Hello fellow ww2 fanatics, I got myself a Luftwaffe double decal Stahlhelm probably M40 for 250€. But I'm not sure if its authentic. It had a camo painted on top of the decals, and looks a little like a M40 police helmet shell. It has a bumper around at the bottom which I haven't seen on a Luftwaffe helmer before only on the Police version! Could anybody tell me if this could be a original? Thanks
To upload a photo: Click on MORE REPLY OPTONS then click on CHOOSE FILE and select the photo you wish to upload. Like Martin has said, we really need to see the helmet before commenting on its authenticity.
The shell is a beaded M40 with what looks like a civic liner inside which could be postwar. It was produced by Quist whos factory was in Esslingen, Germany. The three figure number stamped in to the helmets skirt denotes which production run it was part of and the other is the manufacturers code (Q) and size (68). The beaded shells have a bit of mysticism attached to them. Some say the beading was there to indicate the shell was a reject and others say it was for other reasons of identification. This type of shell was extensively used by the Luftschutz. I can't comment on the decals as they are not very clear in your photos.
John's right. I can't add much except that I suspect the liner is post-war because it has the air ventilation holes at the front which are typical of post-war manufacture.......
The fact that it has nine leather fingers instead of the usual eight is also an indication of a postwar liner.
The bumper model helmet was made during the war though. It was used by the Luftshutz , see my Luftshutz thread with picture of the July 1944 bombing aftermaths. Some of the Luftschutz/ feuerwehr guys were wearing similar helmets along with the Gladiator ones. But Luftwaffe decals on it are fantasy . I confirm it is a reconditionned shell with fake decals and a post war feuerwehr or Poizei liner. The bumper Luftschutz shell is harder to find than the Gladiator one, but it's worth 80 euros or 150 with authentic liner.