Restored WWII German Helmets

These helmets are as close as you can get to original, unissued German WWII combat helmets. They are made using authentic WWII steel shells and reproduction liners and chinstraps. The shells are stripped of all old paint, primed, then sprayed with acrylic lacquer. The paint was color matched to an original helmet. Then the shells are heat cured at several hundred degrees and then hardened in cold water. This makes the paint much more durable than simply air drying. Afterwards, exact reproduction liners and chinstraps are installed.

Original parts for sale?

We do not sell German helmet shells on their own nor do we stock any original liners, liner parts or orginal chinstraps.

"Discriminating" Customer Advisory

Although most people are well aware of these facts, this commentary is very necessary for a few, very special customers. Helmets attract some of the most anal and uncompromising nitwits on the planet. Why helmets are such moron magnets, I'm not sure. But holy crap.
Old Helmets: These steel helmet shells are original WWII. That means they are 60-70 years old. They weren't sealed in a shock proof container and stored in a temperature controlled vault awaiting the first peeks of sunlight when lovingly unsealed, with the utmost caution, by a collector in the 21st century. Many of these experienced a war. Wars are rough. Things happen. Bad things.
Shells: These shells are all in very good+ condition. There may be a ding or two. If they are heavily pitted, cracked or crushed, we don't restore them. However, some helmets have original, from-the-factory (yes, in Germany), stamping flaws (usually a ripple on the flare) and those we do not reject. The Wehrmacht (the real one, not the pretend one) used them so that answers the authenticity question.
Paint: Our finish is comparable to that on original WWII military issue helmets. Few originals have flawless paint. These are not show-winning hemi Challenger convertibles. They are combat helmets. The paint is acrylic enamel with a lot of flattener...not 17 coats of black pearl imron lovingly sanded with 10,000 grit sandpaper and buffed for 27 hours to a high gloss by a trio of monks. They may have a minor run in the paint or a bit of "orange peel" .
After we bake the paint, we harden it by chucking the still smoking helmet into a tub of cold water. Sometimes this results in a tad of rust around the rim. Tough. These are for field use. Not beauty contests. We're pretty careful, but just in case. However, if you demand utter perfection, go away. We can't fulfill your fantasy. Unissued helmets exist, but even they have a scratch or scuff. And they cost at least double what these do. You can probably keep them perfect, so long as you don't mind running about the forest with a pound of bubble wrap duct taped around your head.
Durability: Our paint is just as tough as that used on originals. That means, if you drop the helmet on concrete, it will likely chip the paint. It's not liquid titanium. This should be a no brainer, but, once again, what we have mistakenly assumed to be basic common sense is apparently an extra cost option on today's consumer.
Want perfection? Contact the factory in Germany and ask them to crank you out a perfect custom shell. Then go to the body shop at the local Mercedes Benz dealership and explain your needs to them. I'm sure they'll jump at the chance to recreate headgear of the Wehrmacht.

Repros?

No. These shells are 100% original WWII. Again, we get occasional accusations from newbies suspecting for one reason or another that we have sold them a repro shell. We don't have any. Thus far, all the repro shells still look like shit. If the original ripples on the M42's make your eyes well up with tears, go buy a repro. Half length, pointy visors, stamping flaws galore, rims rolled with pliers, metal 50% too thin, and painted leather liners will really make your heart flutter. Our liners, paint, pins and chinstraps are new, but they are all "original" quality.

Size/ Price

Have a big head? Want to wear a 64 shell to save dough? Get a box cutter, drink a fifth of JD and start scalping. Won't work. The larger sizes are in demand and much more difficult and expensive to get ahold of. I know the deal. I wear a 60 liner. The only way around it is to get lucky at a show or battle a pick one up from somebody who hasn't caught on to the size game yet. But that is becoming nearly impossible to do.

Vents on M40's are simply stamped into the shell