M16 helmet help

[Spencer Victory]

Hey Guys

I just picked this up recently, and need some help. I think this is a Czech reissue because of the cloth chin strap, but the rivets are smalls and seem a little odd. Any info wold be very helpful. Thanks.

Spencer

[Spencer Victory]

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[PlaceOfBayonets]

It's an Austrian Helmet with Austrian Cloth Chin strap and correct liner pads with Gromets. I think you scored big time. They go for big money complete. Too bad it looks to have been stored in poor conditions.

Edit, the chin stap looks odd can you post a close up of just the metal parts on the strap? I might be wrong.

W.

[LeeM]

It is an Austrian (actually Austro-Hungarian) helmet manufactured by the Krupp factory at Berndorf. Their stamp is the walking bear and the size is 64 (I believe all of these helmets were manufactured only in size 64). Many collectors refer to these as Hungarian WW1 helmets, but these were issued to all AH forces. The cloth chinstrap with friction buckle is absolutely correct. The liner and paint also appear good from the photos. This model is very rare and even rarer complete.
<O</O
Lee

[Spencer Victory]

Hey Guys

Thanks for all the help and emails on this helmet. I knew it was something special, but I had no idea it was this rare. Does any one know how many of these helmets were produced? Thanks again.

Spencer

[LeeM]

I don’t think that anyone knows. I have seen the number of 140,000 for the “Berndorfer” type, which they produced prior to the model you have. I have read that the “Berndorfer” type continued to be manufactured until late 1917, so that would leave about a year timeframe when these were produced. My suspicion is that the number of 140,000 may be for both the "Berndorfer” type and this last model (essentially all models produced by the factory). It is hard to tell from the photos, but are the chinstraps sewn onto the chinstrap bails?

Lee<O</O

[C. Roelens]

Lee is correct... very nice example.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

It is an Austrian (actually Austro-Hungarian) helmet manufactured by the Krupp factory at Berndorf. Their stamp is the walking bear and the size is 64 (I believe all of these helmets were manufactured only in size 64). Many collectors refer to these as Hungarian WW1 helmets, but these were issued to all AH forces. The cloth chinstrap with friction buckle is absolutely correct. The liner and paint also appear good from the photos. This model is very rare and even rarer complete.
<O</O
Lee

Friction Buckle! That is what threw me. I've never seen one before.

w.