DESCRIPTION
This is a mid war experimental B-Series produced M40 NS64 helmet that you just don't see that often. The NS B-series i.e. helmets with a rear lot number simply stamped as B1-B9 represent an erratic block of helmets most of which appear to have bee post war completed in black paint with post war liner parts. According to Brian Ice's lot data book the NS factory first started the B-Series in their M35 helmets completing them as double decal Heer and ran from B1-B9. Then a few months later sometime still in the early part of 1940 they changed the M35's in M40's but in some case retained their removable air vents which soon was replaced by machine pressed stamped air vents with protruding circular holes. These vents in their early 1940 production were more pronounced than later produced NS M40's as if they were experimenting around with various shapes of the newly pressed air vent holes. In my opinion the NS factory was simply experimenting with their newly mandated M40 style shells during their transaction away from the M35's trying to get the holes just right. If these helmets were never really meant for fulfilling Wehrmacht orders but more so for in house factory trial and error process. This is why they didn't bother to give them 4 digit lot numbers but instead went with a very simplified B series than simply ran from B1 to B9 for quick and easy identification. I believe that most of these helmets were never completed but remained somewhere in NS storage until the end of the war when they were discovered during the Marshal Plan and then completed for the domestic German police or fire services.
One interesting feature of the NS M40 B Series is that the vent holes are a bit more pronounced and almost re-enforced in terms of metal thickness when compared to later produced helmets. The shape is also a tad different as well being somewhat straighter in stature as if pulled upwards by someone's gigantic hands. The script size of both the B and the NS64 is also very interesting as it is about double the normal font.
When I first got this helmet in it was covered in black paint but when I stripped it down to bare metal I was very pleased with how minty the metal had remained and thought this would best be restored as it should have left the factory back in early 1940 when it was first produced i.e. M40 single decal Heer. The decal is white metallic and a textbook C.A. Pocher style eagle which was used mainly by the NS factory until 1943. The chinstrap is a high quality reproduction with an historically accurate date to complete the piece. The helmet was painted in dark feld grau enamel paint smooth on the inside but with a textured finish on the outside.
Very cool looking lid and if you're into German helmets a great conversation piece for discussion among other helmet collectors.
$600 SOLD (Peter)
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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 mainly 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. A little bit of research and knowledge will pay dividends as you move ahead on your collecting journey.)
(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
