another pickelhaube question

[gregM]

Hi Guys,
I would like to know why this pickelhaube is less expensive than the others
around it. To my untrained eyes, this looks like a nicer helmet. I think it
would make a nice display piece.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2201628823

Thank you for yor opinions,
Greg

[Dave Mosher]

Hey Greg
I suppose beauty (and value) is in the eye of the beholder. All three of these helmets appear to be original, but all have problems. If you are just looking for a single nice display item, hold your money until you decide what you want. Officer vs. EM, prewar fittings vs wartime fittings, which state wappen you want and what condition you are willing to accept. One of my friends collects only wartime EM helmets from the different states; I collect only officers helmets from the different states, etc. Also, ranges on e-bay for helmets are all over the place, so its real hard to get a fix on value there, unless you really "think" you know what you are doing. I have picked up treasures and I also have picked up crap. Do you have anyone in the hobby locally that you could hook up with to get more info and a greater appreciation of your future acquisition? Local gun shows and militaria shows are still a great place to see these helmets up close. In my opinion, your best bet is to buy your "one and only" display helmet from another collector, rather than e-bay.

If you think would like to collect several helmets, its like anything else you would want to collect on this forum...GET SOME GOOD REFERENCES! Items in your collection may come and go, but your reference library will always keep you warm and happy through the winter nights. Knowledge is power, and in this case, money, too.

Dave

[Tony & Kaiser]

From my end, I collect Mannschaft (Other Ranks) Pickelhaubes, and prefer pre-1915. Can't add much to Dave's advice, except that when you buy, especially on ebay (and a TON of good helmets come up on ebay) is to implore you to use your eyes to look at the <u>helmet</u> and ignore the text. The vast majority of sellers have no idea what it is, or what it should look like. If you are only going for one or two examples, and it is a pattern that takes the M91 chinstrap, wait for one with an original strap, as you will never find an original for it. And its not just ebay sellers that have no clue, some poor schmuck just dropped $3500 on a completely incorrect Braunschweig Other Ranks helmet that looked like it had been a converted Fire helmet or something, but someone bought it. Very sad. So don't think that an idiotic high price coming from a rather well-known seller is any guarantee that it is correct. Like Dave said, use your references. Tony http://www.kaisersbunker.com

[gregM]

Thanks for the help.
I don't really care if it is a NCO or EM. It dosn't matter what model or year
or what unit. I'm just looking for a period piece preferably with brass
fittings that I can display with my EK's. I just don't want to give up a
months pay for it.

Thanks again for your help,
Greg

[stogieman]

excellent advice....

... from both Dave & Tony! Good references, network with local collectors. Even for a simple display item as a go-with... no point in getting snookered!

[Peter_Suciu]

I'll jump in and say that I've managed to find EM helmets at some of the local shows in much nicer shape for only a few dollars more. Without the chinstrap and cockades this seems kind of expensive.

While I know "the parts" are out there I tend to like to get a complete helmet.