Bugme Posted September 26, 2018 Share #1 Posted September 26, 2018 Found this one in Malta while working missions there. A guy we know has a home in Rabat and he invited me over to see his "collection" room. He is a pack rat and calling it a collection room is being kind since it looks more like an unorganized antique mall. Anyhow, my eye for all things militaria fell on the M35, DAK Double Decal, Luftwaffe, Desert Camo'd, helmet. I asked about it, he said he'd had it for over 30 years. He didn't know what it was except a WW2 German helmet. Long story short, we worked a deal, he was thrilled to sell it and I was thrilled to buy it. It is as I found it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted September 26, 2018 Share #2 Posted September 26, 2018 Gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted September 27, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted September 27, 2018 Thanks Jerry, and thanks for your input on this when I found it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted September 30, 2018 Share #4 Posted September 30, 2018 Love it. An untouched beauty. One of those "if it could only talk" pieces. Love the early "snake leg" as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 1, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted October 1, 2018 Thanks Eric! I kinda stepped away from TR and Imperial helmets several years ago, sold most of them and focused on U.S. helmets. However, this one pretty much has a story to tell even if unattributed. I looked at this and saw the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pump 150 Posted October 21, 2018 Share #6 Posted October 21, 2018 Great Mediterranean camo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawkdown Posted October 21, 2018 Share #7 Posted October 21, 2018 Nice it’s fun to find things like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gparlin Posted October 21, 2018 Share #8 Posted October 21, 2018 That's a beauty. The DAK helmets have always interested me due to the different tone to the pigment in the paint them other parts of the Med. Nice find, Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted October 22, 2018 Thanks guys! And Gregg, I am also interested in the paints used like the "pink" tan used on this one. I am not an expert on the North African colors but, I was told the pink tone was actually captured British paint. Interesting thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted October 24, 2018 Share #10 Posted October 24, 2018 Thats the debate. However....... British equipment has yet to be found painted in it. Is the eagle dug out or was it masked before painting ? owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECHINF-A15 Posted October 24, 2018 Share #11 Posted October 24, 2018 Really nice find! Good for you! :) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share #12 Posted October 25, 2018 Thats the debate. However....... British equipment has yet to be found painted in it. Is the eagle dug out or was it masked before painting ? owen Thanks Owen, I have heard both sides, pro and con, about Brit Paint as well. I am not educated enough on this to say either yay or nay. As for the Luft eagle, it appears that the paint was scraped off shortly after it was painted, maybe while the paint was still somewhat soft. At least that is how it appears to me after spending some time looking it over with a loupe. How ever it was done, the decal remained pretty much undamaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony v Posted October 25, 2018 Share #13 Posted October 25, 2018 Very nice helmet, may I ask what is a "snake leg" as Eric called it ? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted October 25, 2018 Very nice helmet, may I ask what is a "snake leg" as Eric called it ? Tony The first pattern eagle is called "snake leg" because the left leg has a slight curl like a snake instead of being straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted October 25, 2018 Share #15 Posted October 25, 2018 That is a beauty DD Luft DAK! It really does have that "been there, done that" look to it. If only some of these pieces could talk the stories they could tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted October 29, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted October 29, 2018 That is a beauty DD Luft DAK! It really does have that "been there, done that" look to it. If only some of these pieces could talk the stories they could tell. The fact that it ended up in Malta, less than 100 miles from where fighting occurred in North Africa does get me wondering about the story behind it but, it appears the story is lost in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted October 30, 2018 Share #17 Posted October 30, 2018 Super helmet! Super find! Congrats! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunmore1774 Posted November 4, 2018 Share #18 Posted November 4, 2018 what's the lot # on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 5, 2018 Share #19 Posted November 5, 2018 The first pattern eagle is called "snake leg" because the left leg has a slight curl like a snake instead of being straight. Nice early M35....As I understand it the snake legs are typically early in the eagle decals.Would fit in with an early double decal.I have a double decal luft with the same eagle. Great find!!...a good one blink camo is always hard to leave behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #20 Posted November 5, 2018 what's the lot # on it?I have no clue. It has been shipped back to my home in the U.S. but, I'm still 5000 miles away in Malta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted November 5, 2018 Nice early M35....As I understand it the snake legs are typically early in the eagle decals.Would fit in with an early double decal.I have a double decal luft with the same eagle. Great find!!...a good one blink camo is always hard to leave behind. Thanks Ron, the one looker aspect is what made me pull the trigger. To leave it here would have haunted me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #22 Posted November 5, 2018 Super helmet! Super find! Congrats! Bob Thanks Bob, you know what they say: even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. This was my nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfinder505 Posted November 6, 2018 Share #23 Posted November 6, 2018 Great find, Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted November 20, 2018 Here are some period shots of the DAK desert camo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share #25 Posted November 20, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now