UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Helmet Forum M35 DD Army AK

This is the helmet that came from e-bay that was in an earlier thread.
I am very happy with it. Came from the Vet's Grandson out of the UK.
He included some nice photos and history on the vet.
Just a beautiful AK helmet. Has a nice orange/pinkish color to it, brush painted. Both decals are clearly visible under the paint.
There is wear over the decals and I think the paint may have flaked in some areas but I do not think they have been dug on.
EF66/59
The smooth green paint remains on the interior.
Named on both the liner and the helmet.
Original to the helmet maker marked chinstrap.

I paid a lot for this helmet, but to me its was worth it.

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Matt, a real beauty! These vet helmets are the best. Tim.

WOW Matt - great job..

Nice helmet Matt!!!!
Bob

A killer, well done on doing what it took.

Gee, what a strange irony....'Nowak' is the name of the 'scam emailer' in a previous thread. Some weird ju-ju goin round on these forums.

Robert

SPECTACULAR! Well Done!

Cool helmet, love that DAK color.

nice one Matt, you said you paid it a lot
but a 35 Heer DAK is not stuff that we see
very often
ciao mario

Way cool Matt.

Matt. if any helmet belongs with you, this one has your name written all over it! Beautiful camo helmet. I love it!!!

Erik

Amen, that is a killer helmet!
Paul

That's a truly impressive helmet, Matt. Another great eBay find. It is interesting to see the large lot number in the rear skirt...20665.

Cheers,

Magnificent helmet, Matt. It's always a plus when the decals are obvious by both minor patina and a visible outline. So this is why you sold me a helmet.

Congratulations,
Cody

Yea, I like how inconspicuous he was in the first thread. Sneak! Just kidding Matt. A DAK lid is still on my list of must owns. Congradulations. Money well spent I'm sure.

quote:

Originally posted by darryl: It is interesting to see the large lot number in the rear skirt...20665.

The number seems to be par for the course with the EF maker. I have an M35 EF that is just a hundred numbers off from this one.

It seems that EF got into the M35 helmet-making-game fairly late. Like 1938 or 39. Yet even in the two years that that they were making them, the lot numbers tend to jump around a bit with no rhyme or reason. There are 4 digit numbers found on 40 dated M35s and 5 digit numbers on earlier ones. One of the mysteries of the helmet collecting world.

But here I am boring you guys with numbers instead of appreciating the posted helmet....that is one spectacular tropical!

The original photos provided on ebay were good. Looked killer to me. I followed that auction with great interest.

The closeup photos here are much better. With the addition of high quality closeup photos I would pass.

Been wrong before, will no doubt be wrong again. I will leave it to those with more experience. But for me personally, I'd pass regardless of the above evaluations.

Lots of buttons left unpushed with the closeups.

All the best,

Very nice DAK lid. Was bidding on it too, but a few seconds before the end the price was a little out of my league.
Congratulations Matt

Matt, to hell with what you paid for it as long as you're happy with it and did'nt **** off your wife, exceptional helmet. Centerpiece of any collection.

Thanks guys
As I have said before the owner of the helmet needs to be happy, with this helmet I am.

Ben....I mean Ken for as many helmets you have handled I think you know decals were sometimes not applied in the exact same spot on every helmet and as far as the name, the age/look of the paint is fine.

Ken, you have "burned" a lot of bridges in this hobby...and I think you know its not related to your remarks in this particular thread.

Matt

I don't think it's necessary to involve too much wives in our collecting budgets,if possible, since we would have a whole lot of them ****** off

quote:

Originally posted by mech91:
Matt, to hell with what you paid for it as long as you're happy with it and did'nt **** off your wife, exceptional helmet. Centerpiece of any collection.

I think the helmet is great and would buy it in a heartbeat for that price. It won't ever depreciate so what an investment. Hell, you only live once.

quote:

Originally posted by Ben..:
Isn't the ridge on the top of the decal too high or well defined to be an original?
Wouldn't the name on the skirt have turned yellow from age?
Please explain.

Decals were applied by hand, and how well they were applied was determined by what kind of day you were having or how much you had to drink!

Nice helmet, Matt! Thanks a lot for keeping on amazing us. Shu

Just a note: I have seen Ken B. at many shows in Pa. and NJ. He has told me that he has been banned from GDC and has not been active on this forum in a long time.

Matt, a truely wonderfull helmet with all the characteristics one likes to see in a "Real" Dak helmet, I dont think you paid to much for this one at all. Many collectors In New Zealand value these as high if not higher than ss helmets due to our involvement against the Dak in Africa. "WHO DARES WINS" Matt and you won a ripper!!

Greg

Like Greg said Matt & as you know, Kiwi's love these lid's as the ultimate Nth African souvenir. Great to see it's with a forum member & next time I know how far I need to go. Good on ya Matt.

P.S.
If it's the same Ken I think your talking about, BOY has he got some dirty laundry !

Matt,
Congratulations on your recent acquisitions. I would love to see a pic of your recent AK pickups side by side.

Love the paint on that helmet.
John

Great lid! Percentage of the camo paint left is very impressive! Congrats sir you have a winner there!

Another beauty Matt. That is the closest color wise I have seen to an AK that I have. DD AKs are extremely hard to find that have all the right stuff.
Larry

Extremely rare helmet.

Camo's are often very tricky but I presume if someone, who's inspected hundreds of (camo-) helmets in his collector-life, buys this helmet he is pretty sure about it's originality.

Congrats with this raving beauty.

But... looking at the edge below of pic 1 ... I've got a strange feeling about the sexe of Matt.