since camos were front line helmets and saw some of the heaviest action. Heavy, frontline action tends to remove paint from helmets, not keep it on. So how does a helmet get camoed and not used in combat or retain nearly 100% of its camo ? This can be explained with replicas but not originals.
There are just a few dings on this one (with red rust - red flag) and even some parallel hack marks (another red flag).
As per the paint, it is either RAL or it isn't. A trooper either used RAL or he used what was available. Why would a trooper go to the trouble of attempting to duplicate or mimic RAL if he did not have RAL ? Once again, this can be explained with replicas, but not originals.
As per late war helmets, comparatively few were decaled or received period field mods like camo/wire. This is in contrast to the earlier M35s, M40s, and earlier M42s w/factory decals that are found with comparatively more period field mods. When I see a late helmet with an elaborate field mod, I see a red flag.
Also realize that period field mods are quite scarce overall when compared to the sheer number of helmets that have survived with their factory configurations intact with no additions. Some earlier collectors remember this (aka 1960s), that camos/wire were something rarely encountered. No look at some helmet websites and you might see upwards of 50% of the helmets for sale have had field mods of some sort (camo, wire, etc).
Not a difficult call at all, but an easy one when you know what to look for. But with most factors concerning TR collecting in general, most collectors want to buy, but they don't know what in the h*ll they are doing. And with a big named dropped, this clumsy replica will probably be snapped up in a heart-beat.
Great fraud has been foisted upon the German helmet collecting community. Collectors cannot be too careful.
Most of these 'kamoz' are selling in the 2K-3K range. Not exactly 'chump-change' to the average collector.
foist: impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on (google definition)
I look at more than just one factor in my critiques. Looking at the sheer amount of camo remaining (nearly 100%) is a red flag in itself since camos were front line helmets and saw some of the heaviest action. Heavy, frontline action tends to remove paint from helmets, not keep it on. So how does a helmet get camoed and not used in combat or retain nearly 100% of its camo ? This can be explained with replicas but not originals.
There are just a few dings on this one (with red rust - red flag) and even some parallel hack marks (another red flag).
As per the paint, it is either RAL or it isn't. A trooper either used RAL or he used what was available. Why would a trooper go to the trouble of attempting to duplicate or mimic RAL if he did not have RAL ? Once again, this can be explained with replicas, but not originals.
As per late war helmets, comparatively few were decaled or received period field mods like camo/wire. This is in contrast to the earlier M35s, M40s, and earlier M42s w/factory decals that are found with comparatively more period field mods. When I see a late helmet with an elaborate field mod, I see a red flag.
Also realize that period field mods are quite scarce overall when compared to the sheer number of helmets that have survived with their factory configurations intact with no additions. Some earlier collectors remember this (aka 1960s), that camos/wire were something rarely encountered. No look at some helmet websites and you might see upwards of 50% of the helmets for sale have had field mods of some sort (camo, wire, etc).
Not a difficult call at all, but an easy one when you know what to look for. But with most factors concerning TR collecting in general, most collectors want to buy, but they don't know what in the h*ll they are doing. And with a big named dropped, this clumsy replica will probably be snapped up in a heart-beat.
Great fraud has been foisted upon the German helmet collecting community. Collectors cannot be too careful.
Most of these 'kamoz' are selling in the 2K-3K range. Not exactly 'chump-change' to the average collector.
foist: impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on (google definition)
Last edited:
