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 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 factory applied, slightly rough textured, age and usage darkened, field-grey paint with a few small scrapes and scuffs to the base steel with light to moderate surface spotting. All three liner retaining rivets are all intact. The interior of the helmet has a heavily 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 chafe wear to the bottom edge resulting in quite a large tear. The liner also shows some heat and/or moisture induced staining, one tear to one finger and the leather is quite dry and stiff. The liner is well marked with a faint, black size inkstamp, "60". The reverse, interior, neck guard apron has a faint, stamped serial number that appears to be, "4463", and the stamped manufacturer’s code and size that appears to be, "hkp 68" indicating manufacture by Sächsische Emaillier-und Stanzwerke, AG Lauter, size 68. Of Note: The placement of the manufacturer’s code and size on the reverse, interior, neck guard apron indicates manufacture after mid-1943. The helmet comes with a heavily worn, blackened leather chinstrap with a pronged, natural, steel, length adjustment buckle and one of the natural steel retaining studs intact. The longer section of the chinstrap has torn away from the helmet liner and shows heavy chafe wear and surface cracking. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $775.00