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Observations :
- Factory paint color will differ between the helmet makers. For M35’s this can range from apple to pea green.
- Exist as double decal (M34 , M35) , single decal (M35 , M40 , M42) and without decal (M40 Quist , M42).
- I explicitly kept M40 DD out of the above list as for me at this point there is no proof Factory DD M40 were ever made. Only a handful of M40 DD Heer helmets are known to exist and they are from different makers. My feeling is that the tricolor decal was added for a reason yet unknown after the helmets left the factory. View every DD M40 with a very critical eye. You would like to see the eagle and the tricolor to have aged similarly.
- Heer decals are silver and can tone to a dark yellow/brown goldish color , people often mistake them for Kriegsmarine decals. Be careful as the price difference is huge.
- Roller buckle chinstraps are often found on early Heer helmets (M35 , M16/M18).
Look in the Decals sub menu for details on Heer decals.
SCROLL DOWN FOR EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT HELMETS
Eisenhüttenwerke Thale (ET) size 64 – M35
- One of the earliest ET M35’s
- No Lot number , only an R stamp
- Early E.T. style stamp
- The decal is not the standard ET decal but the rare Wilhelm Abels decals. Only found on really early early shells. (1935 or earlier)
- 1935 Dome stamp
Quist (Q) size 64 – M35
- A very early Quist shell because of the Pocher decal set and the liner with the embossed size stamp. Probably of 1936 manufacture.
- Lot number 5142
Photos courtesy of RoyA
Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke (NS) size 66 – M35
- Among one of the earliest M35 helmets you can find.
- 1935 Dated liner band with size stamp pressed into the leather
- 1936 Dome stamp
- 1927 Dated rollerbuckle strap often found on early (pre 1937) helmets
- Lot number E10
- Early Pocher Eagle decal
Eisenhüttenwerke Thale (ET) size 64 – M35
- Lot number 3521
- 1937 Dated liner
- 1937 Dated chinstrap
- ET style decal
Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 64 – M35
- Lot number 20210
- 1938 dated liner band
- LLG Schlesien maker stamped chinstrap.
- Pocher Heer decal
Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 64 – M40
- Lot number 21236
- 1940 dated liner band
- Pocher heer decal (one of 3 Heer decal types observed on EF M40 shells)
- Note the light toning of the decal which is typical for decals on EF M40 and M42 shells.
- Maker marked chinstrap
Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 62 – M40
- Lot number 11374
- 1941 dated liner band
- E Jutner heer decal (one of 3 Heer decal types observed on EF M40 shells)
- Note the light toning of the decal which is typical for decals on EF M40 and M42 shells.
Quist (Q) size 66 – M40
- 1941 Dated aluminium liner with 2 different D rings
- Lot number 1334
- The decal is the Big foot type. (Only found on Quist shells)
- Has a field repair on the D ring to keep the chinstrap fixed
- The chinstrap is stuck over the rim and cannot be moved
Eisenhüttenwerke Thale (ET) size 74 – M42
- Lot number 2392
- 1941 dated liner band
- Typical ET decal
- Extremely rare size 74 !
Pictures courtesy of M38
Eisenhüttenwerke Thale (ckl) size 64 – M42
- This helmet was found in 2005 in Norway by Jan Meland , an avid helmet hunter , collector and subject expert.
- Lot number 2989.
- ET style decal
- Liner band date not readable.
- Wire assembly for camouflage purposes
- Period paper tucked under the leather for comfort
Eisenhüttenwerke Thale (ckl) size 66 – M42
- Classic mid war no decal helmet
- Lot number 4462
- 1943 Dated liner band
- Has a period roller buckle chinstrap , not the standard issued one , which on one side is kept attached to the D ring with a piece of leather. A field repair.
- The name Munnecke is ink stamped all over the leather , even on the tip of the chinstrap.
- Has the later ET dome stamp
Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke (NS) size 66 – M42
- Lot number x384
- Rear marked NS
Photos courtesy of Langemarck
Late war qvl marked helmet size 68 – M42
- Lot number 5924
- Rare late war helmet
- qvl as seen on an example with a dome stamp related to the ET factory
Photos courtesy of helmet2id
Sächsische emaillier und stanzwerke (hkp) size 66 – M42
- This M42 Helmet was liberated and brought home by Private Howard Moffit of Iowa City, Iowa.
