I know that the pictures aren't the best, but can anyone shed some light on these? The one with the tan liner doesn't look German....and the other one looks like a repro. Thoughts?

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"History teaches us that men behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." Abba Eban

13cent: The top one is US before 1904, Tropical Issue...Looks right as far as I can tell...The lower one is German WW 1, usually seen in much worse shape, so I do not know if it is a repro or not...hard to say, as this is the mintiest one of the Gray Trimmed Helms I have ever seen...

BTW: The US model was usually without the Eagle on the Tropical Models, but they are seen this way as well....

Dale

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If those little Sweethearts won't face German bullets, then they'll face French ones!
George McReady in Paths of Glory 1955

Thanks Dale! I thought the top one was U.S. because of the sheild and the eagle clutching the arrows....did some Googling and it is an model 1881 helmet.

Any pointers on what to look for on the German helmet to be sure it is authentic? I will get to see these helmets in a few weeks and might be able to buy them.

Thanks for the help!

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"History teaches us that men behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." Abba Eban

The German helmet looks too good to be original. When you see it, look at the leather or whatever ersatz material the helmet shell is made of. 100 year old material looks and smells old.

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Guys: When the Germans, led by the Prussians, defeated France in the war of 1870-71, the US went on a Germanophile Binge...We used German inspired helmets and this lasted until about 1904...There were State and Local Militia Units that were about the same uniform and helmets as the Garde du Corps...Especially in PA and Philly...

I do not know what to tell you on the Prussian Helmet, the painted finish of the gray parts is not correct, but a lot of the gray zinc parts were often carefully repainted to sell in the US market...Bannerman and others did this with the cheap labor they had available in those days...Often they used German Emmigrants who did the same sort of thing back in the Heimatland....

It could be a real Helm or one of the German repros from the 1960's, which are just about as hard to find now as an original...

Dale

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If those little Sweethearts won't face German bullets, then they'll face French ones!
George McReady in Paths of Glory 1955

You're right, that gray should be a bit more green and more flat . . . as in feldgrau.

Bill

_________________
I need a VZ23 rear band.
III http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/
Life Member, Gun Owners of America http://gunowners.org/
Oath Keepers http://oathkeepers.org/
click for photo: http://militarysignatures.com/signature ... r14422.png

Bill: There were some originals that were painted like that, but darned few of them before they went to using the zinc gray on the later ones. Also, for parade use, some had the shiny gray paint, but there is little info on the Net about this era...It was not "Feldgrau" as such, just some kind of subdued zinc coating that was cheaper to use...

Dale

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If those little Sweethearts won't face German bullets, then they'll face French ones!
George McReady in Paths of Glory 1955

Dale, I have not held the gray painted helmets in my hands. I have, however, held original excellent condition helmet plates, spikes, and belt buckles - all painted the same flat greenish gray feldgrau color.

Possibly that was the same as your "subdued zinc coating".

Bill

_________________
I need a VZ23 rear band.
III http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/
Life Member, Gun Owners of America http://gunowners.org/
Oath Keepers http://oathkeepers.org/
click for photo: http://militarysignatures.com/signature ... r14422.png

Bill: The originals were painted for about two months, then they went to the zinc coating...I have seen one Kuerrasier Helm that was painted, the rest were just in the finish you have described...Remember this was wartime, and they had just issued covers for the Helms and then decided to subdue the finish...The painted one I have mentioned was flat Gray and not shiny...That is why I am not sure about the Helm on this thread...too shiny!!

Dale

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If those little Sweethearts won't face German bullets, then they'll face French ones!
George McReady in Paths of Glory 1955

Thanks for the info. guys.....any dead give-aways on the repros? Any makers marks or acceptance stamps that you know of that I should be looking for?

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"History teaches us that men behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." Abba Eban