Is this a real M16 Chinstrap?

[Delano55]

Hello,

is this a real M16 chinstrap? Photos are on this thread: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=986726


Best Regards

Delano

[Brian Calkins]

OK, I'll start first and hopefully others will pipe in. I have not collected Imperial German in years, but I would have to say it's a fake based on the leather. It looks a little too thick to me. The black finish also looks too new and the aging also does not look old, only dry and worn.

Anyone else?

[Delano55]

I do not think, that this chinstrap is a fake. I collect military items for a very long time and i think, that i am able to recognize old leather and metal parts on this chinstrap. And this is in my opinion pre-1945. It is 2 mm thick and 16 mm wide. Can someone measure their originals for comparison?

An other option i heard about this strap is, that it is a pre-1945 Police Tschako Chinstrap. But when this is true, there must be some other chinstrap for comparison.

[C. Roelens]

Appears to be original pre-1945 to me... ghw2 has an excellent thread on WWI German chinstraps. Below is one I removed from one of my M16's, and a few I think Brian is referencing on a couple of my leather helmets.

Chuck

[C. Roelens]

2.

[C. Roelens]

These are all common on my minty M15's...

[Delano55]

Thanks for the replies and the very nice pictures. It helps a alot. Would you mind to send me a link to ghw2 thread about the chinstraps? I couldnt even find the username in the searchbar.

Could you please measure the thickness and the wideness?

Thanks

Delano

[Hans K.]

Here we have front and back shots of 6 chinstraps. The 3 examples on the right are M1915 chinstraps made from vegetable tanned natural tan/brown leather and with zinc coated steel fittings. The 3 examples on the left are the earlier M1891 vegetable tanned blackened leather chinstraps with brass fittings.

The chinstrap in question looks like it's made of a thicker than usual leather, but I have seen comparable originals. The last picture shows a typical M15 chinstrap.

[Delano55]

Hello Hans,

thanks for your nice opinion. I got him with a M 16 Helmet and was a little bit concerned, but now i feel good. Hans, could you please tell me the wideness and thickness of the M 15 pieces? Mine is 2 mm thick and 16 mm wide.



Best regards

Delano

[Brian Calkins]

Great input! I defer to the forums superior knowledge.

Happy New year everyone and best wishes for finding some great items in 2019!