On this page is a selection of original Helmet components.  Most of these are sourced from helmets that have been dismantled to refurbish as restored helmets. (Please note; Being a collector myself, I am averse to "destroying" a quality, original helmet. All helmets that I salvage for parts are no longer collectible due to having been repainted or damaged in some other way) I generally have a stock of various parts in assorted sizes with assorted markings. The items listed on this page represent the best that I have as far as condition. If you are in need of something that you do not see here, send me an e-mail and let me know.

   At the bottom of this page is a series of "Fake Alerts". You may want to check them out in order to be more aware of what to look for in deciding whether a Helmet component is reproduction or genuine.

   Once again: ALL items on this page carry a LIFETIME guarantee of 100% originality.

CLICK on any photo to see a full size image

Item # 213: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This is a wartime steel mounted strap with pliable leather. No markings. grey painted buckle and sound stitching. $185.00

Item # 214: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  Here is a wartime un-dated chinstrap with grey painted buckle. Nice leather. SOLD

Item # 215: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This strap has been period shortened about an inch and a half to remove slack. The leather is sound. The hardware is steel. perfect for any M40 or M42 helmet. SOLD

Item # 216: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This chinstrap is named to it's former owner. The long end is not maker marked or dated. The steel hardware indicate wartime vintage. Nice leather. Sound stitching. $185.00

Item # 212: WW2 German helmet liner, 59 size, 1943

  This liner is 100% original in every regard. The lether is in very nice condition with a clear size 59 marking. The liner frame is zinc coated, well marked as made by B&C of Litzmannstadt; the German name for Lodz, Poland. (B&C re-located their Berlin plant to Lodz in order to take advantage of cheap local labor provided by hiring internees held by the RSSHA). The liner frame is also marked 66 na 59. Original drawstring in excellent condition. $245.00SOLD

Item # 207: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  Here is a very sound and sturdy strap. No markings. Steel hardware. Perfect for any M40 or M42. SOLD

Item #208 : WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This strap is almost in un-issued condition. It's dated '44 with no maker marking. Typical of this maker as I have seen these before. If you have a minty helmet which needs a strap; look no further. SOLD

Item # 209: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This is a nicely aged and used strap. It appears that there has been a repair to the leather judging from the black line which looks like an old glue-line. I didn't notice it when I first got this strap. Nobody likes a repaired strap but this is well done and quite sturdy. $125.00

Item # 210: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  This is a good looking used strap that is completely serviceable and sound. It bears a 1946 dated Czech army property stamp on it. The Czech salvaged every bit of Former German stuff they could for use in their new army.... Until the Soviet inspired communists arrived in 1947... $145.00

Item # 211: WW2 German helmet chinstrap

  Here is a chinstrap with sound leather, intact stitching and my absolute favorite buckle; the one painted green. No marking or date. But look at that buckle. It makes my heart go pit-pat. SOLD

                                    Item # 239: WW2 German helmet split-pins

I have several sets of original WW2 split-pins with washers. These are later war made and are NOT maker marked. They have been repainted in black as they were used post-war in Czech fire-brigade helmets. The black paint can easily be stripped and repainted to match your helmet. Some of them may have dented heads. Price per set of three with original washers; $25.00

Item # 240: WW2 German helmet shells, original pre-1945

I am able to offer helmets shells in the following sizes/models. Each helmet is 100% original pre-1945 German issue. ( NOT post-war or Spanish) These helmets have no original paint but will be free of rust and will have no cracks or significant dents. I have only the following models/sizes available. Please do not send e-mails asking about other models/sizes. If I have them available for sale, they are listed below.

     Model M42, size 68;    $250.00    Model M42, size 66;    $135.00   

Model M42, size 64;    $100.00     Model M42, size 62;    $90.00

Model M42, size 60;    SOLD OUT

FAKE ALERT ! #1 (chinstraps) ...There are many many reproduction chinstraps being offered for sale as originals. Many of them are advertised as mint un-issued, found in a ware house. I can tell you that I have been traveling the world, buying and selling helmets and militaria for 20+ years. There is NO SUCH THING as a warehouse of un-issued helmet straps and there has never been an un-issued supply of them "found". The reproductions mostly come from eastern European craftsmen who will produce extreme quality work. (At what we would call "discount" rates.)  Watch out for chinstraps that have never been mounted, watch out for chinstraps that still smell of leather. (new leather will retain its smell for 5-10 years)

MARKINGS: Chin strap maker markings alone are not the way to tell if a particular chinstrap is authentic or reproduction. The people who are manufacturing chinstraps with the intention of fooling collectors, are making metal stamps to mark their product in an authentic fashion. These markings, for the most part, are copied from known originals. In my travels in eastern Europe and through my contacts overseas, I have visited these places where the "fakers" have established their "factories". I have seen what they are doing and have viewed the best reproductions currently being made. Another note on markings; a full 50% of original straps I have encountered are unmarked in any way.

BUCKLES: More than 50% of all original steel buckles were painted grey or grey green. I have observed many that were unpainted. As far as reproductions, I have observed at least 5 different variations. Only one of them comes close, in my opinion. There is a new reproduction that is being made with specially struck aluminum buckles. These buckles are practically indistinguishable from originals. Fortunately, the leather tanning is not exact and the makers are not attempting to fool collectors. These aluminum mounted straps bear the markings "R. Larsen, Berlin".

Below is a sampling of reproduction chinstraps that I have encountered. Some of them are good, some not so good. Some are intended to fool collectors, some not. Some of these, I know who the makers are, some I do not. This is certainly only a partial list of what is out there. I will add more as I run across them. The opinions as to quality are my own.

FAKE ALERT ! #2 (liners) ...This is an area where the collector does not have too much to worry about. There are reproduction liners being made today but they are, for the most part, being made to sell as reproductions for restoring Helmets. The quality is very good but will not fool any collector with an ounce of common sense. Normally, the leather backing material that cushions the leather from the inner band is made from synthetic foam rather than the wool felt that is found on originals.  The hardware on the reproductions is zinc-plated steel rather than solid zinc alloy. The best current reproductions are maker marked "B & C, Litzmannstadt" This mark has been copied from an original maker but the liner itself should not fool anybody. NOTE: there is soon to hit the market, a new improved reproduction liner that is a copy of the early aluminum banded liner. It will display certain features that will make it easy to discern as a copy.

This is an example of a real liner band that has had new leather applied to it and aged by applying brown dye. The drawstring is new but has been like-wise dyed to appear old.

The collector should be more aware of liners that are made from original components with new leather added to replace worn or missing leather. Watch out for the correct size marking on the leather. Original liners are ALWAYS size marked on one of the fingers. Original liners are precision cut from dies. Watch out for leather that seems to have been cut with scissors or shears. Remember that all original liners have small leather grommets on the inside of the "finger" tips to re-enforce the drawstring holes. Original liners will often have various markings on the reverse of the leather. These markings may be an RB number (from the particular leather company that supplied the leather to the liner maker.) The markings may also be a date or simply a drawing-lot number. Not all original liners bear these markings and the absence of them does not tell that the leather is new-made.

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