M17 on E stand!

[PlaceOfBayonets]

What's wrong with this one guys? Seems it has issues but I can't put my finger on it. The pads look funny for one thing.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=341603

W.

[Hans K.]

Judging by the pictures the paint looks WW1 period to me, and although I'd like to see more pictures of the liner pads - especially the reverse, I don't see any red flags yet. The pads have a flat look to them, but that could be because the cushions weren't in the pouches for a long time. More pictures are needed for sure. The chinstrap is certainly a repro, but that was stated in the description.

Hans

[C. Roelens]

I'm in agreement with Hans. IMO the paint is without question original, and in excellent condition. Without more detailed photos of the liner pads front and back I'm not 100% convinced they're original. We already know the chinstrap is a repo. I believe the drawstring might be a repo also. Could those liner pads have been added to the original band?

For the record, I am not suggesting the seller put this helmet together... this is just what I see.

Chuck

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I think the pads are bad. They do not look like m17 type pads and do not have the squared look of m16 pads. Swiss or Swedish.

W.


PS, pads bad. Liner band looks good to me!

[NickG]

Just found this thread.... I am the seller so I need to respond!
The helmet was donated to a local museum along with some other stuff (mostly ww2) for a tax write off. I helped with the appraisel and in the lot were two of these M17 helmets, same paint same liner, and as far as I know not messed, with BUT both curiously lacking chin straps, so I ended up keeping one of these helmets and replaced the chin strap.

The previous owner was in his late 60's about 8 years ago so its all from a very old collection. I own a refurbished Finnish WW1 helmet and the liner is different... I will be honest I am not a WW1 expert, my field is WW2. The paint is WW1 untouched and my experience with these is that if the liner is replaced by an adopted country they usually repaint these... Not the case here...
Anyway here's an inside look! Lets see what the experts say!

[NickG]

Liner leather tongues...The pouches under the tongues are empty so these tongues appear to be
very flat (unfilled)

[NickG]

Comparison

COMPARISON
Here's another WW1 helmet which fellow WAF member Michael Freiheit posted.
This one came from a WW1 vet, an untouched bring back.
The liner is pretty much the same construction as far as I can tell... but the tongues are a little narrower
in comparison with mine...
Who knows? this is how my helmet came, not restored other than me adding a replacement chin strap!

[NickG]

Original paint!

[NickG]

In day light

[NickG]

Liner in day light!

I just found a cool thread in the collection and display section on WW1 German telegraph troops with some real neat WW1 impressions. I might just keep this helmet and build a German WW1 impression around it as I already have a WW1 US doughboy (head to toe) on display!
Still looking forward to (positive) comments!

Thanks
Nick

[C. Roelens]

Nick,

Thanks for posting the additional pictures. There is absolutely no question that the paint on your helmet is original, both inside and out. Overall, the paint shows appropriate age and wear. I will not comment on the chinstrap as you have already said it is a reproduction you added to the helmet.

On to the liner... this is what I see. The leather does not match the aging and wear of the rest of the helmet... it just doesn't look to be 90+ years old. The second thing I noticed was the fingers, and you actually posted a helmet with what the cut of original fingers should look like. The cut of your liner pads are not German. I don't know if they're from another Country or reproduction, but, I'm thinking reproduction. Lastly, I don't see any strings on the backs of the liner sections to secure the pads/pillows in place. All WWI German liners were made with these strings.

Sorry, but, IMO the liner pads and drawstring are not original WWI German, nor original to this helmet.

Best Regards,

Chuck

[C. Roelens]

WWI German M16 KIA.

[C. Roelens]

M16 liner of above helmet.

[C. Roelens]

M17 Liner.

[C. Roelens]

close-up of M17 liner fingers.