439th Signal Battalion Posted June 4, 2016 Share #101 Posted June 4, 2016 I do wish that this picture was clearer, but I believe that the helmet this ARVN Ranger is wearing is very similar to the subject of this thread. This soldier belonged to the 33rd ARVN Ranger Battalion, 5th ARVN Ranger Group in 1967. The 5th Ranger Group was paired company for company/platoon for platoon with all maneuver battalions of the 199th Infantry Brigade in 1967. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 4, 2016 Share #102 Posted June 4, 2016 It looks like a winner to me too!......mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC-RECON0321 Posted June 4, 2016 Share #103 Posted June 4, 2016 Anton, Like I said before, I like it and I think anyone who inspects it would also give the same opinion of it being a nice original example. It has nice age, patina and the fact it was done on a WWII front seam shell with the original straps still attached is a plus, compared to the 99% of strapless shells the artifakers use. The picture Bolo provided is a great reference and if you look closely at the very front soldier, you can barely make out the red paint on the top of his helmet just like yours. If I was you I would display it with a purple scarf and a print out of that picture. Congrats Troy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
439th Signal Battalion Posted June 4, 2016 Share #104 Posted June 4, 2016 One more. This one is from an Army Photographer and shows another ARVN Ranger with similar helmet and a dog handler from the 199th's attached, 49th Infantry Platoon Scout Dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted June 4, 2016 Share #105 Posted June 4, 2016 Thank you Troy. I already printed out the photo and put it with the helmet. Next step is the purple scarf. Great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted June 4, 2016 Share #106 Posted June 4, 2016 Helmet looks great in hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau-Brummel Posted June 4, 2016 Share #107 Posted June 4, 2016 Helmet looks great in hand. No surprise there then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted June 4, 2016 Share #108 Posted June 4, 2016 None at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugèn Posted June 4, 2016 Share #109 Posted June 4, 2016 I had some doubt about the helmet, but now, after that I see this pics, I think that it's a 100% legit. My compliment Anton! Anyway, in my opinion, this helmet it's a great news for all Vietnam collectors, because it confirm that today still exist many ARVN hidden treasures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted June 4, 2016 Share #110 Posted June 4, 2016 Looks good to me too. Congrats Anton! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 5, 2016 Share #111 Posted June 5, 2016 Looks much better in these recent photo's. But, still have reservations as I don't see it as one looker. But, that might just be me, Us Korean, WWII and WWI collectors aren't all that smart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted June 5, 2016 Share #112 Posted June 5, 2016 Looks much better in these recent photo's. But, still have reservations as I don't see it as one looker. But, that might just be me, WOW. Seriously? No sure what you are looking for. I really don't see what is keeping you on the fence here. I do appreciate you weighing in however. Anyway, it is a one looker to me. Especially in-hand. The period photos also help to authenticate it in my mind. I have no doubts and I am very happy with it. Thank you all for the nice comments and congrats. I really do appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted June 5, 2016 Share #113 Posted June 5, 2016 Look A helmet likE this is a tReasUre. o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau-Brummel Posted June 5, 2016 Share #114 Posted June 5, 2016 It certainly Is! Congratulations Anton you have a very serious piece of history there and should you ever wish to sell It . Look A helmet likE this is a tReasUre. o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 5, 2016 Share #115 Posted June 5, 2016 Looks much better in these recent photo's. But, still have reservations as I don't see it as one looker. But, that might just be me, WOW. Seriously? No sure what you are looking for. I really don't see what is keeping you on the fence here. I do appreciate you weighing in however. Hey, you asked for opinions, I gave one. Please note, I never said it was a fake, I was however clear from the beginning that I was skeptical. You should see me at a show, I go over the perspective purchase with a fine tooth comb... IN HAND! Any doubt I may have causes me to put the helmet down and walk away. But you want me to jump on board and agree with you and everyone else based on photo's but, I can't. Listen, if you are happy, then I am happy. Enjoy your new helmet, it's probably a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton67 Posted June 5, 2016 Share #116 Posted June 5, 2016 To Bugme: I understand. From your perspective, you want to look at it under a microscope before giving it a Ya or Nay. Fair enough. To Kammo-man & Beau-Brummel: Thank you for your kind comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted June 5, 2016 Share #117 Posted June 5, 2016 Looks like a nice ARVN helmet. Not sure what happened with Vietnam helmet collecting. I remember original ARVN's selling in the $900 - $1500 range. (granted there wasn't a lot available) Even from reputable dealer sites, even the US issue helmets (with history) have seemed to sky rocket in the last few years. Anyway, cool helmet, been hunting for an original for years, congrats, from the pictures it look like the real deal, and the period photos show an identical panther design on the front, I believe the price is fair for what it is. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronny67 Posted June 5, 2016 Share #118 Posted June 5, 2016 WWII got too expensive, and the public likes to pretend Korea didn't happen, so they jumped to Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCheese Posted June 5, 2016 Share #119 Posted June 5, 2016 WWII got too expensive, and the public likes to pretend Korea didn't happen, so they jumped to Vietnam. There are definitely some Korean War helmets that are extremely pricey as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxl155 Posted June 5, 2016 Share #120 Posted June 5, 2016 Great helmet! A lot Vietnam militaria collectors always say they would never trust a painted ARVN BDQ helmet. Comparing to Anton's and Owen's luxury helmets, my helmet looks poor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kammo-man Posted June 5, 2016 Share #121 Posted June 5, 2016 But thats also a beauty !!!! owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted June 5, 2016 Share #122 Posted June 5, 2016 Yours is very nice too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxl155 Posted June 5, 2016 Share #123 Posted June 5, 2016 Thank you Owen and Andrei. I feel so lucky to own one of these. I totally agree with Owen that painted ARVN BDQ helmets are very very rare. Too many fakes makes collectors think real ones as fake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugèn Posted June 6, 2016 Share #124 Posted June 6, 2016 Comparing to Anton's and Owen's luxury helmets, my helmet looks poor. ..I will be very happy with your helmet in my hands.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnDuc49 Posted June 6, 2016 Share #125 Posted June 6, 2016 Hi, I hope you guys don't mind me asking, but when did the value of ARVN helmets rise so drastically? I believed they were worth between $1000-1500 but now they're $5,000? Are some variants more collectible compared to others? Thanks, N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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