BACKGROUND: The French were the first to have a general issue, "modern ", steel helmet in WWI and developed the classic "Adrian" style helmet in early 1915 followed by the British army later that year and by the German’s in 1916. By September of 1915 most French front line personnel had received the helmet and by the end of the year over three million had been manufactured and distributed.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, stamped, four piece sheet metal construction, "Adrian" helmet , consisting of the crown, the front and back visors and the top comb. The helmet retains about 90% of its original blue over paint. The front center of the helmet has a separate, stamped sheet metal French Infantry personnel’s emblem with a central flaming bomb device with the "RF" cypher, (Republique Français). The top of the helmet has a separate, fluted, ventilation comb running from the front center to the lip of the reverse neck guard visor and secured in place with four small dome headed rivets. The interior of the helmet retains its original age and usage darkened black, seven finger, leather liner with its original tie string. The liner shows has all of its fingers intact but is quite dry and stiff and shows moderate to heavy soiling. The helmet comes complete with its original chocolate brown leather chinstrap with an open rectangular, sliding length adjustment buckle. Of Note: France retained the style of the M15 through-our world war two, but improved the manufacturing process by stamping the crown and front and rear visors from one piece of manganese steel.

GRADE ***½                             PRICE $234.00