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Very nice. I‘ve always had a soft spot for relics from ships. Neat to hold a piece with known history in your hands. At one time I had an extensive collection of relics from the USS Maine. Steve

It’s been quite a while since I’ve bought a helmet. Between Amy and Steve’s hauls and Peter’s MG08, I’m starting to feel like a slacker. Steve

No shooting, I’m crushed. And only slightly less jealous. Steve

Beautiful! Do you plan to shoot it?

Wow! Pickelhauben, raupenhelme, miters, beskozirka, military miniatures and castles! Mirrors my own interests, and much of my own collection. I wonder if we're related? Steve

Beautiful set Tony. Only one problem: now you need an officer’s mitre. Of course knowing you, there’s probably one on the way. Steve

I believe 90% or more of the M15s in existence were Bond helmets, especially those that are in excellent condition. The hay could also be excelsior, either of which could have been used in packing at some point in the helmet’s existence. Steve

Oh? And where is the WAF right now? Shall we talk about the champagne runes cover up? I’ve seen more favoritism, ego stroking and butt kissing on the WAF than on any other forum. Maybe you can tell us what happened to the guy who had the temerity to question the champagne runes long before they...

I will say one can never be 100% certain from even the best photographs, the helmet must be inspected in hand. The fakes today are very well done. I picked up my first camo in 1965 and have owned and looked at a fair number since then. I have pulled them out of attics, basements and barns in...

I'm not seeing what you're seeing Amy. Looks OK to me. The paints used were generally gloss, and had a flattening agent (probably talc or something like it) added. The mixing was not always consistent, especially noticeable in the black lines, appearing as streaks of flat or gloss. It also...

I know the dealer, BS are appropriate initials. He does get some nice things, and has a good reputation among inexperienced collectors. As far as I’m concerned, used car salesmen are more reputable. He is a smooth operator, not to be trusted. Steve

Sorry to hear this. Remember though, that the world does turn, this will pass, you will come out the other side and be OK. Steve

I believe they were probably painted at the company level by a detail while they were out of the line. “You you and you come with me. I’ve got a little job for you.” A few guys would paint all the helmets in the company, probably limited by the number of paint brushes they had. That would...

I don’t get too hung up on the colors. They used what they could get. I believe paints were glossy in those days, so they flattened it when they painted the helmets. The gloss of the paint was determined by how much flattening agent they mixed into the paint, I believe they used talc or...

I’m jealous. Very jealous. Steve

Joe, The Sharps was not a repeater, but a single shot breechloader. Perhaps you are thinking of the Spencer, which was a repeater with the magazine being a tube loaded through the buttstock. I've fired the Sharps but not the Spencer. Both the Sharps and Spencer are essentially lever actions...

I find these prices quite high for the time. Of course in the pre internet days helmets were a lot harder to find, but even allowing for that this is a very expensive price list. $300 for an M15 tschako? I bought an identical one in 2000 for $350. When I started working in the trades in 1974 a...

Steve, I’m with you, I think only the one regiment wore them. Most of the ones I’ve seen have the company number on them. Also, if they were worn by an entire division, I would think they would be more common than they are. In my 50 years of collecting I have pulled many, many M16s out of...

I do love my helmets, but to me they are accessories for the Gewehrs, Lugers, and Broomhandles. Steve

Steve, I have some of the old Soldier Shop catalogs but never managed to make it to the store. I lived out on Long Island in those days. Used to take day trips into the city once in a while and roam around. Saw the biggest rat I’ve ever seen lying dead in the gutter in the garment district...