M42 q bgs

[AGFA40]

Hi all,

Is this a wartime produced M42 by Quist and converted for the BGS time period 1960 or earlier.
I readed there where 3 versions but this looks like a crossover between type 1 and 2

Thank you

[AGFA40]

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[Klaus1989]

This look like wartime M42 converted for the I53 liner (your I53 is the early version btw). This was done mostly by BGS, as state police forces used mostly postwar made M35 helmets. Have seen M35 and M40 before, but not m42 conversions. The rivet holes welded closed and chinstrap rings welded inside helmet. There are postwar helmets produced with vents and no rivets, but they have always rolled rim and wider vent edges.

Someone painted it black. Is some green paint underneath in the spots, where no black? If BGS, should be textured finish.

Regards
Klaus

[AGFA40]

Thank you Klaus,

It looks like green paint with a grayish undertone below the black layer.
So is that a good sign.
When they starting to refurbishing these helmets would they stripped all the paint

Regards

[Klaus1989]

The colour look like it could be early BGS from photos. They would have stripped WW2 paint, as the helmets completely rebuilt and repainted by BGS.

Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

Might this have been given a quick repaint for Feuerwehr use, perhaps for parades and what not?

Steve

[AGFA40]

Thank you,

What is the best way to remove this liner system by the look of it the leather is old wartime stock
Its welded but do you need a special tool.

Regards

[Klaus1989]

I have never tried to remove it, but I suppose, that it can be done, because German ebay sellers sell seperated liners from BGS and similar Bw version occasionally. Looked at my helmets and it appear to have double grooved screw, that attach it to post (which is welded in helmet and can not remove).

I know, that the Czechs painted WW2 helmets black for fire brigade use (I restore such M42 currently), but not heard of such use for BGS helmets in BRD. Some wartime painted red by Fw, but black helmets are normally light model ("M34"?), if parade version usually with crest. All types of things were done to helmets on the civilian market, so anything possible...

Regards
Klaus

[AGFA40]

Thank you Klaus,

I removed the liner and stripped the paint.
i,m thinking to turn it back to a M42 no decal helmet
I could be a interesting project and good enough for the shelf
Still have to remove the welded parts and drill the rivet holes again

Regards

[Klaus1989]

Stripped all paint?! Of course the owners choice, but it was actually rarer as converted BGS M42 - seem like much effort to convert. The conversions are not common (still not have one in my collection) and the M35/M40 were preferred. Just needed to the black overpaint removed (probably). The Czech conversion, that I mention to restore had no liner and half the paint missing, with bare metal underneath, so historical value was almost nothing (and no need to drill holes and such). Otherwise hesitate to destroy historical value.

Regards
Klaus