Recent content by M45

Basically only 1 type of wear on this helmet, apparent chemical degradation of the paint. I would avoid.

You are correct. Probably using a mix of parts toward the end.

I have found phosphated helmets with markings from each of the 5 German helmet factories. It was an industry-wide phenomenon.

Quist M40 T1453. MSS44 rivets, 44 dated RBNr. chinstrap. This has a very smooth finish unlike combat paint leading me to suspect this is a phosphate coating. In the direct sunlight it has a green hue. The liner band is 1943 Litzmannstadt. The liner tie string is made of a twisted material seen...

NS stands for 'Nickel Werke Schwerte'. This company in the town of Schwerte made helmets in WWI, WWII and during the postwar years.

The stamps appear to be NS62 (factory and metric size) and E62 (lot number). I suspect it was originally a DD Army helmet from the factory in the mid 30s but was reissued later with textured green gray paint to the exterior and inside rim. Some time later it was sprayed in the typical 3 color...

Your welcome :). IMO means 'in my opinion'. I try not to come off as an absolute authority as I was not present during manufacture. I am simply relating my opinions based on what I have seen elsewhere. The sewn fabric name I have come across off and on over time. Certainly not unusual. The maker...

Graves. Interesting to see DD helmets still being used during the French Campaign, May 1940.

Front line in the forest.

River crossing. Notice helmets appear to be reissued or with removed decals.

It looks like a well worn original IMO. Chinstrap 1938 Carl Tesch Berlin. Lot# 3679 puts shell production at the beginning of 1938 according to my research. The non reinforced aluminum liner band is probably old stock 1937 dated, rarely with a 1938 date. The Heer decal would be the ET factory...

Damaged helmet. If these were taken as war booty, they could be theoretically identified.

I did a thread on questionable para helmets. https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/questionable-m36-m37-m38-para-helmets.13932/

Luftwaffe airfield helmets. They look like Luft1 birdies, possibly 1935-39 era.

Paras readying for jump.