Battle Damage or Home Ballistics Test?

[Stephan Wahl]

These always tend to drive me a little crazy. Whereas I'd like to have a battle damaged combat helmet somewhere in my collection, I always wonder if the damage is period.

http://cgi.ebay.com/WWI-GERMAN-M-191...QQcmdZViewItem

The exit damage on this helmet looks too prestine, I think. Wouldnt there be some kind of tumbling that would occure after traveling though all that bone and brain tissue? I would think the exit hole would be more elyptical. Wouldnt you?

[Ken B.]

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[Wizard]

The exit damage on this helmet looks too prestine, I think. Wouldnt there be some kind of tumbling that would occure after traveling though all that bone and brain tissue? I would think the exit hole would be more elyptical. Wouldnt you?

...and the fact that you are trivializing a possible loss of human life doesn't trouble you?

[nirvana]

All moral commentary aside, I would pass on this helmet. Too expensive for what it might be, and what it isnt. It is a shell, with a band, and all rivets, with what is probably a target practice shot. If it makes you happy, buy it. thats what counts in the end..
Chris

[Cam_S]

Shot helmet

Hello,

If you look in the American Forum, there is a thread there by GregK and in it it shows some post war helmets that me and him shot two weeks ago.

They were placed on a stick and shot with nothing in them and the damage looks exactly the same.

It doesn't look like there was and blood or brains in the helmet, but that could be why there is no liner. Whoever picked it up could have taken out the liner and cleaned the inside.

All in all I would say pass on this piece unless you talk to the Vet who brought it back.

Cam

[dhunter93]

I like the helmet, you can never be sure if the damage was period or post but it would be an great conversation peice. I know alot of my fellow collectors like pristine examples but for some reason I like the "been there" look alot more now then when I started collecting. I have several pristine helmets but the battle damaged and ground dug helmets tell a story everytime you look at them.

[nopoop]

You'll never know with a helmet like that.

A helmet like this has no question. For those that don't know what they're looking at, it is better in some ways.

It tells a story to those that know how to read.

[WalterB]

You'll never know with a helmet like that.

A helmet like this has no question. For those that don't know what they're looking at, it is better in some ways.

It tells a story to those that know how to read.

Chris, that helmet you posted may have a story to tell, but the picture is too far away to know what that story is. Can you post a closer picture? I see that the chinstrap is neatly cut, so I am beginning to suspect. Thanks.

[nopoop]

Walter it's the cut chinstrap. A cut chinstrap doesn't happen in a backyard with a 30-30.

Needs no verification and the meaning is lost on most that would view the helmet. Which, with visitors to the homestead that have no concept of what I collect is a good thing

Not my piece, just used as an example.

[Steve Sherlock]

I think that was Paul Baumer's helmet in the final chapter.

Steve

[ROBB]

Looks like the vet had his Brodie resting on it as you can see by the ring of liner left on the German helmet .Looks like a nice shell ,but a bit expensive .Rob.

[Stephan Wahl]

Duhhhhhhh! *sigh*......Back again! Wow that was a strong one. Hurrican Wilma left me without water, power, hot showers or phones for 5 days. I appreciate all your input. I guess the consensus confirm what I suspected, "Target Practice". With the B-damaged helmets It would have to get a good number of for me to move on it. Thanks Nopoop, Walter, Steve, Rob, Dhunter, Ken B., Nirvana and Wizard for your input.

To answer Ken B. and Wizards comments, I agree. Morbid indeed. However, I was watching a documentary on the battle of Little Bighorn, wherein, US. Cav. skull fragments of the battle were found and kept and stored. These fragments included a complete frontal lobe with an olyptical hole in it. By using "battle ground forensics", they confirmed that from this type of wound, many indians were using ammo too small for the bore of their guns. Since the bullet was tumbling before it entered the skull they concluded a very important historic fact. The gravity of the revelation was really interesting to me.

Guys, I dont wanna store a skull, just a helmet.