PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Constructed entirely of non-magnetic steel, the basin-shaped helmet, with an all-around visor 80% of its original green paint. A separate rim is crimped along its visor, which exhibits the expected edge wear, and rivets may be seen where the visor meets the crown above each ear. Stamped in the metal under the rim is a "167/ 1" and the date "1939". The MK I* pattern liner, introduced in 1937, includes a head harness of five tongues cut from a single piece of black patent leather cloth, folded and stitched to each of their tapered ends to form tunnel loops for an adjusting drawstring to pass through. Original drawstring is complete. The head harness is stitched to the exterior of a horizontal black fiber headband, which has a khaki-colored cloth covered rubber strip sewn to its interior, forming a padding between it and the inwardly-folded tongues of the head harness. The exterior of the headband also has eight molded rubber buffers fixed between it and the interior surface of the helmet. Two black fiber crown strips are riveted to the horizontal headband and rise vertically, crossing one another to the interior apex of the helmet. A molded, oval shaped, rubber pad (as introduced in 1937) is fixed, along with the rest of the liner assembly, to the helmet with four rivets. The liner band strapping is marked "6 3/4" (size), "VERO", "I" and the date "1938". The two parts of its 25mm wide khaki-colored webbed chin strap are connected by a blackened brass sliding length-adjusting buckle, and each end is connected by steel loops to similarly-colored drill cloth covered springs. The ends of each of the cloth covered springs then wrap around the swiveling loops attached to the chin strap securing lugs over each ear. The strap shows moderate usage and age staining. Scarce, early MK II helmet.

New info added Dec 21st 2009

is definitely not a MKI* - MKI*s have to have a WW1 MKI shell with a MKI (1937 onwards) liner retrofitted inside. This is clearly a MKII helmet shell with a MKI liner - which is a nice early MKII ensemble, but not a MKI*.

Tom, thank you for the additional info. Peter