Ssource for good repo Fallschirmjäger helmets?

[Deputy276]

The ones I have seen so far are nice, but don't have the stampings on the inside of the shell. Best ones I have seen are the ones at fallschirmjager.biz, but the prices are insane at $782 plus shipping.

[DennyB]

At The Front has pretty nice ones for $295 or you can get one of the At The Front ones already aged on estand for $300

[Paul G]

At the front has 2 quality levels, pretty good for $100, and really good for $200 Check them out.

PG-

[Deputy276]

Thanks guys! At The Front seems to be the answer to my question. Nice helmets and affordable. I appreciate the help.

[15parabattalion]

You gets what you pay for - yes ATF is a good reenacting helmet - wrong weight, wrong liner, wrong staps etc. Where yes fallschirmjager.biz is expensive but correct helmet weight, straps, liner etc. it is the top dog and a snip of a price compared to an original! I guess its down to the old budget Vs Quality metric!

[Deputy276]

Well if I am buying a repo, all the technicalities of correct weight, liner, etc., etc., really doesn't matter. It's going to be a wall hanger anyway and nobody who handles it or observes it is going to be telling me it doesn't weigh the correct amount or it has the wrong liner. I already have an Indian-made M38 and it looks quite nice. Just missing the stamps in the shell. If it had that, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I am not a seasoned collector so I wouldn't know a real M38 from a repo. I just want one with the maximum details. I am also not about to pay thousands of dollars for a real one just to have it sit in an airtight case and never get handled. I also like the fact this helmet is available in the size I need. Most of them seem to be made for peanut heads.


This is the description from the ATF website:

We finally received a new shipment of our high-quality German paratrooper helmets. These are made with the correct thickness shells, marked is CKL 71.

The new liners have the correct number and size holes, the leather is hand-stitched to the band, and properly sewn together. Chinstraps are excellent- gray leather, exact reproduction hardware and zinc grommets.
Helmets are assembled with spanner bolts. We have late War slotted aluminum if you want those instead.

These are not offered by any other vendor- they are not the awful things made in India with the flimsy shells and zig-zag stitching across the liner.

Sizes available: 59 or 61 only.


What's interesting is the description at fallschirmjager.biz is almost identical:

These are the finest reproduction M38 helmets and parts available. Shells are available in 68 and 71 cm sizes. They are drawn from 16 gauge steel with correct and neatly rolled rims. The liners are made from sheepskin leather and constructed in the correct wartime pattern. Fabric coated Buna-S rubber is used for the liner padding. The bands are produced from thick aluminum or zinc. The chinstrap's are expertly made using the correct leather and fittings.

Would I be surprised if they came from the same source? Nope.

[J Melvin]

I have owned one of both types. No comparison in helmets. It's like buying a Chevy or Cadillac. Depends upon what your purpose for the purchase is.

[Deputy276]

I have owned one of both types. No comparison in helmets. It's like buying a Chevy or Cadillac. Depends upon what your purpose for the purchase is.

I don't see it as that radical a difference. I mean you won't be wearing it in combat, so whether it is 18 gauge or 16 gauge isn't really going to matter. Collectors are the only ones that will be able to distinguish a repo from the real thing. And even then the more they perfect repos, the more difficult it gets to tell them apart from the real thing. It may be a cost comparison between Chevy and Cadilliac, that would be true. But don't forget that most GMs use the same engines, transmissions, and rear ends as well as other components in ALL their cars. So it's not like in the 60s where you get an all-Chevy vs an all-Cadillac.