Advice on selling WW2 helmets and musket

[Osmosis]

Looking for advice on where to sell some militaria. I inherited a German ww2 helmet, a WWI doughboy helmet, and a harpers ferry musket. They were my father's but he died before the kids were born and they aren't really into history or antiques so looking to sell them. I contacted some auction houses in Denver but no interest. I could try to post them online once I get some idea of the value but the German helmet might 'trigger' someone so not sure what my options are.
Can anyone suggest a place that can appraise or handles this stuff in the general Denver area? TIA!

[BushMasterBoy]

ebay is my go to for selling. YMMV

[flogger]

Old Steel Guns in Littleton. South Broadway and Mineral area.

Check out their website, very knowledgeable and a cool place to visit!

[3beansalad]

There's an auction house in Monument that has had two big militaria auctions recently. https://www.schursuccessgroup.com/

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[Osmosis]

Thanks for both those links, just what I was looking for!
I had a bad expearence with ebay selling something pricey and I would prefer a local shop for this stuff.

Cheers!

[def90]

I may be interested in the ww1 helmet depending on what it is and condition.

In the end, none of those items is worth enough money to get an auction house involved. ww1 helmets depending on what they are sell anywhere from $90 to a few hundred at most. The higher end pricing comes from specific helmets with insignia, original webbing and provenance that it spent time overseas vs just a left over ww1 era helmet which were produced in the millions. Same with the german helmet. No one is going to get triggered selling a german helmet, you can buy them everywhere. There were tons of those available after the war and there are still tons available. Insignia and specific types will get you more money, standard infantry helmet a dime a dozen, paratrooper helmet with original camo and insignia now you have something. There are a few websites that sell these things that you can search through to get an idea of values.

[ray1970]

I may be interested in the ww1 helmet depending on what it is and condition.

In the end, none of those items is worth enough money to get an auction house involved. ww1 helmets depending on what they are sell anywhere from $90 to a few hundred at most. The higher end pricing comes from specific helmets with insignia, original webbing and provenance that it spent time overseas vs just a left over ww1 era helmet which were produced in the millions. Same with the german helmet. No one is going to get triggered selling a german helmet, you can buy them everywhere. There were tons of those available after the war and there are still tons available. Insignia and specific types will get you more money, standard infantry helmet a dime a dozen, paratrooper helmet with original camo and insignia now you have something. There are a few websites that sell these things that you can search through to get an idea of values.

Pretty much what he said. I?m not familiar with the musket at all but the helmets likely won?t bring enough money to cover dinner and drinks for four people at a decent restaurant. If I ventured to guess, unless they are something rare and unique with some sort of provenance your probably looking at well under $200 for both.

[Scanker19]

Pic of the helmets would be cool. The German ones get a good penny. If they’re the real deal not a civil one.

[BREATHER]

Is the Harpers Ferry an original or a reproduction?

[Osmosis]

Thanks again for all the advice.
Here are the helmets and musket (note missing wood by the action). I will try to post them for sale next week when I get at least a rough idea what to ask for them...9152191529915289152691525915249152391522915 30

[.455_Hunter]

FYI- The Harper's Ferry is a flint to percussion conversion (probably done by the .gov in the pre- to early Civil War era using a M1855 or 61 hammer) and has limited value to a collector due to the later sporterization. Probably a wall hanger relic only.

The helmets look desirable, but I am not knowledgeable on those.

[def90]

If that is original camo on the ww1 helmet that brings up the $$ a fair amount, however there are a lot of these out there that have been painted after the fact through the years. Also, if you do a google search on US WW1 camo helmets of the ones that do show up none have the rank painted on them. I would take it to someone that specializes in these and knows what to look for determine originality. I would guess it's a repro/fake just because the originals painted like that are so rare.

The Germans phased out double decals before they invaded France and eventually deleted decals entirely half way through the war. Basically someone took a common German helmet and spiced it up by putting the shield decal on the right side after the fact, it would not have had the shield during the war.

I could always be wrong though, I'm far from an expert on these.

Here's a TV/Movie prop helmet from Hogan's Heroes with the double decals..

https://alexanderandsonsrestorations.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/th.jpg

[Osmosis]

Yes I see the double-decal helmets go for quite alot.
My father was served in WW2 and brought home a bunch of German items. The medals and daggers I sold when prices spiked after Band of Brothers came out, but I kept the helmets in case the kids wanted them. I can't see my dad be duped into getting fakes back then but it's possible I guess. He died in'75 when I was young so I don't know the backstory on these.
Getting an appraisal will take some time since I'm slammed with work but it is probably worth it.

The 'WW1' helmet I suspect was my grandfathers but other than that .... I know nothing!

[Osmosis]

Yes I see the double-decal helmets go for quite alot.
My father was served in WW2 and brought home a bunch of German items. The medals and daggers I sold when prices spiked after Band of Brothers came out, but I kept the helmets in case the kids wanted them. I can't see my dad be duped into getting fakes back then but it's possible I guess. He died in'75 when I was young so I don't know the backstory on these.
Getting an appraisal will take some time since I'm slammed with work but it is probably worth it.

The 'WW1' helmet I suspect was my grandfathers but other than that .... I know nothing!

[Osmosis]

So here are some more pictures from the inside and it does seem to match what I see here: https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-german-wwii-1938-dated-luftwaffe-m35-double-decal-steel-helmet-with-56cm-liner-marked-et64?variant=39680637960261
So I think it is worth spending time for an appraisal when I get the chance.

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