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. The M31 helmet liner was introduced in 1931 to replace the earlier M16 and M18 liners that had been utilized during WWI. Originally the M31 liner was utilized in the remaining M16 and M18 helmets until the development and introduction of the new M35 helmet in June 1935. The basic design of the M31 liner remained in use through-out WWII with the M35, M40 and M42 helmets with minor variants in the materials used. The early M31 liners utilized aluminum bands that eventually began to be replaced, (circa late 1940), with low grade steel and alloy bands due to the shortage of aluminum. The early pattern M31 liners also had "squared" chinstrap securing loops which were altered to rounded chinstrap securing loops also in late 1940.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Later production, (Circa 1940-1945), M31 helmet liner with low grade steel, slightly oval, inner and outer bands. The outer band is secured to the inner band by five, spring steel clips that are inserted through evenly spaced, vertical slots on the outer band with five, small, dome headed rivets to the inner band. The outer band has two, evenly spaced, small, horizontally, elongated oval slots at each side and a circular slot to the reverse center for the helmet securing rivets. The outer band has small, rivetted on, swivel metal loops with rounded corner, rectangular, steel, chinstrap attachment loops to either side. The chinstrap is absent. The outer band is well marked with an impressed RB number, the date, "1943", to the right side and, "64nA/57", to the left side indicating a size 57 neuer Art, (New Type), liner for a size 64 helmet shell. 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. Both the outer and inner steel bands are in overall very good condition with minimal surface spotting. The standard, grey/green felt lining strip situated between the inner band and the leather liner is intact. The eight finger, tan leather liner is secured to the inner steel band by twelve, flat headed split pin rivets. All eight fingers and the original leather tie string are all intact. The leather liner shows light to moderate chafe wear to the edges resulting in a fair sized tear and light age and usage toning through-out. The leather appears to have been treated and is still quite supple. The reverse of the liner is well marked with a faint, purple size inkstamp that appears to be, "58", an additional RB number and the date that appears to be, "4 43".

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $262.00