Opinions on SS DD Relic ?

[Totenhead]

Guys,

Please can you have a look at this if you wish ?

http://www.ukmsales.com/shop/viewphoto.php?x=0

I am thinking its contrived, decals dont look original to me, am i right ??

[SSamir]

Link not working.

[Totenhead]

Sorry guys, please try this one:

http://www.ukmsales.com/shop/viewpho...=516055&phqu=8

[DougB]

Hard to say. No huge red flags from here but I'd only want to say yes or no after seeing it in hand under USB.

[BobI]

I do not like this helmet at all!
Best Wishes,
Bob

[Jerry]

Relic=JUNK!

[SSamir]

Hard to say. No huge red flags from here but I'd only want to say yes or no after seeing it in hand under USB.

Agreed.

[KradSPam]

Relic=JUNK!

I totally disagree, some are obviously junk but many have great character.

As for the lid, looks OK to me but in hand would be ideal, see if he will give you a weeks inspection or something.

[colt45s]

they beat it real good but not the decal

[BobI]

I totally agree with colt 45! How is it so many of these “relic” helmets are so incredibly corroded except the decal? Secondly, the corrosion has a very artificial appearance to me. I would trust very few of these relic helmets!
Best Wishes,
Bob

[DougB]

Bob, I'm not a huge fan of relic SS helmets either, way too big a risk as far as I'm concerned but I did get a chance to examine one in hand a while back that did have photographic "dug from the ground" provenance and I was amazed at how well the decal stood up.

One thing to remember with runic decals, the were made from a metallic pulver that had an anti rusting agent as part of the decals pulver composition. Without this the pulver would start to oxidize (rust) as soon as it got wet if not lacquered and Hieny wouldn't want his Aryan supermen running around with rusty SS decals on the parade ground would he? :-D

So I think this is why the runic decals sometimes stand up ok depending on the acidity and oxygen content of the ground in which they were buried.

This one? I'm not convinced but I would love to see it in hand.

[BobI]

Hi Doug!
I agree and that is why I have a really cool DD SS helmet with liberated decals. The party shield is hard to see and did not come out well. The runic decal came out OK because the paint did not adhere as well to the foiled decal. The runes are slightly distorted but still a very cool lid! On ground dug helmets I have seen similar pictures to what you are referring to, pictures I felt were legitimate. The oxidation they suffered was very different then most of the “ground dug” helmets I have seen here. I can totally understand the atmospheric conditions and ground acidity as well as small deviations in the steel possibly used by different companies can affect the oxidative states we see. Most of these “ground dug” helmets I see seem to be SS helmets. The steel is incredibly corroded and the paint is often gone. Still, we see the decals in good enough preservation to ID. However, not good enough to make out fine details in the printing process.
In all honesty as Kelly and I discussed at one point, they are so far gone it will be impossible to say with 100% assurity. However, for the reasons above it is very rare I would put much faith into one of these helmets.
See you at the Max!
Bob

[Totenhead]

Relic=JUNK!

My ass !!

So its all fake then uh?

[DougB]

Yeah were on the same page Bob. I'd only trust a ground dug SS I dug up myself or got from a good source like Sturm here on the forum who records his digs.

Won't be at the Max Bob unless it's a last minute decision. Otherwise should be at SOS and can see you there!

[BobI]

Agreed Doug! Always fun and informative to hold items in hand, I will have to look for some of these at the Max to study!
Dig myself, that woudl rule! Taking part in history in a different way, sounds like a lot of fun!!!
Take care,
Bob