Japanese Helmet

[juvatwad]

I'm not a dedicated Japanese collector, but I picked this up over ten years ago when I saw it in a shop. The reason I bought it was because I had always wanted to buy one of those Japanese helmets offered for sale in the back of comic books in the 1970's. Unfortunately, $49.99 was way out of my league then. It was a sentimental purchase rather than one based on any knowledge, so I'd appreciate an evaluation from anyone who'd like to comment.

Ian

[juvatwad]

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[Banzi64]

looks fine

[bodes]

I just picked one up in comparable condition.......Can anybody explain what the painted swash is around the body of the helmet......It looks lighter on this helmet, darker on mine......The reason I ask is, my other Japanese lid doesn't have it......Bodes

[Jamz]

I am a beginner in the Japanese helmet area myself. I got my first one last week. But I have done lots of homework. I like your helmet alot. The stars always seem to loose paint. To find one with paint is somewhat hard I think.
Your liner is a beauty with all the attachment rings intact. I think the kanji on the back inside is the size. I am told that the number on the inner pad + 25 =
the year it was made. How long are the chin straps? Sewn ends? IMHO John

[zachb]

I just picked one up in comparable condition.......Can anybody explain what the painted swash is around the body of the helmet......It looks lighter on this helmet, darker on mine......The reason I ask is, my other Japanese lid doesn't have it......Bodes

In re painted stripe:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=stacked

[juvatwad]

The chin straps are long and sewn into folded over triangles at the ends.

Based on my impulse buy a long time ago, it proves even a blind squirell finds a nut from time to time.

[Dennis J]

Japanese helmet

I was told many years ago that the tan stripe around the helmet ment that the helmet was used in battles that were consedered battles in defence of the home land like Okinawa.I had one of these helmets in mint cond back in the day(1961)and the vet that gave it to me got it at the battle of Okinawa.You could tell by the paint job that the tan paint had been painted over the orig paint with a brush.When I asked a helmet collector years later that's what he told me.They are somewhat rare so you have a nice helmet there .

Enjoy your hobby
Dennis J

[Milton]

Nice helmet indeed, athough I have to say that the majority of the Japanese Army combat helmets I've owned over the years have had that horizontal brush-applied "slash", so I won't go so far as to say it's a rarity, however I've also never heard any logical explanation for it either other than perhaps it was a simple way to perhaps break up the consistency of the flat brown-tan helmet finish itself. Otherwise I've never heard of any connection to a particular campaign or specific battle designation. Very nice helmet, regardless!

[bodes]

Nice helmet indeed, athough I have to say that the majority of the Japanese Army combat helmets I've owned over the years have had that horizontal brush-applied "slash", so I won't go so far as to say it's a rarity, however I've also never heard any logical explanation for it either other than perhaps it was a simple way to perhaps break up the consistency of the flat brown-tan helmet finish itself. Otherwise I've never heard of any connection to a particular campaign or specific battle designation. Very nice helmet, regardless!

Thanks for the replies guys......Milton, by a "simple way to perhaps break up the consistancy of the helmet finish", wouldn't that fall under the definition of camouflage?.....When I first saw this on my helmet, have to admit that was my first impression......However I guess I would find the information on the link supplied by Zach as the more plausable explanation.....Bodes

[bolo]

the slash does look like camoflage, thats probably a quick way to camo the helmet