Help Dating a Mk III Helmet

[kevair464]

Picked up this Mk III helmet at a local antique store, was mislabeled as a East German Vo-Po helmet.

I can't find a date or stamp anywhere inside the helmet, except the # 688, thats it.

Any help?







This is the only stamp I can see

[Laurens Van D.]

I think i can see a date on the third picture. It's located above the bolt, but i'm not completely sure.

[kevair464]

The liner has a post war date, probably a replacement, but by paint color, liner attachment style, and position of chin strap rivets this is clearly a Mk III not a Mk IV. I can't find a date stamped into the metal shell. Is it possible this is one of the very early '43 shells that were not stamped?

[Laurens Van D.]

It's possible that it's early production, but i'm not really an expert on those kind of things. Maybe the date stamp is hidden underneath the layer of paint?

[tinlid]

From those pictures it looks to have been painted post war olive drab, but the early Mk3's were painted khaki green.
I expect the first Mk3's were made by BMB, the date/maker stamp will be vertical to the rim at the rear of the helmet.
If it's an RO&Co the date/maker will be horizontal to the rim.