I bought a WWII German helmet in Normandy, France last year. I bought it at a smallish store. My questionis this: How can I tell if it is a reproduction or an original? It's rusted, with 3 flaps (coming down in the front and both sides) on the inside. I will probably post pictures as soon as I get my camera to work. Please tell me any info you have!

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There is many a boy here today who looks upon war as all glory, but boys, it is hell. You can bear this warning to generations yet to come. I look upon war with horror. -William Tecumseh Sherman.

Well a picture sure does help! Some of us have reference books but the 3 flap description doesn't help, we look for things like vent flaps, the way the helmet edge is rolled, lining quality/colour/design, decals, paint, "cement" camo applied, the list is nearly endless!

some sites to help you:
http://www.germanhelmet.com/
http://www.german-helmets.com/

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Der große Stoß Büstenhalter auf Ihrem Kopf!!

Pics when possible please. Otherwise, the helm could be Spanish--Chilean etc too as they used the same style as the Germans did.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Oooh, should have seen this one sooner, it doesnt sound like a WW2 helmet to e, more like a WW1 type because of the liner (WW2 liners had 8 flaps IIRC, most re-enactor helmets have czech liners which are similar). You can find a photo of a Geran WW2 M1931 liner here:

http://www.german-helmets.com/LINER%...EMS%20MAIN.htm

WW1 liners had three leather pads which is why I a guessing that yours may be a WW1 helmet. They were issued to German soldiers in the Normandy area and the tree flaps suggest to me that it isnt Spanish because they used a canvas liner system with plastic in it. The easiest way to tell is to look for a bent bit of metal on the front of the helmet, a loop for a cap badge.

Sorry I missed this, I wrote an article about steel helmets a short while ago so I may post it on here for the benefit of you folks.

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There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.

The 1st Type Spanish M-42 has a 3-pad liner much like the one used in the Spanish Civil War, except the leather is thinner & brown/tan, whereas the SCW version is usually in black leather.

Chile used the German Erel Vulkanfiber parade helmet as well as a couple of
domestically produced versions (See Marzetti pg. 75). These rarely appear on the market.

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