Helmet with embedded shrapnel

[paulj]

Picked this up at the SOS. The jagged piece of shrapnel measures just under 4". It is tight in the tear in the steel.

[paulj]

details

[PlaceOfBayonets]

The owner of that one might have gotten a slight cut on the forehead! Lets hope no other pieces hit him.

[ROBB]

Looks like it was a mail home helmet , Doughboy could have picked up the shrapnel and jammed it into the helmet ? Nice piece . Rob

[pauke]

helmet

A million dollar save for the wearer if it's real. But I think it is more likely just placed there.

[timp_be]

Hello.

The same for me, the hole has nothing to see with the size and the form from the shrapnel.

Added in an existing hole...

Best regards

timp_be

[MikeP]

I have handled a lot of shrapnel.

My camp was on the receiving end of quite a lot of varied
ordnance at one long period.
It was interesting stuff.
Chunks like this are brittle and flake away quite easily.
You can see layers on this where it would break away.
I have no problem believing that this piece has diminished in size over the last 100 years or even broke up at impact.

[WalterB]

Hello.

The same for me, the hole has nothing to see with the size and the form from the shrapnel.

Added in an existing hole...

Best regards

timp_be

Completely agree. All you have to do is try to imagine the supposed trajectory of this piece of shrapnel and realize it is impossible for this to have occurred "naturally". This piece of shrapnel was manipulated into its present position on the helmet.

[MikeP]

Is that the voice of experience or simple basement postulation?

[WalterB]

Is that the voice of experience or simple basement postulation?

I don't have to have combat experience to know basic principles of physics.

How exactly do you suggest this piece of shrapnel got embedded on the shell? It could not have been on a frontal trajectory since there is an overlap of shell in front of the shrapnel. The only possible way the overlap of shell could exist is if the shrapnel came in at an angle. However, the surrounding area of the shell dispels any notion of the shrapnel coming in at an angle. There is no bending or other damage to the applicable areas of shell that would support the proposition that the piece of shrapnel came in at an angle.

[Mr.Jerry D]

I have seen and held this piece in person at the SoS, and it looked like an upward trajectory that was there and had been there and got there without any manipulation. I doubt you could get a hole like that in the helmet and 2 that you could wedge something like that in there without bending/rebending the metal. I don't think you could even remove the piece easily.

I am not saying that these kinds of things could not be faked, but from what I saw, along with the numerous prices of shrapnel that I have in my own collection and judging by the parade of people that wanted to buy it and the $$$$ that were being offered at the show, I have no problem with it being legitimate.

[WalterB]

I have seen and held this piece in person at the SoS, and it looked like an upward trajectory that was there and had been there and got there without any manipulation. I doubt you could get a hole like that in the helmet and 2 that you could wedge something like that in there without bending/rebending the metal. I don't think you could even remove the piece easily.

I am not saying that these kinds of things could not be faked, but from what I saw, along with the numerous prices of shrapnel that I have in my own collection and judging by the parade of people that wanted to buy it and the $$$$ that were being offered at the show, I have no problem with it being legitimate.

Ah! Upward angle, yes, I guess it could be plausible. I was focusing on frontal or left / right trajectory and that just did not make sense to me. But upward trajectory would explain the shell overlap. I stand corrected, I guess it could be possible. Thanks Jerry!

[Mr.Jerry D]

Here are a couple pics I took at the show, it would be neat to do a "crime scene" angle on it but IMO it was a good piece. I would have loved to add it to my WW1 battlefield display.

[Mr.Jerry D]

This was my rough interpretation of the angle of entry. The missing liner also speaks to the tale.

[ROBB]

This photo shows what looks like scratches where its been wedged in , This bit of shrapnel flew through the air at a million miles per hour ripped a big hole in the front off a helmet and stopped ! Pretty hard to believe imo . Rob