Luftwaffe M40 SD

[Time Bandit]

I'm not a collector of helmets but I do have two in my collection one is a WW1 helmet and the other is this Luftwaffe M40 (I think it's M40?) Single Decal one. Helmet is not in brilliant condition but I'm not too bothered about that, nor the fact that it has a few dodgy bits about it.
As far as I can tell the shell is the original M40 and is marked Q66 and 325 on the rim, it has the single LW eagle on the LH side but this has at some point had its swastika removed. Shell has a slight dint/crack on the top. The liner band is an original WW2 one dated 1942 (though I don't know if its original to this helmet?) but the leather liner is a fake/post war one. Chin strap I ain't got a clue - it could be real could be fake but I wouldn't know what the difference is?

I got the lid out of the local free paper about 15 years ago and it cost me £30 which I was happy enough with since even then you were looking at over £100 for a helmet (some a lot more!).

[Time Bandit]

The inside details of it...

[Time Bandit]

Decal details...

[FLAK]

Well i would say the decal is ok,
But lets see what else people have to say
Regards
Mike

[Time Bandit]

I'm pretty certain the decal is the original one, especially when you have the helmet in your hand and you see the effort taken to get the swastika off!

Mind you at the end of the day I care not either way really...I'm not a helmet collector and so don't have that much interest in it other than it looks good on the shelf with some gas mask cans etc and so it serves its purpose for me and hell...at £30 I just couldn't say no really....dunno what £30 would be in $'s back then..maybe $40/45??

Bargain!!

[Suber]

Looks to me as if the liner has been removed/replaced at some point. The split pin does not look good, the liner stiching is usually to the rear of the helmet. Just my opinion.

[Time Bandit]

I have to confess I took the pin out.... It wasn't too keen on going back in again...hence the state of it...

The liner is a repro one so may well be in arse about tit....

[M35]

M40 Luft

I see no problem with the shell, the paint, the liner band, or the decal. As you already know, the leather part of the liner, and the strap, are repros and not very good ones. Just a suggestion: take the leather part of the liner out. It is easy to do, just remove the dozen little rivets around the edge that hold it in. I'd also remove the chinstrap. Seems to me it is better to have an ALL original piece with parts missing, than a combination of orignal and repro parts. Either way it will still look good on the shelf or mannequin.

The rear rivet needs work also. You have it with the slotted washer between the shell and liner band. The washer should be on the inside of the liner band. In other words, put the rivet through the shell, through the liner band, through the slotted washer, then bend over the legs of the rivet. You'll need to straighten it out though before you try to put it back in the helmet, so if you're not comfortable doing all that, best to just leave the rivet as is.

Regards,
Terry

[Time Bandit]

Hi Terry,

I think I might just take the leather part out as it achieves no purpose (it's not like the helmet gets worn) plus you can't see it anyhow and like you say it's all original then with it removed.

I must admit I thought the washer was wrong but I wasn't sure, that's how it was before I had a fiddle with it so being non the wiser I just but it back that way.