Help With this Helmet

[Crunchey11B]

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Guys I picked this Helmet Up from a WW2 US Navy Vet he said this
helmet came out of a ship yard in Japan after the War was over.
I think it is a British Helmet that the Japanese used for ??
Anyone have any Ideas.

Thanks
Tom

[Jareth]

Tom, I believe the Japanese did at some point make a copy of the British style helmet & it was used by the navy early in the China ( I've seen period photos) campaign. I've also heard that captured British helmets were used by the Japanese especially civilian defense. The paint looks Japanese & we desperately need a translation of the white painted kanji. Can we see some pictures of the liner/chinstrap?

[Crunchey11B]

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Here is a pic of the inside of the Helmet


Thanks
Tom

[Finnishlion178]

Yes this one was a captured British helmet. I am sure of it because the liner is the same as when it was issued to the unlucky British soldier. I have seem a Dutch Helmet painted that color and had the same Kanji marking on it. The British copies are more dome then flat. The Japanese used captured British, French, Dutch, and Russian helmets.

[Jareth]

Yes, I agree. The liner makes it certain that it's a British captured helmet. The only thing Japanese was the repaint & painted kanji on front which still holds a clue.

[blinky]

Neat helmet.
Are there any stamps on the shell, either on the rim or the chin strap bales? Are there any stamps on the red bands of the liner or a black ink stamp on the chin strap itself?

eric

[Crunchey11B]

Thanks for the input any idea what the helmet is worth???


Tom

[John Egger]

Helmet

Nice helmet.....since most everyone has covered what you need to know I'll just add that the paint appears to be the same color as helmets painted in the early 30's......a mustard yellow brown used by both the Japanese army & navy. Many foreign helmets were captured and used by rear guard and even some front line soldiers. I have a French helmet with Japanese markings & star. The front kanji is interesting and my Japanese isn't up for a real translation.....however has anyone else noticed the 3 kanji at 12 o'clock on the inside brim.......1 8 6. I think the value may have alot to do with the translation on the front.
I collect headgear and I think you have a nice piece.
John

[blinky]

The reason why I asked about markings on the red straps (liner hangers) is because red straps.....and I'm in no way an expert on British Mk.II helmets).....are generally a sign of post-war export helmets. It seems as well that war time Commonwealth hangers are marked. The chin strap is also a pattern introduced in 1941 and from memory most troops in Singapore wore helmets with the older pattern spring type straps as the newer equipment went to make up for losses in France and Africa.

I'm not saying the helmet isn't what it's said to be, I'm just pointing out my observations.

eric

[Peter_Suciu]

The reason why I asked about markings on the red straps (liner hangers) is because red straps.....and I'm in no way an expert on British Mk.II helmets).....are generally a sign of post-war export helmets. It seems as well that war time Commonwealth hangers are marked. The chin strap is also a pattern introduced in 1941 and from memory most troops in Singapore wore helmets with the older pattern spring type straps as the newer equipment went to make up for losses in France and Africa.

Eric, good points. I was curious about the rivets for the chinstrap D-rings too...and the D-rings themselves. These seem different than most of the British-made helmets. Could these be South African made maybe?

[cbuehler]

Just for your info, the kanji means "Kei" or police. This kanji was commonly used for civilian police in Japanese occupied areas, although usually in conjunction with other kanji to say Keisatsu or Keikan. I dont know if the Chinese use it for this purpose also.

CB

[Crunchey11B]

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Heres a Picture of the d-ring the chin strap feels like there is something
inside could be whats left of a spring?? will post two more pics

Tom

Thanks for the help I did pick this up from a Vet

[Crunchey11B]

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[Crunchey11B]

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[Crunchey11B]

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Last one any idea of what the helmet is worth??


Tom