Graduation gift to myself!

Dane Jensen

Dane Jensen

Well-known member
Hello everyone! Well, I just graduated yesterday, I’m pretty excited for what’s to come! Going to see my Army recruiter and get the ball rolling on enlistment!

I didn’t receive any gifts from anyone, my friends kept talking about how they got money and the like. Some getting cars and one even got an original WWII M1 carbine (lucky duck)

Hearing all this made me just a tiny bit jealous so I decided to go out and treat myself for all the hard work the last twelve years.

So I just bought myself this M16-M17 Stahlhelm!

37582C2C-C948-4549-80A4-0E5A18289CE4.jpeg83A4F6FB-5231-4B18-B2EA-B44711BC791E.jpegFFED2F68-56EE-4BB7-8997-FB9BACF902B8.jpeg

We agreed on $500 for it, has the original paint and liner! Really really happy to find this!

All in all, I’m incredibly grateful for all the lessons I learned and all the knowledge passed down from over the years from teachers and fellow collectors! Wouldn’t be where I am today if it haven’t been for you!F0263704-F4A8-444C-9920-156C09A77786.jpeg

P.S Grad caps look like Tschapkas :~)
 
Tony without Kaiser said:
Welcome to here and you have made a very good purchase by the looks of it. Once common, M16-18 are difficult to find now. Like diplomas around here….Way to go!
Click to expand...
Thank you thank you thank Sir! It means the world to hear this from you!

You’ve been one of my idols for years, I’ve always looked up to you and followed your works on Kaisers bunker! Thank you so much for all the knowledge and help all these years!

You’re one of my hero’s!
 
Dane!

Congratulations on your graduation! We are all very proud of your achievement!

As for not getting a gift, you got something you really wanted from the best person you know....yourself!!! You can't beat that!

As you start out on the road of life, keep your eyes and ears open. Just like collecting Pickelhaubes, you will always learn something new. Come back to visit us often to show us your new finds like your excellent M16, ask us plenty of questions and enjoy yourself.

All the best,
John
 
Congratulations on Graduation and your new piece.
Just for the record, this is an M17, you can tell, as an M16 will almost always have a leather liner band in my research.
This has a steel liner band, and M17's will always have a steel liner band, and yours is a fine piece.
I'd like to obtain one for myself some time soon.
 
JohnM said:
Dane!

Congratulations on your graduation! We are all very proud of your achievement!

As for not getting a gift, you got something you really wanted from the best person you know....yourself!!! You can't beat that!

As you start out on the road of life, keep your eyes and ears open. Just like collecting Pickelhaubes, you will always learn something new. Come back to visit us often to show us your new finds like your excellent M16, ask us plenty of questions and enjoy yourself.

All the best,
John
Click to expand...

Thank you so very much John! Really put a smile on my face with your words!

Really happy I found the forum and so glad I can share with you amazing people! Gonna save your post as I feel it really embodies what this forum is all about!

Thank you so very much sir!
 
Kaiser Wilhelm II said:
Congratulations on Graduation and your new piece.
Just for the record, this is an M17, you can tell, as an M16 will almost always have a leather liner band in my research.
This has a steel liner band, and M17's will always have a steel liner band, and yours is a fine piece.
I'd like to obtain one for myself some time soon.
Click to expand...

Thank you Kindly Kaiser, I appreciate the help! I’m still learning how to identify Stahlhelms myself so your input is highly appreciated!

Hope you are able to find one as well! Happy hunting!
 
As a retired high school History teacher of 37 years, I wish to congratulate you Dane, on your graduation. Well done! You must be proud of this achievement and I am sure that your family is as well. Don't envy those that got cars for graduating...those things rust out and become money pits due to repairs/fender benders. That stahlhelm however, will last you a lifetime and will put a smile on your face whenever you look at it! You will remember how good it felt to buy a piece of History over 100 years old! Again, my sincere congratulations on your graduation! :) 👍
 
b.loree said:
As a retired high school History teacher of 37 years, I wish to congratulate you Dane, on your graduation. Well done! You must be proud of this achievement and I am sure that your family is as well. Don't envy those that got cars for graduating...those things rust out and become money pits due to repairs/fender benders. That stahlhelm however, will last you a lifetime and will put a smile on your face whenever you look at it! You will remember how good it felt to buy a piece of History over 100 years old! Again, my sincere congratulations on your graduation! :) 👍
Click to expand...

Thank you so much sir! Thank you for teaching the younger generations, you’ve done so much to affect them!

You really hit me right in the feels, thank you so much for your kind words sir!
 
Dane,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on a doubleheader; graduation from school and acquiring a nice WWI German Stahlhelm. It is a respectable addition to any military collection. Good luck on your plans to join the service. No nation can remain free without its youth ready to protect the country of their birth.
Best regards
John
 
JohnM said:
Dane!

Congratulations on your graduation! We are all very proud of your achievement!

As for not getting a gift, you got something you really wanted from the best person you know....yourself!!! You can't beat that!

As you start out on the road of life, keep your eyes and ears open. Just like collecting Pickelhaubes, you will always learn something new. Come back to visit us often to show us your new finds like your excellent M16, ask us plenty of questions and enjoy yourself.

All the best,
John
Click to expand...
Well said John, good luck on the journey with the military Dane and do visit often!

Best wishes,
Alex
 
Nice piece! I was assigned to read All Quiet on the Western Front in High School and acquired a helmet like this one around the same time when there were a few more around from the veterans. It was my first experience with holding an object in my hands and getting that eerie sense of actually knowing the person who wore the helmet and what they must have gone through in the war. I never got over it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top