Looking into helmets - any input on good sources?

[Mauser4me]

Am dabbling with the idea of picking up a WW1 (M16) & WW2 (M40 or M42) german helmet. Thing is there are so many fakes. I know IMA stands behind what they sell, although their prices are as steep as they get. Does anyone have any input on them?

Or leads on any other reliable source?

eBay seems like a minefield I don't want to walk in to. If I were a scammer peddling fakes, that's where I'd go.

TIA

 

[iron bender]

I personally like The History of the German Steel Helmet/ 1916-1945, by Ludwig Baer. Lots of collector books out there and it seems someone has a gripe about all of them. All dealers seem to get a black eye regularly too. Stick to basic helmets and you greatly improve your odds of getting a good one. Single decal army/luft helmets in average condition, and no decal 42's are a great place to start. As for m16-18 types, lots available in varying states. Just start looking through dealer sites. Good luck

 

[Gerst]

There are great websites you can take advantage of.

 

[rohling81]

If you want to be on the safe side, then I'd recommend Mike Davis, he is one of the most trusted salesman out there.

https://www.virtualgrenadier.com

 

[mauser202]

Am dabbling with the idea of picking up a WW1 (M16) & WW2 (M40 or M42) german helmet. Thing is there are so many fakes. I know IMA stands behind what they sell, although their prices are as steep as they get. Does anyone have any input on them?

Or leads on any other reliable source?

eBay seems like a minefield I don't want to walk in to. If I were a scammer peddling fakes, that's where I'd go.

TIA

Join GHW, it’s a forum dedicated to German helmets. Look around, learn, ask questions then buy. I recommend a no decaled m42, or A single decal m40 as the safest to start with. Don’t be afraid to ask the forum to vet a potential purchase too.

You could also post a WTB thread here. I got a really sweet M35 reissue off of a member here and a nice m40 luft from another member.

 

[Stan]

Does anybody have any thoughts on the website "German Helmets Inc." that is run by Ken Niewiarowicz?

 

[iron bender]

Does anybody have any thoughts on the website "German Helmets Inc." that is run by Ken Niewiarowicz

Ken N is very knowledgeable on the subject, has written at least two books on German helmets, and obviously sells helmets too. As in my original post, I'm sure there are plenty of gripes about some of the helmets he sells, maybe even his books. I've had nothing but luck with him in the past and found him nice to deal with. I also didn't buy 12k SS and camo helmets. As above, I stuck to the basics like sd army m40's, m42's, re-issue m35's.

 

[M45]

Just as with most areas of militaria collecting, fakes abound in the field of German helmets. Expect to encounter loads of them as you delve into the hobby.

One way to collect is to trust forums, dealers, friends of friends selling things etc to tell you what is authentic. You may or may not be successful here.

Another way is to actually become knowledgeable in the hobby to know for yourself what is authentic and fake. This will require time, money, reference books, research and so on to transform yourself into an expert in the field.

As per forums and dealers, there has historically been good and bad here. The 3 large helmet forums (WAF, WRF, GHW2) have some good information on the one hand, on the other they have all at some point vetted horrendous fakes such as the Champagne-SS frauds and many questionable camo helmets.

Many collectors who LISTENED to these forums in the early days concerning sham pain SS helmets lost 100s and 1000s of $$$.

 

[mauser99]

I wouldn't buy a pencil from IMA. If you want a decent helmet start here. there have been quite a few pass through the trader lately. Post anything you find for vetting here. Tuff critics here. LOL
Depending on what you want I have a few I may be letting go.

They have gone up in recent years and there is very little out there for sale lately

 

[Mauser4me]

I only feel the need to get one helmet from WW1 and one from WW2 - 'one to rule them all' as it goes. With that, while I don't want to come across as lazy, I really don't want to take the time to become an expert. I just want an honest example of each for display. I am well versed in K98s and all the gun stuff, but uniforms & related items are a new genre for me.

Apprecite the input. Out of curiosity then - say for a single decal M40 or M42, in very good shape, with intact liner, how much would be a fair/going rate? I am seeing a wide range.

Again I know some advised against IMA, but here is (what I consider) a decent example:

Original German WWII M42 Single Decal Army Heer Helmet with 54cm Liner & Partial Chinstrap - stamped EF62

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition all original example of a late war German Model 42 Steel helmet, with some great period wear. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 90% of its original lightly textured paint, with some light wear and oxidation...

www.ima-usa.com

Is $1600 astronimcal or about ballpark for these?

 

[mauser202]

Mauser99 is one of the members I have traded with In the past. I have a lovely M35 reissue with a ton of character I bought off of him. If he is offering a lid for sale I would definitely recommend looking and what he has to offer.

 

[PatickD]

Keep a tab on GB. They pop up there frequently. I got a very nice M40 single decal last year for about $1200. Which is a little less than going rate imo.

I wouldn’t classify myself as an expert on helmets. I know enough though. I own three original German helmets: M17, M40 & M42. The three that aren’t faked as much..

Post what you find on here. Imo stay away from camo (for now). What a hot mess trying to authenticate those..

 

[mauser99]

I only feel the need to get one helmet from WW1 and one from WW2 - 'one to rule them all' as it goes. With that, while I don't want to come across as lazy, I really don't want to take the time to become an expert. I just want an honest example of each for display. I am well versed in K98s and all the gun stuff, but uniforms & related items are a new genre for me.

Apprecite the input. Out of curiosity then - say for a single decal M40 or M42, in very good shape, with intact liner, how much would be a fair/going rate? I am seeing a wide range.

Again I know some advised against IMA, but here is (what I consider) a decent example:

Original German WWII M42 Single Decal Army Heer Helmet with 54cm Liner & Partial Chinstrap - stamped EF62

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition all original example of a late war German Model 42 Steel helmet, with some great period wear. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 90% of its original lightly textured paint, with some light wear and oxidation...

www.ima-usa.com

Is $1600 astronimcal or about ballpark for these?

looking it over its fine and not insanely priced IMHO.. I never look there and only have seen junk and way overpriced items shown.. Also has a strong chance of being a KM..

 

[Mauser4me]

KM? For K98's I know that is kreigsmodel.. Not sure if the acronym means the same thing for helmets?

The thing that is attractive about IMA is that with their lifetime authenticity guaruntee; they offer a full refund for anything they sell as 'original' that may (at any point in time) later determined to not be authentic. Hard to find that anywhere.

I read about the champagne-SS decal scandal and how those helmets had been 'authenticated' by 'experts', so yeah not wanting to get anywhere near SS stuff. Too much BS. But it just goes to show how hard it seems to be to get a real helmet of any sort being that so many knowledgable people were fooled.

Anyhow I have my eye on that one helmet I linked. I was hoping someone would say it's overpriced and that the normal prices are much lower lol

 

[mauser202]

KM= Kriegsmarine

 

[Rheinmetall]

The thing that is attractive about IMA is that with their lifetime authenticity guaruntee; they offer a full refund for anything they sell as 'original' that may (at any point in time) later determined to not be authentic. Hard to find that anywhere.

Anyhow I have my eye on that one helmet I linked. I was hoping someone would say it's overpriced and that the normal prices are much lower lol

First, never believe that any dealer who advertises a "lifetime guarantee" will honor this by refunding your money at a later date. Spend some time to study the material that you seek so you can rely upon your own confidence in knowing what is correct.

Second, I will firmly say what you were hoping someone would say.........that helmet is overpriced. A comparable example can be found elsewhere for less. With patience better opportunities will come around.