SS decal

[hervé30]

ss m42

I will give a chance to the decal, but not to the chinstrap.

From the lot number, it is possible that this helmet is a period SS SD helmet.

Lot 1399 is a KM SD lot ( EF M42) so why not, looks ggod to me even if i would have prefer an ET style decal or a true EF SS decal on the shell.

Just sure for the strap .

[craig a. thomas jr]

Good CA Pocher Decal

Application of the decal...the never ending question on minty decals whether SS or Heer. Funny how Luftwaffe and Polizei don't get question more though!

I would have to agree with SSTk. Sum of the parts. It is certainly a good CA Pocher decal on a EF M42. It is questionable as I don't believe anyone has seen this combination. So unless there is cast iron providence....

Bottom line if you are going to own it, you have to be comfortable with it.

[Chad1]

helmet

IMO, this helmet should be worth all a SS SD helmet can be.

If condition matters for anything, it must be.

I think guys just can't handle it that there is a no kidding near mint SS SD helmet out there. Gotta knock it down, eh?

Other than your fear of an all original parts helmet, there is no other reason to value it less.

People say that "the item should speak for itself."

Well, why not let it say "dead nuts perfect".

[M35]

M42 ss

Application of the decal...the never ending question on minty decals whether SS or Heer. Funny how Luftwaffe and Polizei don't get question more though!

I would have to agree with SSTk. Sum of the parts. It is certainly a good CA Pocher decal on a EF M42. It is questionable as I don't believe anyone has seen this combination. So unless there is cast iron providence....

Bottom line if you are going to own it, you have to be comfortable with it.

I have to agree with Doug and Craig (nice to hear from you again Craig!) that this is very likely a post war applied original Pocher decal. It was a very nice no decal M42 EF in 1945 probably.

What I don't understand though is why we are questioning this one and not the many ckl and hkp high batch number SD SS M42's that have been showing up recently? To me, they are all suspect. It seems though that the ckl's and hkp's with Pocher or champagne SS decals have been accepted as wartime pieces by most?? Why not this one?

I don't think there is any question that ckl and hkp no decal M42's were more common than EF no decal M42's. Are we questioning this one just because it is an EF? I don't see how we can trust any of these non-traditional combinations when we KNOW that unapplied versions of Pochers and champagne SS decals were avaialable through the years.

Cheers,
Terry

[DougB]

IMO, this helmet should be worth all a SS SD helmet can be.

If condition matters for anything, it must be.

I think guys just can't handle it that there is a no kidding near mint SS SD helmet out there. Gotta knock it down, eh?

Other than your fear of an all original parts helmet, there is no other reason to value it less.

People say that "the item should speak for itself."

Well, why not let it say "dead nuts perfect".

No it is not trying to be knocked down Chad. I am speaking from experience, logic and maintain a healthy skepticism. I can quite easily handle the fact that there might be a dead mint SS helmet out there as I own several examples of dead mint SS helmets, both SD and DD with provenance.

However I also have a pretty good grasp on decal-shell relationships, helmet lineage and production and decal availability and production patterns. Given the maker, lot number, decal pattern, are all what they are, it points in the direction of post war applied decal unless as stated there is some direct provenance that proves otherwise. Could it be legit? Of course it could be but it could far more easily be a postwar Pocher on a no decal EF. I do not believe it to be a factory applied decal and certainly not field applied. So when and were applied? I have 4 almost dead mint Pocher SS decals in my collection. Could make four of these, but I wont. However others in the past have been so ethical with their inventory of loose Pocher decals.

So Chad its not a matter of being a jerk or not being able to handle anything, its a matter of being objective and looking at this helmet with a measured degree of caution, thats all no more and no less.

Terry, I agree, always maintain a healthy skepticism about any high lot number M42 with a dead mint decal, in particular those with Pochers or ET decals and yes even Champagne decals. I know we have to have a beer or three and discuss - maybe at SOS! These should always be looked at carefully of course.

Would be interesting to see this one in hand as well.

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

Thank you all again for the very helpful information's.
I decide to pass on that helmet but if anyone is interested the lady selling wanted $3,500
This is one other EF Mod 42 I have in my collection and this one came right from the vet son with a very nice SD FJ helmet that I unfortunately sold

[ITALIANWARFRONT]

1

[cantara]

Now that's a beauty! Who's selling the other one?
C

[WalterB]

What I don't understand though is why we are questioning this one and not the many ckl and hkp high batch number SD SS M42's that have been showing up recently? To me, they are all suspect. It seems though that the ckl's and hkp's with Pocher or champagne SS decals have been accepted as wartime pieces by most?? Why not this one?

Very wise words Terry. Personally, I am very distrustfull of high lot number CKL decaled helmets (especially SS), and champagne rune hkps/ckls. I would also add the M42 SS Pocher helmet at the beginning of this thread to my list of untrustworthy and "not fit for my collection" category.

For those who ask whether it is possible for authentic decals to be added to post-war shell in a convincing manner, the absolute, unqualified answer to that is YES!! So convincingly for mint or relatively mint examples that, in fact, it is scary.

In regard to the second EF SS M42 helmet posted by Giorgio, that one is a one-looker beauty. I would have that one in my collection any time.

[DougB]

Interesting to see a canted EF decal, typcically seen on ckl w.ET decals so common on M42's. I had one once almost on a 45 degree angle but it bugged me so much I had to sell it, like a picture hanging on the wall crooked, LOL.

[Perry Floyd]

Interesting to see a canted EF decal, typcically seen on ckl w.ET decals so common on M42's. I had one once almost on a 45 degree angle but it bugged me so much I had to sell it, like a picture hanging on the wall crooked, LOL.

As I recall these tilted ET decals on M42's start around the 3000 number.

[RVizcain]

Is possible

That question puzzles me too .

I have zero experience with unapplied decals however. But, is it possible to apply an old decal that neatly?

C

Yes, that it is possible. In modeling hobby there is a working fluid decals old (very old). Delicate work but possible.

[mario]

Stunning picture of an original EF decal.

[Anders L]

[QUOTE=SSTk;4375591]

Terry, I agree, always maintain a healthy skepticism about any high lot number M42 with a dead mint decal, in particular those with Pochers or ET decals and yes even Champagne decals. I know we have to have a beer or three and discuss - maybe at SOS! These should always be looked at carefully of course.

QUOTE]

Terry and Doug, would it be possible to see a picture of an unused "Champagne decal" ?? I do not think that I have seen any.

Giorgio, the M42 SS with "tilted" decal =

[DougB]

I have never seen one nor do I know of anyone other than Terry who says they have seen one. I know ET and Pocher were brought home loose. Never seen a Q or EF loose either come to think of it or know of anyone who has.