Are SS helmets rare?

[Dennis S]

True Double decal KM s are harder to find in my opinion , but the double decal SS always bring more loot.

[foamspoon]

As mentioned... they are available if you have the money, but they are not just popping up at garage sales and craigs list...

You want to play with the big boys you better have some bank or something to trade! You want a DD SS, SD SS m40, m42, m35.... I got one for sale... don't like the price... well than maybe they are pretty rare.

Seriously though there have been some great starter SS helmets for sale the past year between $3K to $5K. I sold a great looking m40 Q and m42 EF this past year that I thought were killer helmets. One was a great mid SS helmet and the other was a great helmet with a killer decal. They are there but money talks bull**** walks!

[SirPayne]

Rarity does not determine value.

[foamspoon]

Thats right. It is "Supply and demand", not just "supply" With SS helmets there appears to be the supply but the demand is what is driving the price.

[BrianK]

I always knew the price was high, that's up to what collectors will pay, but I was shocked to see so many for sale on Oakleaf's website. And quite a few on other websites. Is there one type that's really rare and you would buy regardless of price if you just wanted one SS helmet in your collection?

[codytrcollector]

Hundreds??? How many do you have mate? Doug B Daryl P Walter B all have more than you can poke a stick at but all amazingly rare and special in their own way. They are all common on the ground till you actually want to add one to your collection. Then the $ factor dictates the desire and the rarity.. Johnno.

Thank you sir, you've actually made my argument with the above post. Besides the Wall 'O' Helmets and the other two collections you speak of, there are many unseen on these fora with just as many, if not more, SS helmets in their collection.
Now to return to your first question: I don't own a single helmet, but my collection is based around SS and Heer tunics(I'm a tunic collector and possess several). This is irrelevant however as one doesn't need something in their collection to know whether it's rare or not. Please do note I've never commented here on the authenticity of a helmet and have never proclaimed myself to be a helmet collector.
As for rarity and value, that is quite subjective. For myself 7k doesn't seem like too much. To the next guy though, that could quite possible be one-third of his yearly income. You also can't base rarity upon an objects value. Just because something cost 7k doesn't mean it's rare...just look at anything else in life. On the opposite side of that spectrum, just because something is rare doesn't necessarily dictate it's value. I'm sure dinosaur crap is extremely rare but that doesn't mean you or I are going to spend 10k on a piece of it. In my opinion desirability is the single most contributing factor in a items price with rarity being a distant second, but that's just my opinion.

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I will submit to the fact that there are several variants of the SS helmets which are indeed rare, as I've already proclaimed in my previous statement. Some more so than others. That said, saying each one is special in it's own way, and do to such it's rare isn't really fair as this could pertain to any individual item, regardless if it's SS or Heer or whatever.

[helmuthunter]

Well I suppose it's all subjective then. Rare compared to what? I guess it is hard to generalise unless your referring to a specific model or type. Yes I guess M35 DD and M40/42 single decal SS lids are readily available at any given time, in collectors circles and good dealers sites. Are real SS buckets rare in any configuration on the bottom end of the earth where I am? You bet. Is it rare to find a real one in a antique shop or ebay? Yes very rare. My appoligies for my 2 cents on a very subjective question. I guess in what context needs to be clear. I am very protective of my 2 common SS lids took along time to find the right ones at the right time money permitting. Johnno.

[Asper]

Not rare but desirable...If you have the funds it is usually not a problem finding one.

Glenn

Glenn nailed it best... nearly a million SS men served in the war, most perished out East - but plenty left their lids out West for US and Allied soldiers to loot.

As to price, these peaked 2 years ago and have been dropping in price since, due to lower demand and IMO other economic priorities at collector homes.

$5-6K buys you a great field worn SS lid with a decent decal these days.

Cheers,

Asper

[DougB]

Hi Asper, long time!!

My 2 Pesos for what it's worth, anything is valued by supply and demand. Condition, rarity, provenance and desirability (is the piece named, researched, published, camoed, unit marked, veteran bring back, etc etc) all play into "demand". Supply is simply determined by how many are available of that specific type of helmet.

SS helmets are rare than LW, Police, and Heer helmets but KM helmets are rarer than SS helmets but can be had at a fraction of the price simply because demand is not as great.

For me the rarer types of the SS helmet genre is what I currently like to collect and the super desirable very rare helmets of any branch hold their value nicely. Those cost $. A more "common" M42 single decal ckl SS with a 65% ET decal has fallen in price and readily available on a multitude of sites (although I personally avoid the one mentioned in this thread myself).

[BrianK]

Assuming one had the funds, would the Alg. SS RZM double decal helmet be a rare type and a good buy at $24,500?

[DougB]

Assuming one had the funds, would the Alg. SS RZM double decal helmet be a rare type and a good buy at $24,500?

Pics?

[BrianK]

See Oakleaf's website at the top of the "SS Helmets" list.

[DougB]

The decals are pretty rough for a parade helmet but it's a rare DD RZM. I am not sure how to define "good deal" for $20k plus helmets, but most collectors that can spring for that sort of cash will pay more for one with as perfect as decals/paint/interior as can be found, and know who to network with to find such a beast.

Still if one must have one, where are you going to find another one? Hence the pricetag.

[Koguryo9]

As a novice helmet collector who only had one SS helmet and was stupid enough to let it go, I agree with a lot of the expertly members here. SS helmets are not that rare, certainly rarer than Heer and Luftwaffe helmet, but more common than Kriegsmarine helmets, not to mention the truly rare NSKK, SA, RAD and FHH helmets. However, SS helmets are more desirable than many of those rarer helmets, therefore they command a higher price (in general).

Within the SS helmet family, the early ones (M16, M18 etc.) are much rarer than the later ones; however, M40 DD helmets are rarer than M35 DD, M40 SD AND and M42 SD etc. But then again, rarity alone doesn't necessarily translates into desirability, condition, background and a slew of other factors like what Doug mentioned matter, for example a minty M35 DD might command more money than some of the rarer SS helmets in average condition.

[mark65.026]

Well I suppose it's all subjective then. Rare compared to what? I guess it is hard to generalise unless your referring to a specific model or type. Yes I guess M35 DD and M40/42 single decal SS lids are readily available at any given time, in collectors circles and good dealers sites. Are real SS buckets rare in any configuration on the bottom end of the earth where I am? You bet. Is it rare to find a real one in a antique shop or ebay? Yes very rare. My appoligies for my 2 cents on a very subjective question. I guess in what context needs to be clear. I am very protective of my 2 common SS lids took along time to find the right ones at the right time money permitting. Johnno.

Your right about things at the bottom end of the earth, Johnno

Regards Mark.