Be very careful on buying these items ! Here are just a few tips , During your inspection period , remember 80 plus year old paint does not smell ! If it does it's been altered . If the unit insignia does not match the patina of the rest of the helmet , chances are it's been altered . If there is rust that is red and wipes off easily , it's been artificially aged . The rust should be brown . The leather should also not have any odor , 80 year old leather does not smell . Remember , altered helmets can be artificially aged and painted by different means . Burying them outside is an old favorite . Chemical solutions can also age a helmet . What is even worse is a helmet that was repainted back in the 20's by a vet in his garage using 1920's paint ! Becareful of helmets on E-bay , if a super rare helmet is selling for pennies on the dollar , chances are it's a fake !