What's going on with this M.33?

[GIZMO8Z]

Hello, all!

I acquired this larger size M.33 with thick (camo?) over paint a while ago and I believe it to be WWII vintage. It has square chinstrap bales and gray/green leather chinstrap which to the best of my knowleghe are typical of wartime examples.

HOWEVER, The front of the helmet interests me. It appears that something was either attached to the helmet and then ripped off... OR someone dug around on the front of the helmet in search of a decal.

What do you folks think?











Now... here's a problem. Two of the brackets that connect the liner to the helmet are broken. Should I try to repair it? I'd hate for the only attached bracket to break and ruin it all...

[juoneen]

It does appear something is painted on the front...possibly one of the stenciled insignias. Appears they scratched it with something as the top paint is crazing , and if the top layer of paint is not sticking well it may come off enought to tell ,...if you use something that will not scratch the metal, like the corner of an old credit card or soft pine wood shim held on an angle . I don't think you can hurt it as long as you are careful, and work slowly and don't press very heavily. Some is already scratched down to the base metal. Normally i dont touch helmet paint even if decals can be seen under the paint, so its your call...but i think you are right ...something is there.

[GIZMO8Z]

This part especially looks almost like feathers on an eagles wing (?). Maybe I'm just seeing things...

I know digging out decals on German helmets especially is frowned upon... and generally I like to keep the items of my collection un-touched. I'd just like to know what it could be!

If anything, I'll repair the liner.

[tankredi]

Just another Spanish used m33 helmet.
It once had the Spanish army eagle soldered to the front of the shell.

[GIZMO8Z]

Just another Spanish used m33 helmet.
It once had the Spanish army eagle soldered to the front of the shell.

When would the Spanish have used this helmet? Spanish Civil War, or after?

[tankredi]

When would the Spanish have used this helmet? Spanish Civil War, or after?

Both, but more frequently after the SCW, especially with eagle added to the helmet.

[Dennis S]

My opinion is gloppy brown paint is always Post Spanish Civil War.

[Daniele C]

A similar one was posted here

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=246208&page=7