Grade Du Korps Helmet

[C. Roelens]

… like that SS helmet Rob.

I couldn't imagine even someone with deep pockets, and, who wanted it really bad, stepping up to the plate at $7,500.00-$10,000.00, but it happens. I think we've all done it.

Having said that, $4,000.00 tops for me.

Chuck

[phild]

These helmets, if real, are scarce and not often found for sale. There is also a LOT that can be wrong with them and usually is.
This one is complete, undamaged, no apparent restoration or replacement, and not cleaned much less polished. See how long any of you will look to find one with those above characteristics.

I think that the parts would bring more than 5k. I would put the expected price that this one should command to somewhere between 5-10 thousand dollars, a wide margin I realize but like anything else someone who really wants one with these qualities will likely pay the higher end of that range while someone who is more or less ambivalent about it will not.

[ROBB]

Buy it then for $5000 if it’s such a bargain. Five THOUSAND $$$$$$ THOUSAND $$$$$$. Not silly hundred but THOUSAND. Get 5 grand in cash put it on your dining table and stare at it and then say to yourself I will spend that on a German helmet . In 15 years time when you come to sell it and no one knows what a WW1 is and all of us are dead and all Nazi stuff ( includes WW1 stuff cos Democrat’s are stupid ) is banned from the world . You will think God that Rob guy was a wanker . But he was right! Rob

[Dom]

Buy it then for $5000 if it’s such a bargain. Five THOUSAND $$$$$$ THOUSAND $$$$$$. Not silly hundred but THOUSAND. Get 5 grand in cash put it on your dining table and stare at it and then say to yourself I will spend that on a German helmet . In 15 years time when you come to sell it and no one knows what a WW1 is and all of us are dead and all Nazi stuff ( includes WW1 stuff cos Democrat’s are stupid ) is banned from the world . You will think God that Rob guy was a wanker . But he was right! Rob

Don't think its going to take 15 years for Phild to think you're a wanker Rob!

But you are right. Its easy to throw out big numbers but how many $3500 WW2 German camos are flying off the estand at the moment?
Dom

[Robert Shoaf]

These helmets, if real, are scarce and not often found for sale. There is also a LOT that can be wrong with them and usually is.
This one is complete, undamaged, no apparent restoration or replacement, and not cleaned much less polished. See how long any of you will look to find one with those above characteristics.

I think that the parts would bring more than 5k. I would put the expected price that this one should command to somewhere between 5-10 thousand dollars, a wide margin I realize but like anything else someone who really wants one with these qualities will likely pay the higher end of that range while someone who is more or less ambivalent about it will not.

GdC helmets are the pinnacle of collecting for many Imperial headgear collectors, but I would argue that they are not that scarce.
Certainly, there are fakes, but real examples are out there to be had, without searching that hard.
Of course, their sister regiment ,Garde Kurassier Regt. wore identical helmets, and unless the helmet is stamped inside to either regiment, one can always claim it's GdC.
Regarding prices, any kurassier helmet, especially an officer's, is expensive, Overpriced as well, but that's just my opinion. Weitze has an officer's for the 2nd regt. priced at 12,500 euros; crazy to me, but perhaps not to others.
Actually, helmets for the Saxon Garde Reiter Regt. tend to be even higher than the GdC, especially with the mounted lion, which I believe was only worn for two years prior to WWI.
I have only one kurassier helmet,a pre-war enlisted model for regiments 3.4.5, 7 & 8. It's unlikely I will accquire another.
Any of these helmets is a bargain compared to a $28,000 Waffen-SS general's visor cap currently for sale on a major dealer's website. Now, that's insane!

Bob Shoaf

[phild]

I agree with most everything said above. I realize rarity is subjective and relative. I have seen a number for sale since the late 1970s when I encountered my first one and stated studying these. I also agree with comment on the Saxon GR helm with lion.
The eagle and lion were parade fixtures and not always found on the tombak helms and also a number of these are found with what are clearly made up ill fitting parts and often some reproduction parts. Damaged eagles are also common, almost expected.

I’ve also seen a fair number of nice officer versions being offered near the 15k dollar range for about the last 10 years, I don’t know what they are bringing that but I feel strongly that this type of helm will sell better in Europe than in the US.

Sorry to be long winded, but I also think the analogy with the SS generals cap is worthwhile and we could add things like a PLM or flyers honor chalice. Yes I’m intelligent enough to know all of those items are different but also know that in their best states and versions they command upwards of 20k, so just saying that plenty of items routinely bring much more than 5 or even 10 k these days.