G004994 AUSTRIAN/CZECH M17 HELMET. (Stahlhelm M17)

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 Austrian M17 was almost identical to the German version with the positioning of the chinstrap liner rivets being the most readily identifiable difference.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains most of its original green/feldgrau paint. The helmet has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, both of the extended ventilation side lugs and all three of the liner retaining rivets. The interior of the helmet has a three pad leather liner with steel retaining band intact. All three leather pads are present. All three still have their original horse hair stuffing. Could not find any visible markings, although they are most probably there someplace. Nice large size, 68 or 70! 

GRADE ****1/2                             PRICE $895.00

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