Hi all!
I would like to start a discussion on a Greek Gendarmerie M34/39 helmet offered on the e-stand, under the following link:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=467947
The helmet is being described as an original ww2 rare version of the model, while it actually is a post war (1950s) refurbishment.
That said, the shell is an original M34/39 Italian made one, sold to Greece during the 1936-40 period, but with a post war liner and chinstrap and possibly repainted. It still is an original helmet with its own history, but as used during the 1950s-70s.
These british-like brown synthetic liners and aluminium headbands were locally made in Greece during the 50s to refit the M34/39s and MkIIs. Refitting the MkIIs was an easy job, but for M34/39s it was required that a hole would be drilled on the dome and two more at the sides for further stabilizing the liner. The four holes (two on each side) are exposed due to the removal of the previous leather liner suspension system, which was using the same amount of rivets.
I had opened a thread on these on the War Relics forum some time ago, with details and period photos:
http://warrelics.eu/forum/world-stee...nstraps-24256/
Don't want to kill the selling potential of the helmet, but I thought that I had to clarify this, since these refurbished helmets (and MkIIs, too) have started turning up relatively often in the militaria market.
Again, it's an original helmet with its own history, but post war refurbished and not in its first, wartime configuration.
Regards, Giorgos
PS: During WW2, the Gendarmerie did use the M34/39s, but there would be no way of telling a Gendarmerie helmet from an Army one (at the time, the Gendarmerie was actually a branch of the Army). Post war refurbished M34/39s were indeed used only by the Gendarmerie and the Police, since the Army had adopted the MkIIs and later the M1 clones.
I would like to start a discussion on a Greek Gendarmerie M34/39 helmet offered on the e-stand, under the following link:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=467947
The helmet is being described as an original ww2 rare version of the model, while it actually is a post war (1950s) refurbishment.
That said, the shell is an original M34/39 Italian made one, sold to Greece during the 1936-40 period, but with a post war liner and chinstrap and possibly repainted. It still is an original helmet with its own history, but as used during the 1950s-70s.
These british-like brown synthetic liners and aluminium headbands were locally made in Greece during the 50s to refit the M34/39s and MkIIs. Refitting the MkIIs was an easy job, but for M34/39s it was required that a hole would be drilled on the dome and two more at the sides for further stabilizing the liner. The four holes (two on each side) are exposed due to the removal of the previous leather liner suspension system, which was using the same amount of rivets.
I had opened a thread on these on the War Relics forum some time ago, with details and period photos:
http://warrelics.eu/forum/world-stee...nstraps-24256/
Don't want to kill the selling potential of the helmet, but I thought that I had to clarify this, since these refurbished helmets (and MkIIs, too) have started turning up relatively often in the militaria market.
Again, it's an original helmet with its own history, but post war refurbished and not in its first, wartime configuration.
Regards, Giorgos
PS: During WW2, the Gendarmerie did use the M34/39s, but there would be no way of telling a Gendarmerie helmet from an Army one (at the time, the Gendarmerie was actually a branch of the Army). Post war refurbished M34/39s were indeed used only by the Gendarmerie and the Police, since the Army had adopted the MkIIs and later the M1 clones.
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