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Original Vietnam ARVN Ranger Helmet - Update


BOLO
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I have a feeling this one could be an original?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orig-Vietnam-Ranger-Helmet-Size-9-Ex-Cond-/262448417865

 

seller's description:

 

Nice as can be, a Vietnam, dated 7 Jun 1966, steel helmet w/liner in great condition. It has been worn, extremely very minor paint dings, mostly to the top. It is a size 9, as a retired veteran, and Vietnam veteran, I hope my brother came back with this. This is a no reserve auction, good luck and happy bidding. NOTE: I SHIP USA ONLY AND TAKE PAY PAL ONLY. Please let US all try and get our troops home safely and ASAP.

post-1885-0-11062300-1464015346.jpg

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this one looks kind of different than what I usually see , it has a nice swirl pattern camo, and appears to still have original bar tacked WW2 straps?

post-1885-0-87719200-1464016031.jpg

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USMC-RECON0321

I've been watching that one also. Not sure what to think of it either. As you said, I've not seen any period pictures that resemble this style and that could be good or bad?? To me, it appears to be done mostly in spray paints and stencils.

 

Interested in hearing what others think?

 

Troy

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Soc Trang ARVN Rangers

 

the paint color combination on these soldiers helmets is very similar except without a black panther.

post-1885-0-51905800-1464051034.jpg

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We've had a number of threads on ARVN Ranger helmets, showing both the good and the bad.

 

If you are thinking of buying this one, you might want to run a search for them and look through them.

 

Personally I think this one is junk based on the Tiger design alone. The proportions of the design are way off, especially

the star.

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I don't know....those look pretty dang close to me. I blew the picture up. I'm no specialist by any means but they sure look alike.

Ronnie

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jkash23686

Markings aside since I'm not as well versed as others on Nam stuff as others here. I have liked the wear on this one from the get go.

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I like it too, and had intentions of going for it before it was posted, fingers crossed it doesn't get ended early for a cheeseball backdoor offer.

 

J

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I saw this one too but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

Unless Bob or Owen hand you one personally, or the veteran takes it down off his mantle and gives it to you, it's probably not original. These are so heavily faked. Not saying miracles don't happen, but I've seen great looking pieces and threads just like this especially for TR helmets, and 99.9% of the time they end up later being judged a fake when someone has it in hand.

 

I think the colors and dome wear on this one give it a chance, but that's all it is, a chance....

 

So there's my .02 for the day.

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USMC-RECON0321

I like it too, and had intentions of going for it before it was posted, fingers crossed it doesn't get ended early for a cheeseball backdoor offer.

 

J

 

:o:lol::lol:

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Well, I will have to admit the photo gives some credence. It would be nice to find a similar photo taken at closer range.

 

Here is a link to what I would consider a more standard design. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/244242-rare-original-arvn-helmet/

 

The green base color of the helmet we are discussing seems a bit too bright for a military shade. It looks more like a commercial color. The ones in the photo appear to be more of a standard GI OD green.

 

But, with Vietnam era militaria, anything is possible.

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I like it too, and had intentions of going for it before it was posted, fingers crossed it doesn't get ended early for a cheeseball backdoor offer.

 

J

 

it would be so unfair if the seller were to sell to a backdoor buyer now after it has so many bids on it

 

I hope the seller lets auction finish to the end

 

This helmet seems a little different from others or more common varients seen in wartime photos

 

plus it's a WWII front seam swivel bail shell, some copies use euro shells or late mfg shells

 

the correct type of shell the arvn would have used, older supplies of us shells were commonly used.

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GeneralCheese

Well, I will have to admit the photo gives some credence. It would be nice to find a similar photo taken at closer range.

 

Here is a link to what I would consider a more standard design. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/244242-rare-original-arvn-helmet/

 

The green base color of the helmet we are discussing seems a bit too bright for a military shade. It looks more like a commercial color. The ones in the photo appear to be more of a standard GI OD green.

 

But, with Vietnam era militaria, anything is possible.

 

The base color looks to me like a somewhat glossier USMC green:

 

aY0w2RQ.jpg

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jkash23686

 

 

The green base color of the helmet we are discussing seems a bit too bright for a military shade. It looks more like a commercial color. The ones in the photo appear to be more of a standard GI OD green.

 

But, with Vietnam era militaria, anything is possible.

 

Could also be very bad pics. I picked a lid off of ebay a few months back that the wear looked good but the camo looked way too bright. But I had a hunch on it and I took a chance. In hand the colors ended up being much better than the really bad pics.

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While I know all you 'nam guys see ARVN Ranger helmets equal to what WWII guys see in a marked WWII A/B helmet, and since these can drag down some big cash, it behooves us to be just as cautious. Ask yourself, just how many ARVN Rangers were there? Then ask, how many survived? Then, how many thought to take their helmets with them as they escaped Vietnam? This leaves you with an alarmingly small amount of helmets that, in most cases, came home as a gift or memento of a U.S. adviser/support to the ARVN Rangers.

Then there is this helmet which, straight away, I don't know if I like it. I believe someone may have gone to great lengths in order to make it look real but, many of the obvious age areas are also easy to duplicate using petroleum jelly while painting the helmet and masking tape after the helmet is painted. Then there is the Panther, which is shaped and sized in a way I have never seen before. This doesn't mean it's wrong but, I've handled enough legit Ranger helmets that it causes me to question this one. So, could it be legit? I suppose and an in hand inspection would take away all doubt but at this point, this thing has as good a chance of being an easy_green arti-fake as it does a legit ARVN ranger.

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it would be so unfair if the seller were to sell to a backdoor buyer now after it has so many bids on it

 

One would hope, that 505th I was the high bidder on was ended early even though it had a lot of bids and was well over $100. Just glad to see that one of our very own vietnam helmet experts here on the forum was able to get it after the seller decided to end it because he mis-listed it.

 

I just hope that doesn't happen to be the case again here, I swear the last four or five helmet I've had my eye on were all ended early. I forgot what it's like to see a helmet sized box on my front porch.

 

J

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While I know all you 'nam guys see ARVN Ranger helmets equal to what WWII guys see in a marked WWII A/B helmet, and since these can drag down some big cash, it behooves us to be just as cautious. Ask yourself, just how many ARVN Rangers were there? Then ask, how many survived? Then, how many thought to take their helmets with them as they escaped Vietnam? This leaves you with an alarmingly small amount of helmets that, in most cases, came home as a gift or memento of a U.S. adviser/support to the ARVN Rangers.

 

Then there is this helmet which, straight away, I don't know if I like it. I believe someone may have gone to great lengths in order to make it look real but, many of the obvious age areas are also easy to duplicate using petroleum jelly while painting the helmet and masking tape after the helmet is painted. Then there is the Panther, which is shaped and sized in a way I have never seen before. This doesn't mean it's wrong but, I've handled enough legit Ranger helmets that it causes me to question this one. So, could it be legit? I suppose, and an in hand inspection would take away all doubt but at this point, this thing has as good a chance of being an easy_green arti-fake as it does a legit ARVN ranger.

All good points on the originality. Has anyone asked the seller for some background information on where or how the helmet was obtained?

 

He/she does offer a return policy, so if the price stays reasonable, and we could see some better pictures/closeups it might be a gamble that pays off.

 

J

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For sure it's not the usual fake Ranger helmet but there is something that not convince me...it's similar to the ARVN BDQ helmet that we can see in the Bolo pics, but just similar (for exemple the tiger eyes have a different design) ..in every case, in my opinion, it's really suspicious the near mint condition of the stell pot and (above all) of the liner...

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