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Photo: A
reproduction NS-Party decal. |
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Things to
Remember |
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There are some general things that
should be remembered when examining helmets to determine if they
are authentic or not. The following list provides some
practical suggestions for aiding collectors when inspecting a
given helmet:
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Always ask permission to handle a
helmet before you pick it up to examine. Many collectors and
dealers get upset if you do not ask permission first. If a
seller does not give permission then back away from the sale.
In this situation the chances are the seller may be afraid
that you will detect the helmet as a fraud. If you are
purchasing a helmet through an on-line auction, then ask the
seller for detailed photos of the decals if not already
supplied. Make sure the photos supplied to you are the same
ones on the helmet being auctioned.
-
Never be afraid to ask the seller
where the helmet came from. Most helmets have no history
behind them as they have been bought and sold many times over
since they were first found as souvenirs. However, the seller
may be able to elaborate on where the helmet originated from
and how long they have owned it.
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Never accuse any seller of being a
"fraud artist" or someone attempting to "mislead the buyer."
In some cases this might actually be the case, but such
accusations can lead to law suits and litigation regarding
slander. Simply avoid the seller if you suspect that they are
dealing unfairly. In extreme cases, contact your local law
enforcement agency or the US Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI). Remember that many sellers are not interested enough
in knowing whether or not their item is original and as a
result they might be unknowingly selling something that is not
authentic.
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Pay attention to your gut
instinct. If the circumstances around the sale of the helmet
seem odd, unexplainable, or bizarre in some way that is
generally a good sign that the helmet could be a fake. Savvy
collectors tend to gain an instinctive feeling about their
"gut instincts" and they learn to rely on them. In most cases
they are correct.
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Recognize that there are some
variations of original helmets that could be encountered.
Leave room for a little flexibility in your thinking, but not
so much that you feel the need to "legitimize" every purchase
as being "a rare variation" of a particular helmet. Most
"rare variations" are fakes, but a few are actually authentic.
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Overview
Each section of German-Helmets.com
is divided into separate Information Tracks that outline important
details, facts, and historical notes pertaining to steel helmets used by
the German Armed Forces during World War II.
Information Tracks are organized
by subject matter and their content is directly related to the service arm
or organization to which each topic is related. Topic areas that
bridge one subject matter to another are cross linked within each Information Track.
This Information Track provides collector facts pertaining to
modern helmet fakes and reproductions. Individual links related to this subject are
outlined below.
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