Congratulations, Darryl!
Looks like your house now became a DEUITSCHE BLACK HELMET BANK. Keep it up.
I agree, the wartime necessity of recyling the black helmets into the field gray ones account for the ultra rarity of the black M35s. Long time ago I owned a Heer decaled rough-textured M35 with a rottenfuhrer name in the liner. It had black paint visible through its scuffs. I wonder where it is now. Should have kept it.
Shu
