DESCRIPTION
I have recently invented a new category of restored helmets I am naming "Tribute Restorations". What this is means is that I have decided to restore these original helmet shells based on their rear lot numbers as set out by Brian Ice's lot data book indicating which branch of Wehrmacht service they originally left the factory as. In this particular case this is an M35 SE64 shell with rear lot number of 22 000 which was originally issued as a rare Kriegsmarine single decal in late 1941. This is exactly the same way the helmet looked during the war and was a restored as a "tribute" to the helmet itself if that makes any sense. KM original shells are very hard to find with only about 1/200 being traced back to them in Brian Ice's factory data book.
In this particular example I only replaced the decal which was missing with a high quality golden metallic version indicative of an ET factory style eagle. The helmet also had it's original 1941 dated rare aluminum round chinstrap bale outer liner band which was fitted with a newly aged leather component to complete the piece. A high quality matching chinstrap was also added and is post war made. So yeah it's a bit of a Frankenstein but still a pretty cool looking helmet that actually was in the war and did look almost exactly like this since the paint is all original. Ode to history.
The inside paint is smooth enamel with a textured outside finish in textbook German flat feld grau (field gray) and all original. The eagle is your textbook Kriegsmarine ET factory applied version with the same 3D effect whereby the eagle shape is protruding outwards against the flat black shield background. The ink used to create the decal is golden and metallic and so as close to an original as possible. I can age the decal further if one so chooses free of charge.
Both the outside and inside paint are 100% from the German factory in 1941 with only the decal and leather section of the liner being replaced. Even the outer aluminum rounded chinstrap bale liner band is original to the helmet and stamped 1941. This original outer liner band was kept with the helmet and a new but aged leather system was added in order to complete the piece. There are a few small pea sized shallow dents at the back of the helmet but nothing that distracts from this being a one time looker. The chinstrap is a high level modern reproduction and lightly aged to compliment the helmet.
$450
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 Europe/UK: $65 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to Australia/New Zealand: $75 with full tracking numbers.
(Please contact us with any special shipping instructions as I am here to serve and facilitate the shipment.)
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
