DESCRIPTION
This is a bit of a rarer find in that this helmet is both an early M35 model as well as being a gigantic size 68 to boot. Originally this helmet left the factory floor as a double decal Heer with an aluminum re-enforced square bale liner system in a dark pea green enamel paint finish.
Based on the rear lot number of D188 this would have first left the Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, Schwerte factory floor sometime in the middle of 1938 according to Brian Ice's lot data book. Then after the invasion of Poland and possibly even during the subsequent 1940 invasion of France orders were given from Wehrmacht High Command to start producing only matte finish (feld grau) gray green textured helmets with a single decal instead which caused many M35 DD's to require a factory refurbishment.
In this particular case as we can still see the outline of a national tri-color shield beneath the textured paint we know that this helmet would have been painted over and not first fully stripped down. At this time most likely sometime in 1940 a fresh coating of dark gray textured paint was applied both inside and outside as well as a new liner system and Heer decal was added. The final result is what collectors call a re-issued M35 Heer single decal helmet.
In this particular case one nice feature is the existence of it's original chinstrap and the fact that the Heer decal is nearly 100% still in tact making this helmet a true Shelf Queen!
$1850
Please call, text or email me if interested.
Tel/Text: 1-438-502-5052
Email Us: helmetsofwar@gmail.com
HELMETS OF WAR INC.
PO Box 555
Champlain, NY 12919-0555
Shipping to Anywhere USA/Canada: $22 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to the UK: $80 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to Mainland Europe $85 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to Australia/New Zealand: $100 with full tracking numbers.
GERMAN HELMET FACTORY PRODUCTION CODES
Every original German helmet produced from 1935 to 45 had two factory stampings punched into the side and rear or both in the rear. The alpha numeric number refers to the factory location and the inside metric circumference in centimeters. The rear lot number refers to the production run and was used as a quality control measure. The font styles used at each factory were slightly different but highly consistent throughout the war and so fakes or reproductions will either not have these numbers at all or they will use the wrong font style or letter spacing and so are easily identified as post war made.
(FS or EF)-Emaillierwerke AG, Fulda, Germany
(ET or ckl)-Eisenhuttenwerke, Thale, Germany
(Q)-Quist, Esslingen, Germany
(NS)-Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, Schwerte, Germany
(SE or hkp)-Sachsische Emaillier u. Stanzwerke, Lauter, Germany
