Luft decal Question

[ALJEFF]

What is everone thoughts on the Green luft decal..In the past have not seen many of these decals and have talked with collectors an there thoughts was they are fake....What is the members opinion..........

[Mr. Blades]

I've heard different arguments from beginning collectors to the experts. The opinions fake vs real run about 50/50. I cannot say one way or another but as a collector I avoid such questionable lids due to the fact if I want to sell it one day I don't want to have go through the aggravation.

[Paul G]

I have not heard the argument that they were fake. I have heard that they were a prototype late war design, that never made it onto a helmet. I have only seen one helmet with a green lufty bird that I thought was believable as it showed honest wear and tear consistent with the whole helmet, but I wasn't there when it was applied, so who really knows. I have seen a number of them on minty helmets, and thats a definite red flag too. Buy as Mr. Blades pointed out, not worth the headache trying to explain it later on down the road. I would not spend a lot on one unless it was coming directly from the vet to my hands.

PG-

[Adam S.]

Originally produced but never wartime applied (based on the evidence). The green decals you find on sheets are original but if you find one on a helmet it is more than likely 99.9999% post war applied.

[ALJEFF]

I too have seen decals on sheets,but few on helmets...And never seen a helmet with the deacal on a dealer web site that would say something for the decals also..

[francis006]

original decals and rarely war time applied depending the use

[WalterB]

original decals and rarely war time applied depending the use

Absolutely agree. Unapplied decal sheets of such eagles are no doubt period made; however, all the applied subdued eagle decals I have seen have been applied post war. Maybe some very few (and I mean FEW) period applied helmets exist, but any helmet that has such subdued decal should be approached with extreme skepticism.

[Andy C.]

Absolutely agree. Unapplied decal sheets of such eagles are no doubt period made; however, all the applied subdued eagle decals I have seen have been applied post war. Maybe some very few (and I mean FEW) period applied helmets exist, but any helmet that has such subdued decal should be approached with extreme skepticism.

http://www.therupturedduck.com/WebPages/Misc/s050.htm

[M35]

I think we need to be careful speaking in absolutes. I believe that Francis has the most accurate comment regarding these decals. They were for sure manufactured during the period, but not commonly applied.

My own theory is that the design/color dates to the same period as the white 2nd pattern Luft decal - which is probably around 1937. I theorize that the blue and green colored ones did not find favor and were relegated to "special use" status. I have seen at least one very believable example on a pre-war factory issue helmet. I have also seen some others that were likely wartime applied, but in a field application type of scenario.

If you only want one example of a Luft 2nd pattern decal on a helmet, then don't buy one with a green decal. But if you like oddball and unique things, they have a place. Just my opinion obviously, but I do not think it is proper to trash them all.

Cheers,
Terry