Original German WWI M16 Stahlhelm Relic Helmet Shell with Extremely Faint Traces of Panel Camouflage Paint - Marked NJ62 - Rare Maker
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a near-relic example of a totally original WWI German M16 Helmet shell, with very small remnants of an original "paneled" camouflage paint scheme. We can make out of of the black dividing lines with some yellow at the front of the helmet. This was a very popular type of camouflage used on both sides of WWI. The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 5% of its original hand painted camouflage paint, if even that. This was painted over the original field gray paint, and the exterior has extremely heavy oxidation and paint loss.
The helmet still has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. It also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct longer type with a small step for the small size 62 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size. Only one of the original liner pins is retained in the back, but it is in the wrong hole.
The helmet is missing its original liner and chinstrap. The shell is very faintly stamped N.J next to size 62 indicating that Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke of Schwerte i/Westfalen manufactured it. This company made shells in size 62 ONLY for the war effort, and have become one of the most sought after makers. Size 62 is a smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 55cm or US 6 3/4 to 6 7/8. There was originally a dome stamp, but the helmet is extremely oxidized inside and out, so it is now worn away.
The combination of the NJ62 Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke marking, size-specific stepped ventilation lugs, surviving M1891 chinstrap fittings, traces of original feldgrau, and extremely faint remnants of probable 1918 segmented camouflage makes this a worthwhile study example of an uncommon M1916 production variant.
Its condition is unquestionably rough, but the surviving factory marking and traces of late-war camouflage preserve important manufacturing and field-use details that remain identifiable despite the extensive deterioration.
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