M38 Fallschirmjager Helmet

[popskipa]

I need the help and advice of the forum please.

it is with regard my M38 helmet with a damaged cut chinstrap, I would like to purchase an original chinstrap to replace the damaged one, has anybody an original replacement they could sell me, or advise where I might buy one please?

Thank you, Keith IMG_9035.PNG

[oberjaeger]

leave it as it is......

[Aarhus192]

No replace it! Nice helmet

[Willi Z.]

I too would leave it as is. There are more helmets out there then chinstraps, so trying to find another will cost you a lot, and you will have to disassemble the helmet. Disassembling a helmet today is not a wise collector move, IMO.

If it really troubles you, and since it appears it was not intentionally damaged, you could always stitch it together. It will display better and you won't have to take it apart. Plus, it can be undone in the future. Some, in the past, have repaired damaged chinstraps with leather glue.

IMO, a repaired chinstrap is MUCH better than a replaced one.

[WalterB]

Replacing the chinstrap will kill the helmet as a true collector piece. Echoing Willi’s comment, I would leave as is, or at the very most, apply a stitch or two to join the broken strap.

[RED LION]

plus 1 as willi said the best is to let helmet in this original condition. better a broken chinstrap as a replaced one

[Eric Queen]

Just my opinion but I would not repair or replace it. I would leave exactly as is.

[Jeff V]

I too would leave it as is. There are more helmets out there then chinstraps, so trying to find another will cost you a lot, and you will have to disassemble the helmet. Disassembling a helmet today is not a wise collector move, IMO.

If it really troubles you, and since it appears it was not intentionally damaged, you could always stitch it together. It will display better and you won't have to take it apart. Plus, it can be undone in the future. Some, in the past, have repaired damaged chinstraps with leather glue.

IMO, a repaired chinstrap is MUCH better than a replaced one.

I agree. A couple of stitches are vastly better than a glue repair IMO.

[SMP]

At the end of the day it is your choice, but original chinstraps in good condition are very hard to find. This makes them very expensive. Dealers often ask $1k-$2k depending on condition.

[davidSW]

I’d be more intrigued as to why the wear is not consistent through out .

[popskipa]

The chinstrap appears to be cut with a clean edge although done by scissors or similar, if it were a break through wear the edge would have a ragged appearance. It is possible that the chinstrap was cut to remove the helmet from a casualty or body.
just my opinion

[popskipa]

Thank you all for your input, the chinstrap will remain with the helmet untouched

The chinstrap break has age but appears to be cut with a clean edge although done by scissors or similar, if it were a break through wear the edge would have a ragged appearance. It is possible that the chinstrap was cut to remove the helmet from a casualty or body. Just my opinion.

[Willi Z.]

IMO, it is broken not cut. It does indeed have rough edges. A cut strap is much cleaner, and unlike breaks, they do not take place at that location. Breaks in that location are common due to bending before the stitched area. Cuts generally take place on the long sections.

[Lenny W]

Tried to enlarge the picture looks like a break in the strap to me.

[popskipa]

I agree, a break rather than a cut. Thank you all for the contributions

Keith

Tried to enlarge the picture looks like a break in the strap to me.