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 Reichsmarine era crossed anchor shield insignia. Regulations of February 17^TH 1934 introduced the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), 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. Kriegsmarine regulations of July 17^TH 1941 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 90% of its age and usage darkened, slightly rough textured, field-grey over-paint with a few small scratches and scuffs revealing the underlying smooth parade green paint and the base steel with light surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has a later pattern, "thin wing", Wehrmacht eagle shield decal featuring a golden yellow eagle with down-swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons on a black shield shaped base. The decal is retained about 70% with a couple of fair sized scrapes and scuffs that have mostly obscured the swastika. All three liner retaining rivets and both inserted ventilation bushings are intact. The interior of the helmet still has its smooth parade green paint mostly retained and an age and usage darkened, M31 tan, leather liner with all eight of its original fingers and the original tie string still intact. The liner shows light chafe wear to the bottom edge and some minor surface cracking although the leather appears to have been treated and is still quite supple. The liner has a faint, handwritten name but no visible size markings. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is well marked with a faint, stamped serial number that appears to be, "3147" and the white, hand painted owner’s name, "Klenk". The interior, left side apron has the faint, stamped, manufacturer’s code and size that appears to be, "ET66",indicating manufacture by Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, size 66. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron has faint, illegible, hand etched script which appears to include the owner’s name. The helmet comes complete with a blackened leather chinstrap with a pronged, natural aluminum fit adjustment buckle and both the natural steel retaining studs intact. The chinstrap is in overall good condition with light chafe wear and is still fairly supple. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturers markings.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $2,142.00