PAVN Sun Helmet Questions

[Frentebro]

Could anyone advise:

How to tell the difference between wartime & post-war sun helmets & badges? Also between the commercial jobs & military issue? And fake badges from real.

I'm referring to the "classic" type & not the many variations. But since there's nothing in print on the subject, maybe this could be a general reference thread.

[RPN]

Hello Dave


I'm afraid that I don't have any research on these helmets, but I do have an example given to me by an Australian vet (infantryman - Royal Australian Regiment) ... I'll post pics - unfortunately I'm working shifts until Tuesday, so I'll do it then.

This may not be of interest but I do have the current helmet and badge which I bought last year in Vietnam ... don't know if these are civilian or miltary ... there may not be a difference! This helmet is VERY similar to the vet example I have.

Regards
Paul

[Frentebro]

Thanks, Paul. The current ISSUE helm is CORK instead of plasticised wood fiber like the commercial version. It is cloth-lined & lacks a badge grommet. Uncommon & expensive here.

BTW, i'm in the market for an Ozzie Mk III if you can help.

[willysproject]

Hi all,

I mostly post on the SS forum, but I used to collect Vietnam War militaria. I've had - And still have some- several good NVA (North-Vietnamese Army) and Viet Minh helmet the past years and here are some thoughts on this subject...

I'm currently thinking of selling ALL my Vietnam stuff.... So keep an eye an the E-Stand!!!!

First of all the 'PAVN tan sun pith helmet' printed on page 30 and 32 of "Weapons and field gear of the NVA and VC" by Edward Emering is a post war helmet... (I have several of these pieces... I think 5 of them...) !!!!!!!
It's not a good war time helmet!!!

There are several ways to contrast wartime sun helmets from post-war types:

1. Covers
postwar sunhelmets often use a synthetic/cotton blend for the external cover... (A sheen appears on the surface of the cloth, even when faded...) Wartime helmets always were covered with 100% cotton.

2. Chinstraps
edge of leather chinstraps on postwar helmets appears white. On wartime helmets grey or ashen.
Plastic chinstraps almost never appeared on wartime helmets... Wartime chinstraps are leather

3. internal headband suspension.
post war helmets: material is sometimes a thick green plastic or a very thin plasticed cloth with a very wide cotton mesh imbedded as the backing. The material to which the headband / suspension system is attached to is often plastic.
wartime helmets: headband/suspension material is always cardboard with a pink color primer covered by green paint matching the interior. Often the green paint has flaked off, revealing the pink primer. The headband on wartime helmets is a green vinyl-like material with white cotto backing similar to linen. The headband and suspension system often, but not always curl up with age. (dates of infiltration and names are often found on the back side of the band.)

4. Labels
Paper label appear on wartime helmets very very rarely. 99% of these helmets with paper labels or post war.

Hope this helps a bit ...

regards,
Gerd

[willysproject]

some of my 10000% original sun helmets (war time !!!!)

[willysproject]

2nd

[willysproject]

3rd

[willysproject]

Anothe one...

[willysproject]

2nd...

[willysproject]

Very early one.... French colonial pith helmet used by Viet Minh troops

[willysproject]

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[Patrick Dempsey]

Hello All,

interesting thread. It has the hallmarks of being a very useful reference .

Gerd: Some really nice examples you have posted, although my absolute favourite has to be the French, Viet minh "reissue".


Patrick.

[Frentebro]

Gerd, thank you for taking the time to post on this. May be the first time any info has been put online on the subject.

May i ask also how to tell the difference between wartime helmet badges, post-war issue badges, & copies?

The current helm has no badge grommet, but i don't know what year the badges wre discontinued. Maybe an economy measure.

[RPN]

Hello Dave ... here's my helmet.
Regards
Paul

[RPN]

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