Super sloppy Navy Corpsman helmet

[GeneralCheese]

I wanted to get some opinions on this helmet, as I just sold it and the buyer is unsure of the originality.  It's a salty fixed-bail shell, and transitional Inland liner.  The liner is painted green, with silver markings, which is odd, but it has been with the shell for a long time as there are bits of green paint stuck inside the shell.  Thanks for looking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dmar836]

Was the buyer unable to see pics of this prior to purchase? It's obvious that the liner has been painted "around" the silver insignia. I just can't imagine any adult human being that unsteady or artistically challenged but I think that a lot nowadays.

Regardless, I certainly have never seen an original painted WWII helmet that looked anything like that.

JMO

[GeneralCheese]

6 minutes ago, dmar836 said:

Was the buyer unable to see pics of this prior to purchase? It's obvious that the liner has been painted "around" the silver insignia. I just can't imagine any adult human being that unsteady or artistically challenged but I think that a lot nowadays.

Regardless, I certainly have never seen an original painted WWII helmet that looked anything like that.

JMO

ebay limits the number of pictures, so I couldn't do too many closeups.  You're right, you can see the crosses underneath the green, that were painted around or the green chipped away.  I was doing some research on Navy paint colors and it is the right color for tropic green, but perhaps too glossy.

[dmar836]

Even with limited pics, I would assume you didn't post deceptively shaded or poor quality - even phones allow for plenty of detail on a helmet like this. If he's wanting to return it, fine but he really should look better before just having to win. If you have to prove authenticity then there a far nicer helmets that you couldn't do that with. It's surprising to me that he is "unsure" of the authenticity. As an aside, there is very little that the Bay does that encourages personal responsibility on either side IMO.  Rant over.

I'd just sell it as an unknown old helmet - maybe done up as a toy, maybe for a restoration project or fantasy piece(God knows there are many bought to paint and sell as originals on the web), just not as a potentially high-end period painted lid. Phrase it that way and a buyer really can't complain. It does look like older paint on the shell but the liner is just kinda ugly. That green on the shell unfortunately (or fortunately) ties them together.

My feelings might change if your description was misleading or if it sold for real cheap. Not sure what they were hoping to get.

[GeneralCheese]

For comparison here is another Corpsman helmet that sold recently, with similarly sized crosses.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-NAVY-CORPSMAN-FIXED-bail-HELMET-amp-INLAND-LINER-SET-ATTACHED-MARINE-RAIDERS-/284133410862

 

[dmar836]

Cheese, If it was an auction, is there a link to it? One might say this is in the "none of your business" realm but since you asked here...

As there are always two sides to every story, we could better tell why he is unsure of the authenticity. How it was photographed and portrayed might lend an idea. Reneging on a purchase based on an otherwise normal and honest ad is pretty low-brow. eBay, IMO, shouldn't allow a return or cancellation of sale based simply on buyer's remorse or subsequent research unless there was deception involved involved. If there are no stakes then how does one "win"? And if one never fails or makes an unwise decision, how does one become better?

[dmar836]

To me there is absolutely no comparison in the appearance of the other helmet shown. Even if it was sloppy, there are as many variables as there are owners. Hopefully these pics aren't offered as a reason the buyer shouldn't be concerned if the photos he saw were anything like the ones posted here. That helmet actually appears realistic to other helmets of the period and is named and researched.

Just trying to be objective

[GeneralCheese]

4 minutes ago, dmar836 said:

To me there is absolutely no comparison in the appearance of the other helmet shown. Even if it was sloppy, there are as many variables as there are owners. Hopefully these pics aren't offered as a reason the buyer shouldn't be concerned if the photos he saw were anything like the ones posted here. That helmet actually appears realistic to other helmets of the period and is named and researched.

Just trying to be objective

Yes but it is a point of comparison nonetheless, showing a similar size cross.  I offered to post this thread to get some opinions for the buyer before he paid, so there really isn't any risk for either of us.  Personally I like the helmet but can see why there are concerns.

[manayunkman]

The symbol on the front of this helmet is not a corpsman rate.

 

Looks like an upside down army rank.

[GeneralCheese]

22 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

The symbol on the front of this helmet is not a corpsman rate.

 

Looks like an upside down army rank.

Chief Petty Officer with a diamond? where the cross should be

[Bugme]

Backyard Navy maybe? Honestly can't believe this was actually used in Navy and in my opinion, was done by a kid. Again, my opinion.

[bigschuss]

Frankly, it looks like a child painted everything. 

[kammo-man]

Looks backyard to me.

 

 

The kid probably loved Wacky races.

But then again.....

Who didn’t !

 

 

owen 

[otter42]