DAK Pith helmets? breeding like rabbits

[Tim O'Keefe]

has anyonelse noticed just how many DAK pith helmets are on the market today? all in near mint condition too! maybe Monty captured a supply truck full of brand new ones?!!
rgds Thomas

Gentlemen,

Not sure which sunhelmets are being referred to in this thread ?
Have never seen a convincing fake of the German tropenhelm. Looked on the Lost Bns site but saw nothing there either ?

If it is the felt 2nd pattern, hundreds of these were never issued. And are original WWII items. Including those stamped "Germany" or "Made in Germany" (for USA import postwar). They could be bought in the USA for $5 during the 70's.
The ones not stamped "Germany" or "Made in Germany" are worth more $. A very few did make it to Afrika, as seen in the stockpiles of surplus at the surrender. Most of the used ones were in the Sud Front including Russia.
Not very well liked by most collectors, with good reason (ugly).

If it is the cloth first pattern, different story. Most were used either in the Sud Front or Afrika (unless stamped "Germany or "Made in Germany" again for postwar export to the USA). However these first patterns while disliked by many collectors are the defininative official DAK headgear for sure. Used for awards formations, mail call & funerals etc. As well as the German propoganda program. Most recognized in Germany during the War as "the" DAK headgear.
It is too bad many tropical collectors do not place much value on them but that is good for the rest of us that do...

And i will take a sun faded 1st pattern over any stahlhelm anytime, so few steel helmets were even worn in Afrika, they were not even issued to the original DAK except for pioneers and LW flak. The Pz Gr even wore the tropenhelm or M40 in combat till '42 when Allied bombing & massive Art made the steel lid more practical.

Heia safari
Tim

[Andy C.]

I agree with Tim 100%, but if you dont like em then dont collect them, we will pick them up!! I had a really nice green Luftwaffe sun helmet but sold it because it wasnt issued, (shouldnt have because theyre rare), Now i have a KM, and a 1st pattern that were totally issued helmets and i love them! Like Tim said in so many words if you saw period pics of combat films in Afrika a great deal of the soldiers wore them.
As for fakes i have never seen nor have i ever heard of them until now. But if i were to go to the trouble and fake something, i would make sure there was a market for it, and there is not a huge one, (thank the Lord) for pith helmets.