my helmet from my Grandfather

[all1knew]

Hello all,

Alright, so I asked my Grandfather for a German helmet when I was a kid. I wanted a WWI spiked helmet but I got this instead. It came from eBay.com from a seller in Germany by the name of hecki99. Anyhow, I don't care what it is, but I want to know what it is! I know it has been repainted and I believe the liner is a replacement and the chin-strap as well. Can you tell me what model helmet this is, if it is original German issue or something else, where the liner and chin strap might have come from, ect. Any other ideas, comments, and thoughts are welcome. Please let me know either way. Thank you.

William Kramer

[all1knew]

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[kennethc]

M40 with non-german paratrooper style chin strap

[Theodor]

Czech Civil defense/Fire Brigade helmet

I mean, the shell is original WW2 German M40. But it has been reissued postwar in Czechoslovakia. The liner ring is original, but the leather is not, the chinstrap is not, too, and the big rounded rivets are Czech. Someone has made holes in the Czech liner, to look German.

[all1knew]

thank you

Hello all,

Thank you for your help. Is there any way to remove the rivets and replace them with German ones? Also, would you think it would be wise to remove the black paint? One day I hope to find a cover as to hide the new look to it. Once again I appreciate your comments.

Bill

[Theodor]

I think you can remove the rivets very easy, they have pins, just folded inside. Sometimes the Czechs used only the outer liner ring. If the case is such, you will easily see the "hands" of the rivets folded inside the helmet. If they have used both liner rings, then you have to pull the inner ring in order to get to the rivets.
I've seen replacement rivets for 10-15$, mostly copies I believe, but will do great to make your helmet look correct.

Stripping the black paint - in most cases the shells have already been stripped, there is metal only under the black paint. This is what I have heard about the Czech helmets, that very, very rarely the black is applied over the original paint.
Your helmet looks as if there is nothing under the black. But you examine it closely.
If you feel uncomfortable with the black, then I think you do not need to remove it, too much work, unnecessary work, overpaint it with a better color. Some aircraft model kit paint in proper color will make it a nice display.

[Derek O.]

Original rivet sets sold here: www.Germanhelmetsinc.com Ken's got good stuff.

[all1knew]

Hello,

Thanks for the tip, I just sent an e-mail to Ken. Is there anywhere to find an original liner or chinstrap that I could put on this helmet? Please let me know either way. Thanks.

Bill

[Derek O.]

Might get lucky on e-bay, you see a lot of original parts (including liners) there.

[Theodor]

Is it really worth the effort? Rivets are cheap, but the liners and chinstraps are not. The original ones, I mean. Better save some money and get an authentic helmet, usually ones appear at the E-stand at very good prices.