Unusual Japanese Helmet Paint Scheme

[Bobby R.]

I would like to share with the community an odd Japanese Navy helmet.
This helmet has an unusual paint scheme in dark green paint of an anchor on each side of the exterior of the helmet. It is one continuous pattern only stopping short of covering the anchor. In addition, on the top of the helmet is a large number "5" painted over the converging lines. The base color to which this design is applied is a standard hemet brownish color. The anchor is the steel variety. The liner is a navy one with small anchor stamp and straw filled pads. Chin straps are full length with the rings being the double type. There is no number painted on the inside top. The helmet has the diamond "S" stamp on in the back inside. I don't know the significance of this paint pattern (some would say camo) but it's nice to see original, unfooled with WWII helmets with odd paint schemes. Check out the pics.

[Bobby R.]

Japanese Helmet paint scheme pic#2

Here is pic #2

[Bobby R.]

Japanse Helmet paint scheme pic #3

Here is pic #3

[Bobby R.]

Japanese Helmet paint scheme pic 4

Here is pic 4

[Bobby R.]

Japanese Helmet paint scheme (interior)

Here is the final pic of the inside.

[Peter_Suciu]

Here is the final pic of the inside.

Hey Bobby--
Welcome to the forum. I'll let some of the others comment on the paint scheme as I've never seen this pattern. Interesting helmet but that's all I can offer.

I will suggest that in the future you just reply to your original message. It keeps the discussion in one thread. Maybe Eric can move the other postings together.

[Jareth]

Bobby, you have to be real carefull & wary over Japanese camo helmets painted this way. First off, is it hand painted or sprayed? I'd be real suspect over sprayed applications. Next I'd like to see consistant wear patterns were camo & paint are BOTH evenly worn or chipped. Some collectors of Japanese helmets feel the only real type of Jap. camo is a repaint in another color/shade of green, white or black. I used to feel this way & have started to rethink this having seen some believable camo with patterns. I've never seen one like yours. I have seen some suspicious camo helmets that I felt were done by GIs or Seabees. Bear in mind that in the early 60's you couldn't give away Jap. helmets & some shells were "enhanced" to help them sell. As far as I know there is no period, photographic evidence to prove helmets were pattern painted camoed. Japanese soldiers were trained in camoflage but used nets with native foliage to get the max effect.

[Jareth]

Hey Bobby, I forgot to add that SOMEONE on these boards recently got a navy camo helmet. Perhaps he'll post photos of his example in the near future. I just bought a camo army helmet with vertical brush strokes of black paint. I paid the going rate for a normal painted helmet.

[Bobby R.]

Jareth

Thanks for the imput! I've owned a couple of painted Navy camo helmets in the past and they have all been done with a brush (as this one is) and were used/worn/chipped to boot. I think I still have a color photo of a steel anchored, pigskin linered Navy helmet I used to own that had a cool camo pattern of black and green paint splotches over the outside. When I get the chance I will dig it out and post it. This is an odd one to say the least.

[MikeB]

Unusual Japanese Helmet paint scheme

I have to agree with Jareth. As soon as you say "NEVER" with something, however, it seems to pop up! So I am waiting for the shoe to fall on me right now.....! In any case, I personally have never seen a camo painted naval helmet. I have seen field altered green or brown paint jobs on helmets, blue on special naval unit helmets, etc. but never different patterns of the kind posted in the image here. I have looked at many images as well and have never come across anything done in this manner. On the other hand, one never really knows unless you can inspect the item and hopefully find some documentation to add to the piece. It is certainly worth further research. Mike

[Eric Doody]

Bobby R. et al.,

The various "paint scheme" threads were merged into a single thread.

Eric

[Eric Doody]

Bobby R.,

Thanks for sharing the photos of your very interesting Navy helmet with us.

I must say your helmet has one of the more unusual paint schemes that I have seen.

I have seen a few other helmets with unusual paint schemes and will be starting a thread on an Army helmet that I photographed yesterday that has an unusual paint scheme.

Out of curiosity, is there any history behind your unusual Navy helmet?

Eric

[Paul G]

Helmet

Nice!