Unboxing and reviewing an ORIGINAL German WW2 M42 Waffen SS Combat helmet! A VERY Lucky Gamble! :) 

One time I bought a World War I canteen cover and found out it was named to a dude who served in World War II

Once bougth a Iron cross for 30 euro in very good condistion

@@Benjamin-Dover-f8p That's amazing!

@@Brick_Builder_101 Lucky!!

I'd have to email photos to ya but I picked up an overpainted double decal SS M35 with a bullet hole through the shell and liner for less then a no decal this past summer

It always is!

I know right

THE ONE PEICE IS REAL!

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL!

The moment you find a rare ventless m42 the one piece the one piece is real!!!!!!

I'm happy to hear that!!

You can find original pocher decals on hkp and ns helmets

@@pp-qd3qg so what? I have written everything above about this …Those are nothing more but exceptions , there is no such thing as factory batch of Ns,hkp ss helmets .

Don't forget about the absolute champaign decal mess... I stand by this, original HKP helmets with reissued Pocher decals are very scarce. Most if not all HKPs encountered with an ss decal must be considered humped unless it is absolutly unquestionably proven that it is a Pocher decal. Just my opinion.

Thank you for your comment, I am aware that hkp never produced SS helmets, or let's say never applied decals on the factory. However, that doesn't mean that hkp helmets weren't used by them. Indeed, the Decal on the helmet has to be a Pocher Decal (field applied). The helmet clearly has reissue paint, which also makes sense in this case. I know it would be really rare, but I looked up the lot number in my official database research book, unfortunately this exact number is missing, together with others, but a lot number that was very close (also in the 5000 range) was also a hkp Single Decal SS Pocher, made during the same period (late war) These helmets are officially documented. Again, I know it's very unlikely and would be rare, but this is what I see. I can see nothing on this helmet was done recently, and I'm pretty sure nobody would ruin an original mint condition Pocher Decal like this by fading it out completely. Soldiers in the fields weren't looking at lot numbers, of someone needed a new helmet for some reason, they didn't care where it came from. It was probably reissued to the SS, and then repainted, and a Decal was applied. I've seen lots of weird things, especially late in the war.. SS soldiers with Heer decals, Luftwaffe decals etc etc.

I told him that also and my comment was deleted 😂

I've also said that, glad I'm not the only one. I mean, there's no shame in making mistakes.

@@Wreckdiver59 I never deleted any comments.. I think something went wrong with posting the comment then, because I see no reason to delete comments of people stating their opinions.

I am aware that hkp never produced SS helmets, or let's say never applied decals on the factory. However, that doesn't mean that hkp helmets weren't used by them. The Decal on the helmet has to be a Pocher Decal (field applied). The helmet clearly has reissue paint, which also makes sense in this case. Also, I looked up the lot number in my official research book, unfortunately this exact number is missing, together with others, but a lot number that was very close, was also a hkp Single Decal SS Pocher, made during the same period (late war)

Could indeed be field applied / refurbed. The OP is worded incorrectly; should have said no _factory applied_ SS insignia. Unfortunately, there being so little of the decal left, its authenticity must be considered uncertain pending professional microscopic examination, and it could be a post-war embellishment.

Thank you for watching!

I am aware that hkp never produced SS helmets, or let's say never applied decals on the factory. However, that doesn't mean that hkp helmets weren't used by them. The Decal on the helmet has to be a Pocher Decal (field applied). The helmet clearly has reissue paint, which also makes sense in this case. Also, I looked up the lot number in my official research book, unfortunately this exact number is missing, together with others, but a lot number that was very close, was also a hkp Single Decal SS Pocher, made during the same period (late war) So I actually have prove that Pocher decals were still applied on hkp helmets with high lot numbers. I know these decals do still exist, but they are really expensive, and I'm pretty sure nobody would apply an original mint condition Pocher Decal, and then fade it out to make it almost unrecognizable.

@@History-Secrets I'm not here to pick a fight with you about this. But you've essentially repeated what I already outlined in my initial comment. And my initial point was that factory decals were never factory applied to this manufacturer's helmets, which I stated - NOT that you wouldn't ever find SS decals on helmets made by this manufacturer. Authentic, unapplied Pocher decals when they pop up I see routinely go from anywhere to $200-500, even though they don't come up for sale often. If you think someone wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars to dress up a lid that would inflate the value to several thousand, then boy do I know a few scammers who have a boat load of doctored lids they'd like to sell you and a lot of other people. Eric Dolin being one of those players who I'm sure you know was involved in the Champagne decal scam a few years ago, and still routinely sells doctored helmets to unsuspecting people. What's left of this decal in theory could also be a totally fake decal that's been destroyed and marketed as authentic - and I am in no way saying it is in this case, it's a general example for people to visualize. We see this all the time with helmets presented over at one of the groups I help admin on Facebook, Military Helmets - Collectors Corner, which is the largest helmet group on Facebook with over 18,000 members. And it's not just SS helmets - it's Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Feldherrnhalle, etc. Regarding the lot list you're using, there's no high visibility list that I'm aware of that's constantly updated to account for new findings. And it sounds like in this case it's a book anyway. One example is not statistically significant. The only reason I raised this concern is because taking a quick inventory of the comments, people are just taking the information they're presented at face value without realizing there are a lot of technical and finer points to making sure helmets are authentic/correct.

@@akriener If people disagree with me, I don't see that as a fight, it's simply just a discussion. I'm aware of all the fakes, and what people do to fake helmets, but this helmet was never sold to me as an SS helmet. Anyways, helmets are hard to judge unless you have them in your hand. Some things are highly unlikely, but not impossible.

Good luck with it things out of the norm weeeelll!

@@History-Secrets forum nerds always think they are the authority on any and all things. You seem to know your stuff so don't sweat some rando trying to claim you been had. Those forum types are all the same. I quit looking at guitar forums because of all the "experts". Interesting channel man. I don't collect but I love WW2 military stuff especially German uniforms. There has never been another military with better looking uniforms and I think the helmet design was ahead of its time. Anyway congrats on your new helmet man and hope for an update video about the jerks that ran over your mg42. Subbed to your channel now good stuff.

Thank you for the nice comment!

The East Germans used WWII fire and police helmets, simply by painting over the decal only. My father picked one up at a rural German fire house after unification. A little nail polish remover did a great job removing the paint.

I don't think the SS decal is period to the helmet, it was most likely done in the 70s or 80s and its been scrubbed off. Nick says it's most likely a pocher decal which were used on M42 helmets but the only pocher SS decals were used on medium duty Edelstahl helmets Also over 95% of fake decals are applied on the wrong shell for the maker or applied on helmets that shouldn't have a decal

Yes, until mid 1943 i think

Not on HKP made m42s like this one, unless it is a reissued ex heer m42 that was applied with a Pocher decal. By this stage of the war they stoped using decals, also, as mentionned, HKP never made single decals ss helmets in their factories.

If the helmet still has original paint etc, never apply a new Decal on a original WW2 helmet! The value will go down. If it's a restored helmet, or a replica, you will apply decals with special glue. There are also cheaper decals, they can be applied with just water, but high quality decals are the best. Glue will be supplied when you buy them.

Ohh alright good to know thanks

That's so amazing to hear!! It can take a while sometimes before you find something, but don't give up!! Keep looking, and one day, you will be very lucky!!

Addictive isn't it? 😂

cuz if it has paint left the electrolysis will destroy it , oxalic acid preserves the paint.

There's a bunch of FB groups which sell such items I even run a group on there but definitely gotta be careful as there are fakes out there always good to look up a item before you buy it! Been collecting for over 10 years now it's a addiction!

Since he thinks he has a SE/HKP factory SS helmet, he doesn't have the knowledge. First off, the lot number 5799 is WAY past the point of the order for NO decals to be applied by factories that made helmets at that point Aug - Oct 1943. Only Police lids received decals at that point, they were not mentioned in the order and continued to receive decals, one on each side. Second, NS and SE/HKP factories did not produce SS helmets , if you find one of these makers with an SS decal it should be the Pocher decal. Since you cannot confirm this, well... It most likely a police lid, because I can see where the paint on the other side of the helmet, has been rubbed down a bit. Lot numbers are not specific serial numbers, they are a batch number and there could have been 300 helmets in that batch, dished out to Luft, Heer or Kriegs... He absolutely cannot say for certain that it was an SS helmet. Also... SE/HKP didn't produce all helmets in a purely linear Lot number progression, same with ET factory... So there can be decals on much higher lot numbered shells. He got taken. 🤣