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H022459 M35 DOUBLE DECAL, CAMOUFLAGED HELMET. (Stahlhelm M35)
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 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 14TH 1933 for wear on the left side of the helmet to replace the Reichswehr era state shield insignia. Regulations of February 17TH 1934 introduced the Wehrmacht 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 21ST 1940 dictated that the national tri-color decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of August 28TH 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 70% of an age and usage darkened, hand brushed, field-grey camouflage over-paint with small spots of wear to the underlying smooth parade green paint and numerous spots of wear to the base steel with moderate surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has a Wehrmacht eagle decal which is retained about 50% with numerous scrapes and scuffs. The right side of the helmet has a national tri-color shield decal which is retained about 70% with numerous scrapes and scuffs. Both decals appear to have been carefully painted around and the national tri-color has been touched up with paint. This helmet just came out of a estate in Nova Scotia, so any touch up on the decal would be period done. All three liner retaining rivets and both inserted ventilation bushings are all intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan leather liner with all eight of its original fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner shows moderate to heavy age and usage toning, light chafe wear to the bottom edge, one small tear and one of the tie string eyelets has torn. The liner has a faint, black size inkstamp that appears to be, "57". The interior crown of the helmet has the yellow stenciled unit designation, "8./JR 31", indicating service with the 8TH Company 31ST Infantry Regiment. Of Note: The 31ST Infantry Regiment was a component of the 24TH Infantry Division. The interior, reverse, neck guard apron has a faint, stamped serial number that has been partially obscured by the camouflage paint but appears to be, "258". The interior left side apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, "SE64" indicating manufacture by Sächsische Emaillier-und Stanzwerke, AG Lauter, size 64. The helmet comes complete with a blackened leather chinstrap with a natural alloy, pronged length adjustment buckle and both retaining studs intact. The chinstrap shows moderate chafe wear and some light surface cracking. The chinstrap has a faint, partially illegible, stamped manufacturer’s mark that appears to include, "H. Eger & Linde 1940", with an illegible location.
GRADE *** PRICE $952.00
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