Original German WW2 helmet?

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

I picked this helmet up on a trade at a gun show today. Did I do good or did I get burnt? The seller I got it from is a trustworthy local German collector so I don't think he'd be lying. He said somebody after the war painting this helmet green then another collector bought it from the guy who painted it. The second guy wanted to take the green paint off and bring the original paint back. However he sanded the helmet down way too much and took the original finish with it. He then sold it to the guy who I did this trade on. The seller told me the number inside the helmet that's usually on the side is completely gone because the second guy sanded the inside of the helmet way too much. However the number on the back is still visible, that number is 728. The guy I got it from said he's almost 100% positive its original. So hopefully I didn't get burned. He recommended I restore it by buying a repro liner and repainting it. He said it would raise the value of the helmet is that true? The original finish on the helmet is basically gone so if I repaint it it's not like I'm ruining the history. 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

Update: ok I took a high powered flashlight and a magnifier to the side of the helmet and good news the marking is not sanded off like the seller said. It's definitely worn out but it's still visible. These are the best photos I was able to take hopefully they are clear enough to see the marking. It appears to be a Q62, I know for sure the number is a 62 I was able to confirm that with the magnifier. The Letter is a little bit harder to tell but it appears to be a Q.

[Marshallj]

Looks like an original m35. Restoring it does not add value. 

[Rakkasan187]

The damage and history has already been ruined with this helmet when the first person sanded it and removed all the paint. Repainting and adding a reproduction liner will do nothing to increase its value and years from now if and when you attempt to sell this it may be perceived as an original if restoration efforts are not mentioned.

 

Hopefully your trade item had similar or equal value but in my humble opinion I don't believe you got a fair deal. Sounds like the honest German Collector wanted to part with an item he knew had little to no monetary value...

 

Leigh 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

I traded a ww1 bolo with the sheath and the tip of it broken off. He also added a German ww1 officers parade sword to the trade complete with the sheath. So this would be an m35 helmet? Is it possible to date the helmet? My plan would be to add original parts and with only the the leather part of the helmet liner being reproduction. You could be right about value not going up not saying your not. But out of curiosity how come companies like atf or Germania international restore original shells repaint them, add repro/original parts and sell them for $400 plus? How much is just a shell worth it's got to be worth at least a few hundred. Ground dug ones in worse condition go for around $100-$150. That's what I have seen online anyway so maybe they are asking but not getting it. 

[Marshallj]

If you are happy with the deal then it is a good one. 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

Is 62 the helmet size? And Q would be the maker?

[Rakkasan187]

Q is the maker (Quist) and 62 is the size. 

 

To answer your previous question: The value of original untampered with Third Reich helmets are increasing in value and many can't afford or don't want to spend a huge amount of money on a helmet ($800+ in some cases, and with some specific helmets in the thousands of dollars, like SS) so some will chose to buy a reproduction or mixed original shell with repro parts for half the price. Reenactors will also spend the money on a relic/refurbished helmet as to not wear a 100% original when re-enacting. 

 

The issues start when helmets that are mixed original and repro are artificially aged to make them look authentic and believable to the unsuspecting. I See it happen all the time and without careful examination and study of the helmets folks get burned all the time. At a recent gun show I witnessed a young man spend close to $1000 dollars on a fake SS helmet. Thought he got a steal and when he brought it to my table to show it to me, I had to break the very bad news to him that the decals were fake, the maker was wrong for SS helmets, the chinstrap was a reproduction, the split pins had been replaced and there were just a bunch of issues. We even went to another well respected and reputable helmet collector and verified my suspicions. He was not able to get his money back and he protested to the manager of the gun show about the seller who claimed ignorance and basically told the manager that "the guy should have done his homework". The manager of the show had banned the individual, little consolation for someone who lost so much money. 

 

Prices are very subjective and vary, it all depends on what one wants to spend on a relic helmet, and of course the "provenance" that is attached to it... "Helmet dug up at Stalingrad" is one of the most overused catch phrases to lure someone into buying a relic. I am very skeptical that the vast number of dug up relic helmets were all in the Stalingrad area.... Buy the item not the story as it has been told...

 

As Marshall has indicated, if you are happy with the helmet, enjoy it..

 

Leigh

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

Yeah that makes sense, is the helmet I have an m35? 

[Rakkasan187]

You have an M35 Helmet. One of the telltale signs is the rolled edge around the helmet, vs the M42 which has an unflared straight edge aroud the helmet.

 

Leigh 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

Would this have had an army eagle decal at some point if it's life? 

[Rakkasan187]

It could have had an Army Heer Eagle or Luftwaffe Eagle...

 

Leigh 

[jmd62]

As an M35, it could've had a variety of decals including a Heer Eagle, a LW Eagle or SS Runes for example, along with a National shield on the other side. 

[shemp h.]

An M40 also has a rolled edge, an M35 has a two piece vent like your lid,an M40 and a M42 have a pressed out vent hole when the shell is being pressed. I looked up your helmet on the helmet data base website and if I read it correctly your helmet falls between 726 Q62 SD Heer re issue with a steel liner and 738 Q64 SD LW re issue aluminum liner. Let some of the helmet guys jump in on this one. I hope this helps.

 

          Bill 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

So this would have been a reissued helmet later in the war? So if I did want to go the restore route using all original parts and just repainting the helmet. Would Panzergrau be the way to go? If I go down that route I'll probably just do cerakote. I have read that Combat Grey (H-130) is the closest color to Panzergrau but I suppose I could use the spray paint option ima offers. The question comes was the liner replaced during the reissue? Or did it have its factory liner when originally made I guess we'll never know. To bad the year of reissue wasn't recorded if Id had to guess 43 or 44 maybe even 40? The other option you said it could be would be LW I'm guessing that stands for Luftwaffe? 

[Preppy Picker]

I would sell it on eBay (it will bring a fair price in an auction) and get one that hasn’t been messed with.

 

 

[Mr.Jerry]

I would just leave it- it looks like a lot of rust/pitting on there, a new paint job is just going to accentuate that.  Also finding original liners in the correct size can be difficult.

 

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

When it comes to helmet paint besides luftwaffe when was Panzergrau officially adopted? Some websites like ima say 1943 is when green apple went away and other collecting forums say 1940 is when Panzergrau first appeared on helmets. I read there is also another color named pea green. 

[Preppy Picker]

Here is an M35 double decal army helmet that has the dark grey paint over the original pea green. Applied in the field.

[LE LOUP DES MERS]

I'm guessing it was a reissue at some point if it's life?

[Preppy Picker]

45 minutes ago, LE LOUP DES MERS said:

I'm guessing it was a reissue at some point if it's life?

They painted around the eagle and over the tri color plus it has it’s original liner so I’m not sure if it’s reissued or painted over in the field.

[jmd62]

I love those M35 reissued helmets, especially the apparent field repaints. Here's one I have with the thick strokes of repaint.. Several areas of previous whitewash as well throughout the helmet. 

[shemp h.]

On 9/25/2025 at 8:33 AM, Preppy Picker said:

Here is an M35 double decal army helmet that has the dark grey paint over the original pea green. Applied in the field.

Early liner with the squared D rings, who is the maker?

[Preppy Picker]

2 hours ago, shemp h. said:

Early liner with the squared D rings, who is the maker?

SE Sachsische Emaillier

[Fiziwater]

As a frame of reference, I picked this up in 2014 from Hugh Brock, a knowledgeable dealer (RIP), for $595.

German M18 Helmet and Liner (WWI helmet reissued in early WWII)

His description:

This helmet is the last variation of the original 1915 WWI helmet where the chinstrap was mounted to the lining instead of the helmet shell. This helmet was issued during the WW2 era with both the Army and national color decals. It was overhauled at a German Army depot sometime after 1940, brush repainted olive green over the decals and a new Army eagle decal applied. At the same time, the liner sizes that should fit this shell were ink stamped on the back rim. Here, they installed a liner one size smaller.

Liner mounting band and chinstrap fittings are zinc plated wartime steel, chinstrap marked with an RB number and the name of a German written on the leather and another on the shell. String at the top of the liner is original.

 

I have no idea what it would go for today.