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There is a pretty well done repro shell on gunboards if somebody is looking for a dispaly piece:
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?1096437-German-M40-Helmet-Reproduction https://imgur.com/a/RgorGVm |
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What are some good reputable websites for original gear? I don't have the extensive experience to precisely examine eBay items to determine if they're legit or not.
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https://www.atthefront.com/category-s/350.htm
https://www.ima-usa.com/collections/german-militaria I'm not sure of other actual sites with real gear as I usually just stay on forums. |
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What is the heat stamp or what is the measurement across the dome from bale to bale? To me it looks like a post war helmet. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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For the next project in the series, I found this: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/371851/E9137E44-4E6B-4F72-A711-59264C9AC66F_jpeg-956954.JPG Someone gave it to me a long time ago, and I forgot I had it. Rear seam, some dents, a split at the rear, no chin straps, no liner. Trying to decide what to do with it, salvaging it would be nice, but I don't really want to mess with cork. |
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I'd love to own a few Finnish M40/55 helmets - but I'll NEVER spend a dime with IMA
My interest in German (& other) helmets stems from an interest in Finnish military equipment As with anything - research the market, research the models available at the time, research the common fakes/copies/Far Eastern reproductions.....then do a bit more research Even in this day & age, you CAN still get lucky Last year I found a M17 Austro-Hungarian helmet for £100GBP (local, via an Ebay listing) This week I bought another M17 for £155GBP (last one was an Ebay buy) A couple of years ago I found a M16 with battle damage for & some WW2 graffiti on it & in dire need of repair for about £40GBP = it's close to being finished having been welded, filled, primed, painted, etc. Not sure what liner I will use for it - possibly an M18 or an interwar type as they are more comfortable & allow better placement of the chinstrap While I tend to avoid the repro helmet shells (well, the modern ones that is - I count the 1950's re-issued type as original) I do like some of the repro fittings & the like that are being made. One of the best such sites/makers is Czech, his website is called "Collect Helmets" It may be worth checking to see the range of accessories he has which can be used to transform an M40/55 into an M40 again Good luck finding something & sorry to see how IMA treated you!! |
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I'd love to own a few Finnish M40/55 helmets - but I'll NEVER spend a dime with IMA My interest in German (& other) helmets stems from an interest in Finnish military equipment As with anything - research the market, research the models available at the time, research the common fakes/copies/Far Eastern reproductions.....then do a bit more research Even in this day & age, you CAN still get lucky Last year I found a M17 Austro-Hungarian helmet for £100GBP (local, via an Ebay listing) This week I bought another M17 for £155GBP (last one was an Ebay buy) A couple of years ago I found a M16 with battle damage for & some WW2 graffiti on it & in dire need of repair for about £40GBP = it's close to being finished having been welded, filled, primed, painted, etc. Not sure what liner I will use for it - possibly an M18 or an interwar type as they are more comfortable & allow better placement of the chinstrap While I tend to avoid the repro helmet shells (well, the modern ones that is - I count the 1950's re-issued type as original) I do like some of the repro fittings & the like that are being made. One of the best such sites/makers is Czech, his website is called "Collect Helmets" It may be worth checking to see the range of accessories he has which can be used to transform an M40/55 into an M40 again Good luck finding something & sorry to see how IMA treated you!! View Quote Attached File |
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I did. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/371851/DAE90BDD-4C83-4DEA-A855-9BA173509BBD_jpeg-886718.JPG View Quote Posted after page 1, then went back to read the following pages Did you re-do the lufty transfer or leave it? |
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I found everything (aside from the liner) to restore the M1 to early 80’s condition for under $20. I’m having to do a bit of repair on the shell, so much of the paint has been stripped, what should I repaint it with?
I picked up some rustoleum green camo paint, but it has a slight blue tint. The original color is also much lighter than the WWII shade, so that’s out. |
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Testors Model Master Olive Drab….or Olive Green, I forget what they call it exactly....
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I picked-up a M34 the other day.
Attached File Attached File LOL.....GIs would bring the police/firemen M34s back thinking they were SS helmets. This one has the leather neck cape in it too so it could have been a Feuerschutzpolizei helmet. Feuerschutzpolizei was a firefighter unit in Nazi Germany and a branch of Nazi Germany's Ordnungspolizei, formed in 1938 when the German municipal professional fire brigades were transferred to the national police. In use. |
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I found everything (aside from the liner) to restore the M1 to early 80’s condition for under $20. I’m having to do a bit of repair on the shell, so much of the paint has been stripped, what should I repaint it with? I picked up some rustoleum green camo paint, but it has a slight blue tint. The original color is also much lighter than the WWII shade, so that’s out. View Quote |
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If it were me I would just leave that shell be and find another one. Throw some clip on straps on it and the Mitchell cover with a nice Vietnam liner. If you want an 80s era helmet you should be able to find a complete helmet for under $25. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I found everything (aside from the liner) to restore the M1 to early 80’s condition for under $20. I’m having to do a bit of repair on the shell, so much of the paint has been stripped, what should I repaint it with? I picked up some rustoleum green camo paint, but it has a slight blue tint. The original color is also much lighter than the WWII shade, so that’s out. I’d buy a few at that price. Vietnam era liners are also expensive, I actually need one. |
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I got around to finishing the M1, I attempted a faux cork finish just to see if I could do it, it turned out very nicely IMO. I used the Testors OD, and while it neither matches the WWII shade nor the later one, it looks nice.
I used very late chinstraps, a NOS cover and band, and a 1980 dated liner that I already had in a Vietnam era shell. I also bought a correct liner for the VN shell, it should be here soon. Attached File Attached File |
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That looks really good! View Quote I’m debating what I want to add to the collection next. A WSS M35 would be nice since I have an M40 and M42, but even restored M35s are pretty expensive. ATF has some nice M43 caps with original thread and insignia that are somewhat interesting. I’ve also considered a PASGT, as it’s next in progression of my US collection. Maybe I should change the thread name at this point. |
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This could be the dedicated helmet thread!!! I'm starting to dig out my projects now. So far I found my M16, M17, M35 ,M40 original shells along with a Norwegian M40 and two repro M38's. I'm still missing 2 M35's an M42 and 2 M38's though. Once I find those its game on!!
I would knock out the PASGT and ACH next as those are easy to find at the moment and keep an eye out on ebay and ebay.de for an M35 shell. |
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This could be the dedicated helmet thread!!! I'm starting to dig out my projects now. So far I found my M16, M17, M35 ,M40 original shells along with a Norwegian M40 and two repro M38's. I'm still missing 2 M35's an M42 and 2 M38's though. Once I find those its game on!! I would knock out the PASGT and ACH next as those are easy to find at the moment and keep an eye out on ebay and ebay.de for an M35 shell. View Quote |
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I got my other liner today, and it’s named. A quick search finds only one person by that name.
Any way to know for sure? The one I found is 77, the age seems appropriate. Attached File |
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These are some pics I posted over on WAF of an unissued M-1 I picked up a few years ago (for a stupid low price) if you want to use them for reference for what they looked like nearly brand new. Only thing wrong is the liner chinstrap that is broken. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/dbac57add648fb7eec20cad7417a1e17.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/06e973fcb15e17358d3c057b3ea0da5b.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/9718fe0b6cbe093c5694837b9ef944dc.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/2305cf0e45ca6a0381ce872cf014d737.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/a126d49779f2845c6f57b1dd58156278.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/10b52770bc5279d69dd98b1d3b290577.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/8cb85b5900fe337b1d5c7c288338c0b3.jpg View Quote That’s got to be worth several hundred dollars. |
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I found it in a pickle shop (no shit) in Bandera TX for $50 several years ago. I have had a couple offers around the $600 (which seems high to me) mark but I really don't want to sell it. Plus its all boxed up with its little brother (the Big Red One M1917 I picked up in Indiana for $100) right now since the move any way!!!
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I found it in a pickle shop (no shit) in Bandera TX for $50 several years ago. I have had a couple offers around the $600 (which seems high to me) mark but I really don't want to sell it. Plus its all boxed up with its little brother (the Big Red One M1917 I picked up in Indiana for $100) right now since the move any way!!! View Quote |
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These are some pics I posted over on WAF of an unissued M-1 I picked up a few years ago (for a stupid low price) if you want to use them for reference for what they looked like nearly brand new. Only thing wrong is the liner chinstrap that is broken. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/dbac57add648fb7eec20cad7417a1e17.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/06e973fcb15e17358d3c057b3ea0da5b.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/9718fe0b6cbe093c5694837b9ef944dc.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/2305cf0e45ca6a0381ce872cf014d737.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/a126d49779f2845c6f57b1dd58156278.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/10b52770bc5279d69dd98b1d3b290577.jpg http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20150412/8cb85b5900fe337b1d5c7c288338c0b3.jpg View Quote I found one similar, but not quite as nice at the Ft Worth gunshow with a crappy woodland cover on it for $40...always pays to turn 'em over and look.... |
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Even better...its a fixed bale
I know what you mean about always looking. I had a day off from my National Guard playtime today so I went on a road trip to a bunch of antique stores and pawn shops today. Found one place with a bunch of pots but all rear seam and ratted out Korea era liners. I did find one front seam swivel and stripped German canteen the other day along with a decent 98k Bayo and frog today though so it wasn't a total loss! |
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Even better...its a fixed bale I know what you mean about always looking. I had a day off from my National Guard playtime today so I went on a road trip to a bunch of antique stores and pawn shops today. Found one place with a bunch of pots but all rear seam and ratted out Korea era liners. I did find one front seam swivel and stripped German canteen the other day along with a decent 98k Bayo and frog today though so it wasn't a total loss! View Quote Oh, @NoMoAMMO by the way, next weekend is the DACA show at Market Hall, the best militaria/milsurp show in DFW if you can make it out, always something good to find, let me know if you think you will, i'll be in touch...I have tables there... Oh, here is something, not really a helmet, but I like it.... Attached File Attached File Attached File Original Panzer "Schiff" and Panzer headphones and throat mike.... I'll have to find some (or take some) of some helmets... |
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Picked up another one from a member here, also got a PASGT and ACH from him. https://i.imgur.com/RTP98EE.jpg https://i.imgur.com/MGY7sTv.jpg https://i.imgur.com/p6peJZS.jpg View Quote |
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Quoted: Yeah, I don't know why I typed swivel bail, I did see iot was fixed bail.... Oh, @NoMoAMMO by the way, next weekend is the DACA show at Market Hall, the best militaria/milsurp show in DFW if you can make it out, always something good to find, let me know if you think you will, i'll be in touch...I have tables there... Oh, here is something, not really a helmet, but I like it.... https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104803_jpg-1089855.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104758_jpg-1089856.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104739_jpg-1089857.JPG Original Panzer "Schiff" and Panzer headphones and throat mike.... I'll have to find some (or take some) of some helmets... View Quote |
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I’ve discovered that restoring PASGTs with NOS parts is stupid cheap if using eBay. I may actually grab a second one and use a woodland cover.
Attached File Attached File |
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Yeah, I don't know why I typed swivel bail, I did see iot was fixed bail.... Oh, @NoMoAMMO by the way, next weekend is the DACA show at Market Hall, the best militaria/milsurp show in DFW if you can make it out, always something good to find, let me know if you think you will, i'll be in touch...I have tables there... Oh, here is something, not really a helmet, but I like it.... https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104803_jpg-1089855.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104758_jpg-1089856.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104739_jpg-1089857.JPG Original Panzer "Schiff" and Panzer headphones and throat mike.... I'll have to find some (or take some) of some helmets... View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Even better...its a fixed bale I know what you mean about always looking. I had a day off from my National Guard playtime today so I went on a road trip to a bunch of antique stores and pawn shops today. Found one place with a bunch of pots but all rear seam and ratted out Korea era liners. I did find one front seam swivel and stripped German canteen the other day along with a decent 98k Bayo and frog today though so it wasn't a total loss! Oh, @NoMoAMMO by the way, next weekend is the DACA show at Market Hall, the best militaria/milsurp show in DFW if you can make it out, always something good to find, let me know if you think you will, i'll be in touch...I have tables there... Oh, here is something, not really a helmet, but I like it.... https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104803_jpg-1089855.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104758_jpg-1089856.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/374866/20190226_104739_jpg-1089857.JPG Original Panzer "Schiff" and Panzer headphones and throat mike.... I'll have to find some (or take some) of some helmets... |
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I’ve discovered that restoring PASGTs with NOS parts is stupid cheap if using eBay. I may actually grab a second one and use a woodland cover. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/371851/9AD4480A-AC9B-4DBF-82BB-0A1074EA477C_jpeg-1094922.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/371851/16AEC6C8-4A0A-4524-9AC7-BC9436C56DB1_jpeg-1094923.JPG View Quote |
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I feel like we are witnessing the birth of an addiction! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I’ve discovered that restoring PASGTs with NOS parts is stupid cheap if using eBay. I may actually grab a second one and use a woodland cover. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/371851/9AD4480A-AC9B-4DBF-82BB-0A1074EA477C_jpeg-1094922.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/371851/16AEC6C8-4A0A-4524-9AC7-BC9436C56DB1_jpeg-1094923.JPG I have an ACH now too, but it’s a medium so I’m trying to sell it and buy a large. I plan to slow down after that. |
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I plan to slow down after that. View Quote It never works though |
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It'll be ok, I tell myself that all the time too It never works though View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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Helmets, helmets, helmets...well, some of them anyway...
Here are some of my helmets, all are period correct...just some quick shots... These are 3 Vietnam war helmets, different style period liners, bands...a later 1970's vintage with ERDL cover, and an 80's version with woodland... Attached File Modern stuff, the left one is a named SWCC Chief while he was on a Special Boat Team, has a funky CADEX NVG mount system that was bought in small numbers, and only used by some Special Boat Teams....the right is an ACH... Attached File Always liked pilot helmets, left US, right 60's vintage Polish MiG... Attached File Right to left, 80's/90's CVC, British 1944 dated Airborne, US Vietnam Airborne.... Attached File Right to left...US WWII Airborne, US WWII Tanker, Aircraft Carrier deck crew cranial, for a refueler, and 1980's vintage Soviet tanker Attached File |
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Better view of Soviet tanker, and US Army Cobra pilot SPH-4
Attached File WWII US, large net, small hole british net, and plain... Attached File Two USMC, right to left, Korean War, and WWII...and a plain jane Korean war M1...Korean war era shells are actually much harder to find than WWII, they shut the lines down right after the war, re-started them for Jorea, then shut them down again for a while before Vietnam...All WWII helmets have corked paint and bar tacked chin straps, while once the fired up the lines for Korea, they switched to sand...a Korean war era shell will be swivel bail, rear seam, sand paint, and the chinstraps will have the new hardware mounts. The thing to remember, these Korean war vintage hardware is green as opposed to the later black... Attached File The Korean War M1, and next to it a WWII M1 with the only actual US issue helmet net in WWII...most nets are either British, or cut from other nets...the only actual US issue net in WWII was this one, with the attached elastic band... Attached File |
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Very nice collection, thanks for sharing. I can’t help but notice that the patterns are identical on both USMC helmet covers, I didn’t realize they were like that. |
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Thanks! The patterns on the USMC covers are the same, and stayed that way until they switched to the Mitchell cover in Vietnam...BUT the original WWII covers DID NOT have the inked EGA on the front...you will find actual WWII covers with EGA's, but these were applied post-war...so you need to find an unmarked cover to be correct for WWII...
Also another interesting fact is the USMC never had a helmet band in their supply system during Vietnam, only the Army had the green elastic bands (and Vietnam era bands never had the luminous cat eyes on them)...the USMC often used cut up inner tubes for bands.... |
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Thanks! The patterns on the USMC covers are the same, and stayed that way until they switched to the Mitchell cover in Vietnam...BUT the original WWII covers DID NOT have the inked EGA on the front...you will find actual WWII covers with EGA's, but these were applied post-war...so you need to find an unmarked cover to be correct for WWII... Also another interesting fact is the USMC never had a helmet band in their supply system during Vietnam, only the Army had the green elastic bands (and Vietnam era bands never had the luminous cat eyes on them)...the USMC often used cut up inner tubes for bands.... View Quote I have one of ATF’s old rear seam WWII spec shells that I’ve thought about getting a USMC cover for. If I do, I’ll make sure to get one that’s unmarked. |
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@98kguy
I like your set up a lot better Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Some of my ACH/MICH/TS2000 helmets https://i.imgur.com/t0SeuOZ.jpg Some of my M1's ranging from WWII to the 1980s. https://i.imgur.com/a4KZABb.jpg?1 View Quote If anybody comes across a decently priced Brit Mk 7 or a Canadian CG634 let me know! |
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