Colonial

[Doc_Holliday]

Hi

What about this one? Cheap isen't it?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Deutscher-Kolonial-Tropenhelm-/220915836027?pt=Militaria&hash=item336f9c247b#ht_500wt_1202" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Doc

 

[RON]

There was a similar Kaiserliches Schutztruppe Tropenhelm (c1910) selling for €550 on Weitze sometime ago; don't know if it's there anymore.
If I'm not mistaken, the wappen and (officer) cockade are add-ons; these shouldn't be there: Other (more expensive) models of Imperial German tropenhelms had these one but not this one.
But I'm sure the Colonial Tropenhelm collectors would have better insights as to this one...

 

[poniatowski]

I don't see that on Weitz any more...

Ron

 

[RON]

Hey Ron, are you saying you actually bought it?

Here's a couple of pics I had saved for reference:

 

[poniatowski]

No. I was thinking of a different type of helmet. Not really into 'sun helmets'... but then, that's just me.

Ron

 

[Peter_Suciu]

I'm going to jump in and offer my opinion, which is that I don't think either helmet noted above are even German. I think both are French. The interior, the liner, the stitching on the leather, the spacers, etc. as well as the outside shape of the helmet look to be much like the French M1886 helmet in my collection. I compiled the photos.

I could be wrong, but I think those are French helmets doctored to look like the rarer German helmet, or just passed off. The French helmets aren't exactly common but sell for far less than what the German helmets do:

 

[Arran]

Peter, you're absolutely correct. I've also seen 19th C US pith helmets passed off as German...

 

[Peter_Suciu]

Peter, you're absolutely correct. I've also seen 19th C US pith helmets passed off as German...

I have as well. I've seen so few of colonial pattern helmets that I truly believe to be German. The US pith helmets are actually closer in shape to the German ones, but I note that the German ones have six canvas panels whereas the American ones have four.