Original Item: Only One Available. This is a genuine Belgian WWII-era Model 1931 Adrian helmet, retaining its distinctive Belgian lion badge and original leather liner. The helmet has been repainted black during its service life, while the chinstrap is now largely missing. The shell remains structurally sound with only minor dings and surface wear, and the surviving liner is unusually complete. The helmet is approximately U.S. size 7.

The steel shell has been entirely repainted in black, likely during the period. The front is fitted with the Belgian lion badge, the distinctive national emblem used on Belgian Army helmets. The badge remains securely mounted and provides an immediate visual distinction from the French and other foreign Adrian helmet patterns.

The shell is in very good overall condition and shows only minor dings, scratches, and paint loss consistent with age and military use. Some finish loss is present on both the shell and the aluminum comb, but the majority of the original paint remains intact. The surviving wear gives the helmet an honest service appearance without detracting from its strong overall presentation.

The original leather liner remains complete and is in good service-worn condition. All principal components are retained, including the original adjustment tie string. The leather shows moderate age and wear but remains substantially intact, an important feature since many surviving Belgian helmets are encountered with damaged, incomplete, or replaced liners. The liner has some sweat-staining and is now a lighter brown color except for where there is wear. The original chinstrap is mostly gone, with only a fragment remaining on one end.

The M31 was the principal modern Adrian-type helmet used by Belgian forces during the period leading into WWII. Belgian troops wore helmets of this general pattern during the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, alongside surviving earlier Adrian types. Specialist references identify the M31 as the standard Belgian combat helmet of the campaign.

Its ancestry can be traced directly to Belgium’s extensive use of French Adrian helmets during WWI. Belgian M1915 helmets were distinguished by a lion badge and were generally repainted in Belgian khaki or mustard tones rather than French horizon blue. Belgium later developed domestic variants before adopting the manganese-steel M31 in the early 1930s.

Condition overall is very good structurally and service worn, with minor shell dings, scratches, finish loss, wear to the aluminum comb, a complete but sweat-stained leather liner, and a largely missing chinstrap. The black repaint substantially changes the helmet’s original military appearance, but it may itself represent a later Belgian official service phase.

With its Belgian lion badge, Model 1931 manganese-steel shell, dented comb, surviving leather liner, and black service repaint, this is an interesting Belgian Adrian helmet whose physical features span both military and potentially later Gendarmerie or police use.