Help with Japanese helmet stamp

[Leo2018]

Hi all

Can anyone tell me what the symbol is above the star. Has anyone seen this before ?

a rarity ?

TIA

[dog soldier]

Really interested to see what the stamp is I have never seen it before

Graeme

[chen]

That Kanji means special

[GHP]

That Kanji means special

Yup!
特
toku
Special

[Leo2018]

Yup!
特
toku
Special

would that be a surname, also what’s the relevance of it being painted on the front.

have you seen this before

thanks

[Leo2018]

That Kanji means special

Thankyou
what would be the reason to put special on the helmet

[GHP]

Thankyou
what would be the reason to put special on the helmet

I have no idea, and I've never seen it painted on the front of a helmet before! But I'm fairly certain it has nothing to do with the "Toko-tai" [特別攻擊隊 Tokubetsu Kōgekitai] aka: Kamikaze.

The only exterior kanji I've seen on helmets have been those used by air raid wardens, security guards, fire guards, etc.

[N.B., I am not a collector or expert and have limited experience; maybe others have noticed this sort of marking.]

-- Guy

[Jareth]

There are a group of army type 90 helmets reported by collectors that were issued without star insignias. They had a plain liner rivet in place of star & above was stencil for “special” above it. I had one in my collection. No one ever found out the meaning. This is first helmet I’ve seen that had a star & stencil. Perhaps star was collector added post war? Star is placed upside down which might be a clue & is on top of stencil

[Striking 9th]

What does the liner look like?

[beretta1934]

There are a group of army type 90 helmets reported by collectors that were issued without star insignia. They had a plain liner rivet in place of star & above was stencil for “special” above it. I had one in my collection. No one ever found out the meaning. This is first helmet I’ve seen that had a star & stencil. Perhaps star was collector added post war? Star is placed upside down which might be a clue & is on top of stencil

Totally agree - Star was added (even upside down) postwar to increase value and make it more "$pecial"...
An IJA Soldier would never, ever, ever make that stupid mistake

[RussellM]

Can you show the liner and any other markings on the rim?

Regards

Russ

[Leo2018]

Hi Gents
thanks for all your help - I passed as the helmet has had an added star and not all original