First M42 Helmet

[Valleysniper]

Hi Folks

Picked up my first helmet this weekend. Helmet is supposedly late war unissued. Link to pictures below, anybody know makers name from code?

http://community.webshots.com/album/345540012FVSPYr

TIA

[Perry Floyd]

Yes late war in the late "slate/granite" color which in my opinion was the finial color change intended for all branches.

[arjan]

looks good to me, too bad about the rust spot

And I forgot which factory was renamed to qvl

Arjan

[darryl-P]

Although it is unofficial and there is no documented evidence to confirm, many of us believe qvl was NS.

Cheers,

[Jan B]

Yes late war in the late "slate/granite" color which in my opinion was the finial color change intended for all branches.

Nice 'final helmet' indeed!

Perry, are these more difficult to find (more rare)?

I must admit I haven't seen many of these "slate/granite M42's". I know Bill has one for sale for a very long time now.

Simply because there weren't that many issued or because these were the first that got immediatly refurbished after the war?

Cheers

Jan

[Derek O.]

Interesting helmet. I kind of like the "final days of the Reich" items.

Thanks for sharing.

[Perry Floyd]

What? you guys don't like my spelling

Anyway Jan, no I dont consider them rare no more than any no decal M42. They are however difficult to locate in issued/worn condition. Kinda like the late war para's(in the same color), you allmost allways see them in a unissued state.

[Brian Ice]

vL helmets

according to my research, vL was possibly the base mark which included
bvL, qvL, and qvl, and possibly others. (i have helms with all of these marks) some of these vL helms have come from post war black CZEC fire dept stock. the bvL helm has original paint and liner band with an RBNr. from the Sudetenland. i believe it is possible that there was a helmet factory(s) in occupied CZEC. In the "M45" helmets thread i have a pic of a M45 ventless with the qvL64 5699 mark. Although it has the very rough texture paint, the color is a medium gray.

[RDK]

looks good to me

[Jan B]

What? you guys don't like my spelling

Anyway Jan, no I dont consider them rare no more than any no decal M42. They are however difficult to locate in issued/worn condition. Kinda like the late war para's(in the same color), you allmost allways see them in a unissued state.

Thanks Perry.

[Valleysniper]

First M42 helmet

Gentlemen

Thanks for the confirmation it's a "good un"

I know it's a shame about rust on top, but was told there from being stored. Have been told by former owner to leave alone and do not try to treat rust or take out liner either as never go back the same? As you will see from pics one leather petal of liner has broken off, and leather is very dry. Was again told not to use any restorative chemicals on leather as will darken it irreversibly and worth less then. One website suggests collector using baby oil to bring life back to helmet and to protect without damage or darkening leather? Anyone tried this?

BTW anyone notice helmet still has ink stamp on inside, but I cannot make it out clearly. Nor can I make out stamps clearly on retaining band, as in a position tight to inside of helmet.

Thanks

Hugh

[Perry Floyd]

Don't do anything, I recommend leaving it as is.

[thomaz]

I have been told that the use of grease, used to tread the saddle of a horse, does not infect the color of the leather. My concern is that the leather will fall apart and break when you keep it lying untreated for the next couple of years.