Item:
ONSV7675

Original German WWII Named Custom Fabric Camouflage M35 Helmet with Liner and Chinstrap - Q64

Item Description

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is pretty incredible, and something that we haven't seen before! We've had various types of Normandy Camouflage, and other schemes used by Germany during WWII, but we've never had a helmet with a custom made painted fabric cover on it! It looks like it originally was standard off white muslin or light canvas fabric, which was then cut and sewn together and placed over the helmet. It may have been glued in place, or may just have been painted, but now it is permanently attached.

It has a very good approximation of German WWII Buntfarbenmuster (Colorful pattern) camouflage, like a mix between several different types, such as the "Splinter Pattern", "Swamp Pattern", and "Oak Pattern.".  It is very well executed, using at least four different green and brown shades. Just a great looking camouflage helmet, which was surely a great help to the person who wore it. They even wrote their name in in the back under the rear skirt: Wanke. There also is a possible unit marking under the back as well, in black marker: Lw. - Bk 33XI 262. Definitely some great research potential!

The camouflage exterior is very well retained, with only a bit of lifting of the fabric around the edges. The interior still has the original Feldgrau paint, with minimal oxidation or other damage.

The interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped, 2703 and the interior, left side, apron has a very faintly stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Quist in Esslingen, Germany in size 64. Size 64 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/4. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. 

All three liner retaining pins are intact under the camouflage cover. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers intact. The liner is stained a bit with wear and flaking around the edges, but is in overall good solid condition and not stiff. The original top tie is even still present! The mid war reinforced aluminum liner band is marked on the left side with 64 n.A. / 56, indicating a size 56cm liner for a 64cm shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1939
Bln. Ch'burg 5.

The chinstrap is also still present, and in great shape. It is still quite soft and complete, and has the correct aluminum fittings. There is no maker mark that we can see, but these often faded over time. It has been looped around itself for storage, but is definitely full length, with just a bit of cracking on the surface.

Overall a stunning Custom Painted Fabric Camouflage M35 Helmet offered in fantastic condition! Ready to research and display!

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, (Iron and Foundry Works), in the spring of 1916.

These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.

In an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet.

  • This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
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