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H072258 M40 COMBAT 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 85% of its slightly rough textured, age darkened, field-grey period applied, over-paint with a few small scrapes and scuffs to the underlying , smooth field-grey paint and the base metal with light surface spotting. All three of the liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan leather liner fully intact with all eight fingers and the original tie string. The liner shows light chafe wear to the bottom edge and some light moisture spotting. The liner is well marked with green size inkstamp, "59", a handwritten name, "Tyc", and a faint, illegible scripted inkstamp. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is well marked with a faint, stamped, serial number that appears to be,"DN424" and the manufacturer’s code and size stamp, "Q66", indicating manufacture by F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. Esslingen, size 68. The interior, left side, apron also has an blurred, stamped marking that appears to be the size, "66". Of Note: The placement of the manufacturer’s code and size on the reverse, interior, neck guard apron indicate manufacture after mid-1943. The helmet comes complete with a shortened, blackened leather chinstrap with a pronged, matte grey painted, steel fit adjustment buckle and both a natural aluminum and steel retaining studs intact. The chinstrap shows light chafe wear and is still long enough to flip over the front visor. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings.
GRADE **** PRICE $835.00
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