BACKGROUND: The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935. In an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet. Originally the Third Reich national tri-color helmet decal was introduced on March 14^TH 1933 for wear on the left side of the helmet to replace the Reichswehr era state shield insignia. Regulations of February 17^TH 1934 introduced the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), eagle decal and the national tri-color decal was shifted to the right side of the helmet with the Wehrmacht eagle decal positioned on the left hand side. Regulations of March 21^ST 1940 dictated that the national tri-color decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of August 28^TH 1943 abolished the Wehrmacht eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 80% of its slightly rough textured, age darkened, field-grey over-paint with numerous small scrapes and scuffs with light to moderate surface spotting. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, tan, M31 leather liner with all eight fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner is in overall good condition with light chafe wear to the bottom edges and the leather is still quite supple. The liner is well marked with a faint, black size inkstamp that appears to be, "57". The interior reverse neck guard apron has a faint, serial number stamp that appears to be, "522" and a red, hand painted, initial, "K". The manufacturer’s code and size stamp is not visible. The helmet comes complete with a slightly shortened, blackened leather chinstrap with a matte grey painted, pronged, steel, length adjustment buckle and one natural sheet metal and one black painted alloy retaining studs intact. The chinstrap shows light to moderate chafe wear and some light surface cracking. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s marks.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $675.00