Opinions needed - SD ET68

[Mike Davis]

Dear all, A prospective buyer has asked me specifically to post a SD M38 helmet on this forum for members' opinions RE: originality. If you'd be so kind as to comment, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have included one photo and have also provided the link with additional photos below. Please let me know if any other information and/or photo is required. Many thanks in advance.

http://www.virtualgrenadier.com/sale_item.php?iid=348

Happy New Year to all!

[M35]

M38

Greetings Mike and Happy New Year to you too!

We've discussed this one before so this is not news to you. In my opinion, the helmet is real and legitimate, but wartime reworked. It appears to be a fairly early (1940-ish) shell and early 1940 liner (tan rubber pads) with late war steel slotted bolts and late war gripper buckle strap. Everything looks like it has been together since pre-1945 and it does appear to have traces of either mud or white paint. If you can provide the batch number on the shell, it might be possible to get a better handle on the manufacture date.

I like the helmet and would have bought it from you at the Max if I had had any money left to do so!

Cheers,
Terry

[Mike Davis]

Thanks Terry. The Lot Nr. appears to be 135.

[John Hodgin]

Looks 100% correct to me Mike. Worn but solid.

However, if one has to ask here if it is good, then they should be learning more before buying.

[Mike Davis]

I understand John, I just posted here as specifically requested by the prospective buyer. I can certainly understand why people want to be careful considering the increasing sophistication of copies. Thanks again.

[M35]

M38

Hey Mike

Thanks for the batch number info. I believe ET started over with the numbers sometime around 1940 so that is consistent with the shell and liner shown. Makes me pretty confident the straps, and concurrently also the bolts, were replaced sometime in 1944 maybe. Nice wartime, well used helmet. Wish I had the extra bucks to buy it!

Cheers,
Terry

[SMP]

Hey Mike

Thanks for the batch number info. I believe ET started over with the numbers sometime around 1940 so that is consistent with the shell and liner shown. Makes me pretty confident the straps, and concurrently also the bolts, were replaced sometime in 1944 maybe. Nice wartime, well used helmet. Wish I had the extra bucks to buy it!

Cheers,
Terry

I think Terry has summed it up well. A nice early SD that was probably re-fitted towards the end of it's service life. I love the patina it has.

[findthehelmets]

Greetings Mike and Happy New Year to you too!

We've discussed this one before so this is not news to you. In my opinion, the helmet is real and legitimate, but wartime reworked. It appears to be a fairly early (1940-ish) shell and early 1940 liner (tan rubber pads) with late war steel slotted bolts and late war gripper buckle strap. Everything looks like it has been together since pre-1945 and it does appear to have traces of either mud or white paint. If you can provide the batch number on the shell, it might be possible to get a better handle on the manufacture date.

I like the helmet and would have bought it from you at the Max if I had had any money left to do so!

Cheers,
Terry

hi Terry, when you say re-worked, what exactly in your opinion has been reworked.
if it was re-worked, then are we talking back to the factory, or field done.
regards,norman

[SMP]

hi Terry, when you say re-worked, what exactly in your opinion has been reworked.
if it was re-worked, then are we talking back to the factory, or field done.
regards,norman

I bet the QM guy fitted it with a new strap and bolts back at base.

[M35]

M38

I bet the QM guy fitted it with a new strap and bolts back at base.

Hey Norman

What he said. That's my thought exactly. Para straps took a lot of abuse during a jump, and the spanner bolts were always getting lost and/or were hard to adjust without the special wrench.

Cheers,
Terry

[Mike Davis]

Very interesting! Thanks again to all for commenting.