Questionable Factory Helmets

[M45]

Wehrmacht Heer Stahlhelm M 35 mit 2 Emblemen - German Military Forces 1933-45 - III. Reich: visor hats, steel helmets, overseas caps - Military Antiques

Wehrmacht Heer Stahlhelm M 35 mit 2 Emblemen Mit Sicherheit ist dies einer der besten Heeres-Stahlhelme, der in den letzten Jahren aufgetaucht ist. Die frühe apfelgrüne Originallackierung zu 97 % erhalten,

www.weitze.com

Wehrmacht Heer Stahlhelm M 35 mit 2 Emblemen​

Mit Sicherheit ist dies einer der besten Heeres-Stahlhelme, der in den letzten Jahren aufgetaucht ist. Die frühe apfelgrüne Originallackierung zu 97 % erhalten, links der Hoheitsadler zu 97 %, rechts das Nationalemblem zu 99 % erhalten. Die Helmglocke innen gestempelt "NS 64" im Nacken "D 175", komplett mit Futter am Aluminiumring, Größe 57, mit dem original Kinnriemen, dieser markiert " R.Larsen Berlin 1938". Nur minimal getragen in neuwertigem Zustand - "in mint condition".

4444 € 8.500,00

Certainly this is one of the best Heeres steel helmets to come out in recent years. 97% of the early apple-green original paintwork preserved, 97% of the national eagle on the left and 99% of the national emblem on the right. The helmet bell inside stamped "NS 64" in the neck "D 175", complete with lining on the aluminum ring, size 57, with the original chin strap, this marked "R.Larsen Berlin 1938". Worn only minimally in new condition - "in mint condition".



An unissued DD Heer. WOW! How rare is that ?

If the decals look strange, you are not alone. This is the HJ&K heer decal. NS M35s had the Pocher Heer decal factory applied. This 'fat-foot' HJ&K decal, while believed to be period production, is found postwar applied to a wide variety of makers/models. Posts # 18 and 19 of this thread feature postwar applications of this decal. It is as if the fat-foot HJ&K (like the Ed Strache heer decal) were produced in quantity right before the 28Aug43 decal drop and were rarely period applied.

Also, the paint looks strange. Not the period factory parade finish light green, but a more matte version.

 

[Niblet]

Wow...its a horrible enhanced helmet...Wietze has stooped mighty low on this one

 

[M45]

Elmetto M40 SD (nominativo) - Militaria in Roma - Melmeluzzi

Straordinario elmetto modello 1940 (Stahlhelm M40) dell’esercito tedesco (Wehrmacht) con decal Heer sul fianco sinistro. Elmo marcato all’interno con “Q66” (produttore: Quist; taglia: 66) e con il numero di lotto. L’interno è timbrato 58 (taglia) e riporta scritto a penna il nome del soldato...

www.militariainroma.com

Extraordinary 1940 model helmet (Stahlhelm M40) of the German army (Wehrmacht) with Heer decal on the left side. Helmet marked inside with “Q66” (manufacturer: Quist; size: 66) and with the lot number. The liner is stamped 58 (size) and shows the soldier’s name, unit (Infanterie-Regiment 2) and period of service (1941/1942) written in pen. The ink stamp of approval is still present inside the shell. The chinstrap is marked with the manufacturer’s name and the year (1942). Absolutely original helmet and in excellent condition.​

What appears to be an M40 Q66 SD Heer helmet with Big Foot Quist factory decal and DN401 lot#. According to the Lot# book, Q M40 DN361 is the last decaled Heer helmet in this DN M40 series.
While the rough texture green gray paint does appear authentic, the decal appears to be a fake big foot decal. The liner also appears to be a reproduction as well.
The 1940 dated dome stamp never existed according to sources. 1939 was the last dated domestamp before the no date domestamp was used for the remainder of the war.
The 1942 dated chinstrap may be authentic.

 

[M45]

eBay item number:175978959553
current bid: $299
Edit: $314
Edit: $343
EDIT: $750 10-25-23
I have never heard of a Quist M45 ventless. Not saying they don't exist.

This does not appear to be factory paint. Liner/rivets replaced.

Possibly a weld job on the air vents.

 

[M45]

WW2 German Ventless M42 Helmet (M45), Quist​

Condition:
UsedUsed
Ended: Oct 28, 2023 15:51:25 PDT
Winning bid:
US $1,204.88
22 bids

 

[M45]

This Ventless Quist M45 (the only one ever seen) is well liked. I have posted it to compare with other known late Quist products (M42, M40). The paint is really the major factor here. If the M45 has verified Quist late war factory paint, that would be a good sign. But if the paint differs from known Q examples, then really anything could be underneath that paint (bondo, welds, glue, etc).

 

[biggymu]

Army M45 combat helmet with wire net.

Third Reich militaria offered by longtime collector specializing in Afrika Korps tropical headgear, Panzer, Waffen SS, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Heer headgear, awards, medals, edged weapons, posters, ....

www.oakleafmilitaria.com

Here is apparently another. I know nothing of these.
This same helmet shows up on an old ebay auction that sold for @$1500

 

[M45]

I had once considered Walter B. one of the good guys generally. He confronted Doug B. during the C-SS debates with a list of excellent questions concerning alleged C-SS authenticity.

"I would consider the liner postwar replaced on this example.[ICODE] (I would as well)[/ICODE]. Brian Ice tried to call these ventless types M45s. A lot of what he said about the Quist manufacturer and his attempts to declare these ventless types as M45s are based merely on his own unfounded and unsubstantiated assertions."

Walter is resurrecting the classic WAF bitch about me calling ventless helmets 'M45' If you will recall in about 2003-2004 WAF members had declared the ventless M45 as officially 'non-existent'. I posted my original M45 helmet but that wasn't enough. They wanted a period photo as well. So I found a period photo and posted that. But even that was not enough. Their 'experts' had yet to declare ventless M45 as authentic, so I sent the helmet to Ken N. for examination. He sent me a COA which I posted.

At that point, while finally admitting that ventless M45 existed, they told me I had no business calling it 'M45' (as though I needed their permission).

EDIT: such behavior is known on this forum as WAF-tardation.

I reminded my 'good friends' at WAF that the terms M35, M40, and M42 are postwar collector terms used to describe the different construction styles of what the Germans called 'Steel Helmet 35'. They are not offical TR era terminology. So me calling ventless M42 helmets 'M45' is just another collector terminology to describe the ventless feature on an M42 helmet.

 

[M45]

Army M45 combat helmet with wire net.

Third Reich militaria offered by longtime collector specializing in Afrika Korps tropical headgear, Panzer, Waffen SS, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Heer headgear, awards, medals, edged weapons, posters, ....

www.oakleafmilitaria.com

Here is apparently another. I know nothing of these.
This same helmet shows up on an old ebay auction that sold for @$1500

That looks like an original M45-B, minus the wire. I had a near identical one with chicken wire which I carefully removed.

 

[M45]

SOLD - M35 Luftwaffe Double-Decal Helmet

5/1/23 - This is an original, early variation Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal helmet. The helmet comes complete with an original leather liner and chin strap. The exterior helmet shell still has the original dark blue / grey colored paint with spotty discoloration, surface scratches, and surface...

www.legacy-collectibles.com

$1,795.00 $1,295.00
Availability: Out of stock

I believe the helmet shell is fake. Unknown fonts of lot#. The #2 does seem to match that fake SS ET M42 helmet below (same producer?). The Q64 stamp is too deeply struck.

Unusual orange peel effect to the paint. The Luft bird decal appears to have been a triangle shaped decal for ease of application. Leather does not look to be period.

 

[M45]

Fake M42 ET SS helmet. Fonts are unknown, but the #2 of the lot number matches the #4428 on the Quist M35 above.

This means that someone is creating a wide range of German WWII helmets from scratch.

 

[iron bender]

Mentioned in another thread, we've got bidders spending 6-8k on super fake Confederate kepis on the epay right now (wrong price too as these fetch massive $). Forget a fool and his money, it's just over-rich guys who don't care. Post 63, 70 and 71, I wouldn't touch with a stolen hand.

 

[DaveDavis]

Where there is money, there is FRAUD !!!!!

 

[M45]

Believed to be a fake Quist M40 helmet. Fonts are off as well as air vents. Fake liner and band of course.

eBay-Artikelnr.:395168016114

 

[M45]

A Q66 M40 helmet with the wrong police decals. While the non-bordered police eagle decal itself may be authentic, it does not really belong on a Quist M40 shell. Quist switched to the bordered police eagle decal in early 1940. Also, this maker/model/lot#/series has been seen in the factory no-decal configuration.

M40 Q66 S1448 ND SLATE RAB-ZBALES-SH, RAB-PG, ZSH, ZPG RM (POST 28AUG43)

Could it be a period field/depot reissue ? Not likely IMO, since the non-bordered police eagle decal was a factory decal and to my knowledge was rarely if ever used as a reissue decal. A depot/field police reissued helmet will almost always have the bordered field police decals. Something to keep in mind if searching for original field police helmets.

 

[M45]

Wehrmacht Heer / Waffen-SS Stahlhelm M 42 Sandfarben - German Military Forces 1933-45 - III. Reich: visor hats, steel helmets, overseas caps - Military Antiques

Wehrmacht Heer / Waffen-SS Stahlhelm M 42 Sandfarben um 1945, sandfarbene Lackierung zu ca. 80 % vorhanden. Die Glocke ist im Nacken "ckl 5590" gestempelt. Mit Futter am Blechring, Kinnriemen wurde entfernt.

www.weitze.com

Wehrmacht Heer / Waffen-SS Stahlhelm M 42 Sandfarben​

um 1945, sandfarbene Lackierung zu ca. 80 % vorhanden. Die Glocke ist im Nacken "ckl 5590" gestempelt. Mit Futter am Blechring, Kinnriemen wurde entfernt. Leichte Rostnarben. Größe ca. 58, Zustand 2+.

Depotfund aus der Tschechoslowakei, Anfang der 90er Jahre.
Sehr wahrscheinlich für Einheiten der Waffen-SS und des Heeres die im Protektorat neu aufgestellt wurden, diese Helme sind in den tschechischen Depots der Zivilverteidigung gefunden wurden.

Wehrmacht Heer / Waffen-SS steel helmet M 42 sand-colored
around 1945, approx. 80% sand-colored paintwork is present. The bell is stamped "ckl 5590" on the neck. With lining on the sheet metal ring, chin strap has been removed. Slight rust scars. Size approx. 58, condition 2+.

Depot find from Czechoslovakia, early 1990s.
Most likely for Waffen-SS and Army units newly formed in the Protectorate, these helmets were found in Czech civil defense depots. € 1.200,00

The age old debate on these tan helmets continues. Here, while the Czech origin is mentioned, it is being sold as an original. I had first seen these being sold at the Great Western Gun show in the 90s by Manions for $700, a good chunk of change at that time. If these were factory produced in this fashion during the war, there would be consistency as per maker and model; all CKL M42s for instance. But we see the opposite, a variety of makers and all models, indicating these are contractor reissues using original parts, not factory production. The paint is extremely stout, indicating more modern postwar paint.

I seem to recall a photo of one of these in Egyptian use. The general understanding is that these were reworked in the early 50s for an Egyptian contract that ultimately fell through, with a very few being delivered with the Egyptian decision to switch to the Soviet style Polish M50 helmet. So there they sat until rediscovered in the early 1990s.