Waffen SS Pith Helmet

[Beattie-B]

I recently came by this pith helmet and it looks to be good based on my reference books and comes from an honest and trustworthy dealer but was wondering if I could get a second opinion? Any thoughts are warmly welcomed.

pith.jpeg pith3.jpeg pith1.jpeg pith2.jpeg

[Beattie-B]

pith6.jpeg pith7.jpeg pith4.jpeg pith5.jpeg

[Dennis J]

Could we please see the inside of your helmet.

Dennis J

[Zauberflöte]

Not a issue SS pith helmet IMO; only known examples are of the first design, similar as those issued for the Luftwaffe. This is the second model, originally Heer issue and post war rebadged.

[Stangell]

Not a issue SS pith helmet IMO; only known examples are of the first design, similar as those issued for the Luftwaffe. This is the second model, originally Heer issue and post war rebadged.

I share this opinion. The SS-version shall be in khaki color and not this army-style color.

[Beattie-B]

Could we please see the inside of your helmet.

Dennis J

Unfortunately the photo I took did not turn out properly. That being said there was nothing out of the ordinary and the pins from the shields did not pierce through the red felt inner liner (just the felt outer portion).

[Beattie-B]

Not a issue SS pith helmet IMO; only known examples are of the first design, similar as those issued for the Luftwaffe. This is the second model, originally Heer issue and post war rebadged.

I had considered this as I've never seen the Heer Second Pattern badged to the Waffen SS either but in saying that it doesn't appear to have been buggered with which may lend credence to it possibly being badged post-War. The insignia appears to be proper though unfortunately without removing the inner liner I cannot get a good look at the backing pins and do not want to be responsible for breaking them trying to look at the back of the shields.

[stonemint]

100s (f not thousands) of these were imported to the USA in the 1970s by a company called Unique Imports out of Alexandria, VA.
All were the felt model, all mint (as they had been in storage since the war).
If I recall right, you got to choose which shields you wanted on the helmet.
Most (but not all) were stamped with "Made in Germany", however, many unscrupulous sellers have removed that tell-tale stamp and added SS shields.

[Sgt. Steiner]

Somewhere I have an old gun magazinne from 1959 where these "Afrika Korp" brand new 2nd pattern helmets were being sold for the whopping sum of $5.95 ! so even befoe Unique Imports, surplus quantities of these helmets were around. I have always wanted an SS one but do not want to pull the trigger on a helmet so easily rebadged. If you search for SS pith helmets there was a thread with some incredible photos of an SS unit wearing the pith helemt in Corsica.

[sutka]

no good Sir

[anmarlodz]

Nice, but no SS as mentioned ( Army second pattern tropical, fell helmet).

[STLMatt]

lol
i mean the description even refers to it from the “LAH” regime