How to Tell a Real German Helmet

Germany (pictured here) was the main instigator of World War II.

Many hobbyists enjoy collecting items from World War II, especially items from the German army. Helmets are a popular item and the rarer types can fetch a large sum of money. Because of their popularity, there are dealers who take advantage of inexperienced collectors by selling reproduction helmets. Look for telltale signs that reveal a helmet is a replica rather than an authentic German military helmet.

Instructions

1. Smell the paint to check whether it was recently applied. New paint gives off an unmistakable odor that fades as the helmet ages. Most fakers will be in too big a hurry to allow their helmets to lose that new paint smell. An original helmet should give off no paint smell.

2. Check the paint color to see how it compares to the originals. The original paint used during World War II is no longer available, and it is difficult to create paint that looks exactly like the original color. Most reproduced helmets will have color shades that are too green, blue, gray, or black.

3. Examine the texture of the helmet's external surface. German helmets were produced with a textured surface in order to dull the reflectiveness of paint. Most fakers will ignore this feature since it is difficult to copy.

4. Check the decals on the helmet and compare them to ones on original helmets. Fake decals won't have the true color and quality compared to ones on original helmets. Determine whether the decals are in the right position. If the decals are not, it is a dead giveaway that the helmet is a fake.

5. Check the liners in the helmet. The liners should not be dyed reddish brown or dark brown but are tan leather that has turned brown with age.

6. Examine the chinstrap to see if it's original or added to the helmet. Usually chinstraps are missing or damaged from original helmets, so sellers will add a reproduction chinstrap to increase the price. Smell the chinstrap to see whether it has a new leathery smell to it. In some cases, a chemical agent is used to age the leather.

Tips & Warnings

• If you aren't certain about the authenticity of a German helmet you possess, there are several experts you can find online who specialize in identifying original German helmets.

References

• German-Helmets: Identifying a Fake

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish