Dating German WW1 Steel Helmets

[hagen.191]

Thanks to both of you. I am glad that there arent any red flags here!

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[Hans K.]

Your M17 is a good one for sure. There is nothing unusual about white pads in an M17 liner. The white chrome tanned sheepskin pads began replacing the vegetable tanned leather pads some time in 1917, but the vegetable tanned leather pads were still occasionally used late in the war.

Also don't forget that the M17 was being manufactured up until the introduction of both the M18 and the M18 with ear cut-outs in August 1918

[hagen.191]

Your M17 is a good one for sure. There is nothing unusual about white pads in an M17 liner. The white chrome tanned sheepskin pads began replacing the vegetable tanned leather pads some time in 1917, but the vegetable tanned leather pads were still occasionally used late in the war.

Also don't forget that the M17 was being manufactured up until the introduction of both the M18 and the M18 with ear cut-outs in August 1918

[emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106]

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[rick1]

Get thread for me, as I mostly collect field gear and weapons. This gives me some much needed basic helmet info!
Thanks

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[C. Roelens]

The information the OP opened this thread with is incorrect and irresponsible. As long as you pick up where Hans started you'll be ok.

Chuck

[rick1]

The information the OP opened this thread with is incorrect and irresponsible. As long as you pick up where Hans started you'll be ok.

Chuck

Yes correct.

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[101combatvet]

Dating helmets by liner bands and liner pads seems a little far-fetched as with many collector myths. Is there any concrete evidence to prove this? Doubtful right?

[luftwaffenkopf]

To keep it simple: M16 and M18 refers to actual German helmet models. M17 is the generally agreed upon collector term given to an M16 shell with the modified steel liner band. The steel band replaced the leather liner band roughly mid-1917.

The Germans manufactured three shell patterns during WW1 - The M16, M18 and the M18 with ear cut-outs.

+1

[Hans K.]

For anyone with more than just a passing interest in WW1 German helmets, Ludwig Baer is the ideal place to start. He covered most of this basic information as well as in-depth topics - citing primary sources - as far back as the 1980s. His German language work Vom Stahlhelm zum Gefechtshelm Volume I published in the '90s is without doubt the most thorough.