Helmet help

[Chris Liontas]

I was hopeing some of the helmet experts could take a look at this helmet for me. I am used to seeing the "apple green" parade finish, the field grey combat finish...but what is this? The color is a little stange to me as are the chinstrap buckles. Would this be period or a rework? Thanks guys!

[Chris Liontas]

inside of helmet

inside

[Chris Liontas]

chinstrap

chinstrap

[Chris Liontas]

liner

[WalterB]

I think I read somewhere in this forum that the big printed size numbers in the liner indicated that the liner (and, in all likelihood, the helmet) were Norwegan (or perhaps Danish?).

[Den]

Totally post war.. Could be used by a fire department?

Ciao
Dennis

[Ty Smith]

Definitely Post war, probably Danish civil. The Norwegians usually stained the liners red and painted the shell black.

[Perry Floyd]

[SgtB]

Hey, Perry...

...I see your and raise you

[Chris Liontas]

Oh come on, give a guy a break! This helmet was bought for me when I was 10 years old by my Dad. Its been sitting in Colorado for over 15 years and I just got it back. Dad would not have known a real German Helmet from a copy back then. I was 99% sure it was a post war put-together, but I wanted to know why? Reinactor, forgery, Danish, Norwegian reissue?? There were lots of helmets left over from the war, I was wondering what category this fell into, if it fell into any of them at all. That was what I was hoping to see; and hopeing to get as information. The unhappy faces dont tell me much as a learning tool guys--I dont collect helmets, so I dont know much about them.

[SgtB]

Your right, Chris...

...I'm sorry! But so many "slightly off the mark" pieces come through here, that it's easy to develop a rough-hewn exterior
towards them. If your helmet was ever passed off as a WWII
German Helmet in its present configuration, justice was a casualty.

Only the shell itself and possibly the liner band are original 3rd
Riech era. The paint is fresh. The strange little holes may have
been for another army's post-war insignia.The liner is post-war.
Notice how the leather is just overlapped at the rear and not
butted together and sewn. The 5-hole groups look wierd. The
size stamp is WAY TOO large, even larger than the Norwegian
reissues(but not in a circle). The chinstrap is post-war too. I don't
think you'll ever see a roller buckle on a WWII combat helmet.

It was a real M-42 combat helmet at one time, Chris - but I'm afraid those days are long gone. It may be some army's reissue,
but I think the paint is too pristine for that. I think somebody
just did what he could with what he had and that's what we see here today.

[Chris Liontas]

ok great! Thank you so much for your answers! I was hopeing it was maybe European issue, but I am going to side with you, it is most likely a remake, 70's period. I used to see adds in the collector's Armory for "real German helmets" (or it might have been copies, I dont remember. ) This could have been one, or a attempt by a guy just to pass off the bad.

It was bought as orignal, but that was way back in '82 (I think). I didnt know anything about German militaria at the time, I just wanted a helmet. So Dad went ot a little surplus store and got me this one. I keep it mostly for sentimental purposes now. This little repro got me started, so it will always have a home with me

thank you for the help!

[Ty Smith]

Actually, Chris. I think this might be a west german border guard helmet. These were sold as original WWII helmets in the 80s and they were painted this color as I remember. Anyone else remember these helmets?

I too also have things I was given as a young kid that I would never part with.

[Jim McCauley]

The helmet in question was used by the Austrian Rural Police after WWII. (40's to 60's) It is a WWII shell with the leather in the liner post war replaced. The two holes on the side of the helmet are to mount a flaming bomb badge.

It's an interesting reissue of a WWII helmet. The chin strap appears to also be Austrian reissue.

A nice helmet that I wouldn't change. It does have value on the collectors market.

Best regards.

Jim

[Edelweiss]

I really love happy ends...