FJ M38 helmet shell sizes.......

[Willi Z.]

Thought this would be an interesting topic because all we know on this matter is based on our observations of what we have seen. FJ helmet shells came in 3 sizes; 66, 68 and 71. I have heard nonsense about size 72 and 73 shells, but no advanced collector will support this. The most common FJ shell found is a size 68 (liner size of 56, 57 or 58). Size 66 shells (liner size 53, 54 or 55) and size 71 shells (liner size 59, 60 or 61) are by far less common than size 68 shells. My experience over the years leads to me to say that for every 20 size 68 shells, you encounter 1 size 66 shell and 1 size 71 shell. No science to this......just a guess. What does everyone else think?

One must keep in mind that until the Czech repros, you seldom encountered size 71 shells on the market. Now every auction and crooked dealer has size 71s for sale..........and they are always the "sexy" models; camos, tropicals, double decals and ones with wire. To the less informed collectors it would appear that 71s and camos, wires, etc are far more common than they really are. I can't tell you all the times someone has told me they had a FJ helmet with camo and wire on it, only to find out it is one of the Czech ones. I have seen fake tropical camos with green devils painted on them...all kinds of unique camos.....usually turn out to be Czech repros.

Maybe we should start a sticky with bad FJ helmets......any comments?

Willi

[Peter_Suciu]

Even have pictures for you

Hey Willi--
Sounds like a good idea and I even have a couple of photos for you.

PS

[Jean-Loup]

I have, or have had 10 ground dug FJ helmets, wich seems like an OK selection to do a size check, knowing I did not select them for their size, but grabed them.
One is a small one, I guess 66
Five are mediums, 68
Three are large, 71
Two otheres were pretty batered up, but I would say they are: one medium and one large.
These numbers seem to contradict your 1 and 1 to 20.

JL

[John Hodgin]

Hi Willi,

My take is similar to yours, but have seen more (authentic) 71 size helmets over the years than 66 sized. Have only owned two 66 helmets, neither of whick I now have. Have probably had eight 71 helmets, and have seen many more. I like 71's because of their longer shape and the fact that they fit mannequins without carving up the mannequin's head. I also imagine this is why this size is faked so much...

Best,
John

[Jean-Loup]

Hi

I find the 66 shape most interesting, because all the rims stick out much more. It has a shape, were as the 71s are sort of boring and all oval...
JL

[Willi Z.]

Hi John and Jean,

I find that most collectors seem to pass over on the size 66s. The only ones I own are unique ones.....in that they have either wire or nets that are original to the helmets. Otherwise, I tend to prefer size 68 shells. The 71s I have are also of more unique styles than just SDs. John, am leaning towards your view. I guess I have seen more 71s than 66s over the years......but with seeing at least a good 100 FJ helmets a year at shows/collections.....that is a conservative number. I still put the combined total of 66s and 71s at about 15-20%, with the remaining 80-85% being size 68s.

Willi

[Matt M]

Willi

Interesting thread....I would like to see a hall of shame.

I am still looking for a good camo.
The one I thought I was going to buy was a 71 but Andy could tell you all about that........

I hope he gets that straightened out.

Matt

[Willi Z.]

Hi Matt,

I had passed the lead on a FJ camo helmet to Andy. Not sure if he grabbed it. It was a tan/green sawdust......

Willi

[Matt M]

Willi

I believe he passed on the one you mention and went after the helmet in NC.

Is there a way you could check and see if the one you know about is still available.

Let me know the details
Mmlmiller@aol.com

Thanks Matt

[Willi Z.]

Email sent....WZ

[Perry Floyd]

Trying not to get off the original topic here but with real camo FJ helmets being very desirable I've wondered why Bill Shea's H-200 has remained on the site for sometime?
It's as nice of condition you could ever want for a camo yet it's not moved and not crazy priced either...
I've talked about this some with John but would like the other FJ collectors thoughts on it..

[Willi Z.]

Hi Perry,

Having seen that helmet in the flesh, it is very nice. But, it is not that exciting. For me, a camo helmet has to be very unique for me to be interested in the price range that they are in right now. Though clearly a camo helmet, the colors are very boring. For FJ collectors who have several camos, those kind just don't sell well. Though the intent is to camo the helmet, collectors want to see exciting colors, patterns etc. That is just the way it goes. Most of the camos present at the Max did not sell. The ones that did sell either went to FJ collectors who have several, and thought the camo pattern was a "I love it, I must have it", or they went to first time camo FJ buyers who needed to have a camo helmet.

I am sure John H, John B and others would agree.....I must really see a unique one to spring the $$ they are going for. Maybe a tri-color spray....a tropical spray with light paint over the eagle..a camo with wire or net...or a heavy multiple color paint job. Otherwise most do not do much for me. Bill's is one of them.....they are not rare.

Willi

[JohnB]

FJ helmets

Willi, John, Perry et. al,
Willi I agree with your comments about Bill's helmet. Probably a very clean unmessed with helmet. But the camo doesn't excite me and I can't spring for that kind of money unless I know I will spend hours looking at it. There is also a subdued camo on Peter's website that has been there since the Max.

Actually I haven't bought a para helmet since 2000, and that one I kept 3 months and then bought George's cover. But I have just enought beautiful FJ camos to keep me happy until another beauty comes along. (4- 68 shells and 2- 71 shells, I am not crazy about small shells and like John H. I prefer 71s. In fact I'm not crazy about 62 m-35 shells)

Anyway, having owned 20+ para helmets, I find that few helmets offered to me sit well with what I have, and thats the key factor.
There were two at the Max I liked, but a friend got them first. In a way I was relieved that I left the Max with some money.

Willi, I saw your comment about the wire m-42 on Bill's website, and I agree the one you sold me is more appealing. Also, I think there are more legit. 71 para shells out there than 66 shells. I have owned in 17 years or so probably 5 71 shells compared to one 66.
Happy holidays Gents,
John

[Perry Floyd]

Ok, how much of a factor do you put in a helmets size when making a purchase?
Me personally, I don't care as some are so rare you're lucky to have an example. But I'm not a FJ helmet collector and don't know if most of you feel different about it..

As for the H-200 FJ helmet I agree it's a very plain camo but its condition for a camo is very appealing and thought this asset would have sold it..

[Matt M]

Guys

I agree concerning the camo on Bill's site.

I collect German combat helmets not strictly para. I want to have 1 Camo para as an example, so that means I want it to be a good one.

A multi color Normandy type...

I have debated over the one on Bill's site, its a great helmet, but kind of plain so if its only going to be one (for the price of a good camo para I can buy 3 or 4 great regular camo German helmets) it going to one that excites me.

Thanks for the tip Willi I am going to follow up this week.

Matt