The Bundeswehr M1 Helmet

[Collectinsteve]

I don't know about the Belgian helmet story, but I know for sure that in the early days various BW items were manufactured in Belgium for the BW. And Belgian shelter halves were made in Germany for the Belgian armed forces. It doesn't prove anything about the Belgian helmet shell story, other than evidence suggests it is possible.

Steve

[michelwijnand]

Does anyone have any info about early Flecktarn helmet covers?
I bought a cover today, in the cut that the Tru.Vsu. camo ones were, but then with 6 foliage slits in it.

It has a wear pattern that fits a BW M1 helmet perfectly, and was in a pile of regular BW covers, and costed just €2 because of a rip in the front wear area, so I'm at least not ripped off by buying someone else's story, but it just looks "different" to me. I'll get photos up tomorrow, when good lighting returns

[michelwijnand]

Made some pics today, as you can see, the condition really is quite used.

[Collectinsteve]

There seems to be quite a few different types. I have probably 4 or 5. Whether they were TruVsu or cheap expedients for reservists, I don't know. I'm sure some of the designs are one and some are other.

Steve

[speedytop]

Hi,

there are many different types. They were not official, but e.g. made by a civilian company saddler with leftover camouflage clothing.

I had my own, used several years.



Uwe

[michelwijnand]

Hi, nice cover, I have 2 of those, bought from another seller at the same classic car event, years ago.

The Flecktarn cover is way different though, looks factory made. I also just looked through my reference photos, and saw a photo from another collector that has the same cover, with the samd 6 foliage holes

[Collectinsteve]

Schuster shows 4 different TruVsu types in his book and I've got a couple that aren't shown. I've found them made in three different fabrics:

1. Same fabric as the shirts
2. Soft, highly synthetic (100%?). Bandanas were also made of this cloth. I picked up one of each in Germany in 1992.
3. Tough, thin fabric that might be the same as the standard issue type

I've seen them with and without foliage loops, with and without foliage bands. As I said above, I think some of these are genuine TruVsu and I think some were quickly churned out cheap solutions for reservists. I think the soft cloth (#2) was produced for something and rejected so someone had a bunch of cloth that needed to be used, and helmet covers was one of the things chosen.

Steve

[ral6014]

Is it possible to distinguish with certainty a German helmet shell of a US produced Shell if they are over painted?

[Bernhard]

Hi ,

As I already statet at the MFF Forum there are some differences that
I have noticed.

Here are some more detailed pics to illustrate These differences I noted between a german 1956 dated Quist made shell and a later WWII McCord
shell.

Best regards

Bernhard

[Bernhard]

Most distinguishing feature however is the way the bales are hinged to shell.

[Gordon Craig]

Bernard,

Interesting and very useful information. Thanks for taking the time to post it here.

Regards,

Gordon

[Bernhard]

They are still out !!!

Found last weekend on a small military show in
my area...

The seller considered this helmet not being
worth to sit ON his table.
So I had to grab it out of his junk box sitting under
his table.

Anyway , here we have a very nice helmet for Fallschirmtruppen
with a camo cover.
I did not check the helmet for manufacturing details such as maker
or year because I simply do not want to untie the draw string of the
liner.

Hope you like it !!!!!

[Bernhard]

More pics

[Reibert-Austria]

Bernhard, f..k !
Ennsdorf ?
Congrats !

[Bernhard]

Ja , Ennsdorf 😀