Authentic Africa Korps Stahlhelm? HELP

Hello fellow fanatics,

I want to buy a world war 2 German Stahlhelm. Double Decal, it has markings and looks authentic would like some advice from you guys.
Here are the photo's:

 

More photo's

 

Decals and liner

 

markings

 

markings 2

 

Don't bother it's a repro. The paint is artificially worked to make it look old and what also gives it away is the repro liner with the use of grease( and coffee?) to make it llook genuine. Once you've seen one like those, you'll systematically recognize them , they all look the same. The aluminium has been rubbed in with acid to pretend someone cleaned it to recover the markings.

 

Wow Skipper...so whats the price difference to make someone go to that much trouble?

 

You're probably looking around at least 3k USD. Crazy money for German helmets....

 

Friedhelm, you did the right thing by getting the opinion of an experienced collector before making the purchase.

 

a decent Tropen Farbe helm with liner and chinsstrap and good paint will go for 450 euros at least nowadays. With perfect double decals it would be double. The Tropen Farbe is not rare and have been widely used elsewhere than in North Africa. The Südfront area comprised Greece, Italy Corsica, the French Riviera for instance. Obviously they have been reused by survivors who retreated north after 1944, so they could be found elsewhere or/and recycled with cammo. The 3k prices would be the cammo shemes. Not so long ago a Tropen could be found for 250 euros. If you find one for that price nowadays, one should be suspicous.

 

Just to confirm an earlier statement. This very similar fake liner on sale on Ebay.fr on a rare (also fake M-18 ) with double decals of course... Note the grease and polish to make the leather look older....

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/A-voir-ancien-casque-allemand-militaire-militaria-/142101312156?hash=item2115e5f29c:g:fSoAAOSwFe5XxFMq. The lace looks as if it was bought yesterday at a local supermarket.