DD FJ Helmet with wire. Help!

[Tim R. B.]

Hi Gents, after being a guest for a while i have just become a member today ( set up paypal account, paid and now waiting for confirmation).
I have been offered two FJ helmets, the one is a DD FJ with bale wire, i really like this helmet and it looks to me 100% 'right', the other one is a SD trop camo with chicken wire, this one looks good but i have my doubts. I am looking for all opinions and comments and would be greatful of any input. I do have one problem, i have photographs of both helmets but the photos are too big to post, is there a kind soul who would be willing to re-size and post them for me?
Cheers Tim.

[Joseph Wu]

Hi Tim,

Just sent you a PM.
Regards,

Joseph

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire


Here are some pics about the helmets which Tim mentioned......

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire


The close view of the LW eagle...

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire

[Joseph Wu]

DD FJ with bale wire


Note the maker mark...... The liner looks great to me.

[Joseph Wu]

SD trop camo with chicken wire


IMO it's a Czech repro.

[Joseph Wu]

SD trop camo with chicken wire

[Joseph Wu]

SD trop camo with chicken wire

[Joseph Wu]

SD trop camo with chicken wire


What are your comments about these two FJ helmets???
Regards,
Tim/Joseph

[JohnB]

Tim,
I would pass on both of these helmets. The chicken-wire on the SD para helmet is definately bad, so bad it is obscene. It was put on the helmet in the last few years.

I get the sense that the DD para helmet with bailing wire is being offered to you by the same person offering you the chicken wire para. If that is correct, it is a sufficient reason to pass. In any case I am very uncomfortable with the DD bailing wire para.

I'm sure others will comment shortly. Willi, John H. etc???

John B

What are your comments about these two FJ helmets???
Regards,
Tim/Joseph

[John Hodgin]

I would like to comment on these helmets John.

Of course, not every Forum member reading this thread knows John B., but I do. John has studied helmets as long as I have studied Fj uniforms. John knows his helmets and all of us can benefit from his knowledge.

There is a reason I feel compelled to say this about John, and it's not to kiss up to John so he will trade me that step in jump smock... There is an undercurrent that is almost ever present on our Forum. It is a competition between many members in the US and many members in central Europe. When discussing politics in die Kneipe this competition of ideas often disintergrates into name calling. This also happens in the militaria Forums, or at the very least, turns into a contest members trying to demonstrate 'who knows the most.'

The point is, John B. knows a lot, and doesn't have a mean or spiteful bone in his body. His interest is in collecting helmets and sharing knowledge about them. John, I hope my smock is in the mail..

Hi Tim,

The above statement was not aimed at you!

Considering these helmets, there is the old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is..." That saying very much applies to these helmets. Of course we all want to find that great deal, and some of us really do. Several years ago, a fellow I know bought a mint tan/water jump smock in a Salvation Army store for $20! Good luck like this is the exception however, and it never comes from a dealer. I bet these helmets are not a deal, just cheap enough to entice the buyer. An authentic DD jump helmet with bailing wire would be worth a small fortune; I have never seen one...

All the active rust on both these helmets should set off big alarms. Just handling these helmets would darken this rust and give them a patina that they lack. The rust looks new, because it is.....Please ask yourself why on the DD, the chin strap fittings are rusty and dark, and yet the male snap, having supposedly spent the past 60+ years right next to the other fittings is still shiny and without rust?!

I'm with John, and vote avoid these!
Regards,
JH

[Willi Z.]

I agree with both! The second helmet, the trop camo with wire, is a complete Czech repro. NOTHING is original on it. It has ALL of the features of a Czech repro. We have covered this many times in the past.

The first helmet may be original in regards to shell, liner and straps. The paint may be correct too.....a badly beat up shell. But, it is not of the color of an original double decal. The decals are not original, and the wire is not either. And the rust does not appear the be natural. All of this is based on what we see in the photos.

Willi