H100465 M42 COMBAT HELMET WITH CAMOUFLAGE WIRE. (Stahlhelm M42 mit Tarnung Draht)
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.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet has a light even patina of surface rust and dirt. Attached to the top of the helmet is its European style chicken wire applied for securing camouflage foliage, etc.. The wire is formed into fairly consistent, large, six sided opened panels with the correct amount of twists to two sides of each panel. The chicken wire is crimped onto a heavier gauge wire that is horizontally laid at the apex of the crown and visors with an additional four pieces of evenly spaced wire being crimped around the bottom edge of the helmet to secure it in place. The wires show light to heavy surface spotting and have several breaks. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. Liner is mostly present but is now very dry, brittle and is starting to flake off. There are no longer any visible markings (except for a partial serial), they are most probably there but now obscured by age or wear. Original owners name is hand painted to the rear inside apron. Helmet looks to have laid outside on the battlefield for some time before being picked up. Nice, salty, worn combat vet.
GRADE *** 1/4 PRICE $1,995.00
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