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H052158 M40 SINGLE DECAL HELMET. (Stahlhelm M40)
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 its slightly rough textured, age darkened, field-grey, over-paint with a few scuffs and scrapes to the base metal with light surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has a later, "big foot", age and usage darkened, Wehrmacht eagle shield decal which is retained about 85% with a few, small, scuffs and scrapes. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet is still in its original, smooth parade green paint. The interior of the helmet has a light tan, M31 leather liner with all eight of it’s original fingers and the drawstring intact. The liner is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and light chafe wear to the bottom edge. The reverse of the liner is well marked with a black size inkstamp, "55" and an RB number. Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichsbetriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The interior, reverse, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, "N172", and the interior, left side, apron has the faint, partially illegible, stamped with the manufacturer’s code and size with only the size visible as, "62". The chinstrap is absent.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $1,180.00
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