{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-austrian-m17-transitional-heer-army-former-double-decal-steel-helmet-with-replica-m31-liner-and-chinstrap-size-66-shell","title":"Original German WWII Austrian M17 Transitional Heer Army Former Double Decal Steel Helmet with Replica M31 Liner and Chinstrap, Size 66 Shell","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive Austro-Hungarian M17 steel helmet that was subsequently refurbished for German Heer Army use during the transitional prewar and early WWII period. The shell retains approximately \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its German \u003cem\u003eApfelgrün\u003c\/em\u003e, or apple green, finish, together with approximately \u003cstrong\u003e75%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its Heer eagle decal and visible remnants of the former National Colors decal beneath a period overpaint. It has since been fitted with a high quality replica M31 liner and replica chinstrap, while the original Austrian shell, liner pins, vent lugs, and transitional German finish remain the central collector features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Austrian M17 was closely related to the German M16 Stahlhelm but incorporated several distinctive Austro-Hungarian features, including higher mounted chinstrap attachment points and a different chinstrap arrangement. Austrian examples were originally finished in the characteristic brown color commonly called \u003cem\u003eIsonzo-braun\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example was later reworked for German service. The original Austrian finish was removed or covered and the exterior refinished in an early German \u003cem\u003eApfelgrün\u003c\/em\u003e apple green paint. Approximately \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e of this later finish remains, with scattered chipping and oxidation, particularly across the top of the shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Austrian chinstrap attachment bolsters remain present, although the rings at their ends have been removed. This type of alteration is consistent with the conversion of older Austrian shells to accept later German liner and chinstrap systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shell was originally fitted in German service with the early double decal arrangement, consisting of a Heer eagle on the left side and a National Colors shield on the right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silver Heer eagle remains approximately \u003cstrong\u003e75%\u003c\/strong\u003e intact and shows even age and service wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe National Colors decal was later painted over. The covering paint has since checked and flaked in areas, allowing portions of the original decal to remain visible beneath. This gives the helmet an especially interesting layered appearance and preserves evidence of its earlier double decal configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGerman Heer helmets were initially issued with both the national eagle and National Colors decals, but the National Colors shield was discontinued during 1940 and was often subsequently removed or covered on helmets already in service. Period examples with surviving “ghost” or partially exposed National Colors decals beneath later paint are well documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo conventional maker or shell size stamp is visible. This is not unusual on Austro-Hungarian helmets, where factory markings could be ink applied and easily lost beneath later refinishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior top of the shell is stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4 4 7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do not presently know the exact significance of this number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo rolling mill marking was observed on the interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior circumference around the attachment pins measures approximately \u003cstrong\u003e67cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is consistent with a large shell of approximately \u003cstrong\u003esize 66\u003c\/strong\u003e. A shell of this size would typically accept a liner in approximately the \u003cstrong\u003e58 to 59cm\u003c\/strong\u003e range, equivalent to roughly U.S. hat sizes \u003cstrong\u003e7 1\/4 to 7 3\/8\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe helmet retains the short unstepped vent lugs associated with larger WWI pattern shells. These are consistent with the large size indicated by the shell measurements, although in the absence of an original factory size marking we consider the \u003cstrong\u003esize 66\u003c\/strong\u003e identification approximate rather than absolute.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three original liner retaining pins remain present and retain the apple green German finish very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior has been fitted with a high quality \u003cstrong\u003ereplica second pattern M31 liner\u003c\/strong\u003e. The liner band is aluminum with reinforced side sections and carries replicated period style markings. The aluminum construction and overall details identify it as a reproduction rather than an original wartime liner assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liner leather appears to be pigskin and displays the characteristic surface texture associated with that material. It shows little to no actual use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA high quality replica chinstrap is also installed. The strap has only \u003cstrong\u003e12 size adjustment holes\u003c\/strong\u003e and is made from noticeably thinner leather than would typically be expected on an original wartime example, confirming its reproduction status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is a very appealing transitional helmet built around a strong original Austro-Hungarian M17 shell with considerable surviving German WWII character. The approximately \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e apple green finish, surviving \u003cstrong\u003e75%\u003c\/strong\u003e Heer eagle, traces of the National Colors decal beneath its later overpaint, original Austrian attachment bolsters, all three original liner pins, and large approximately size \u003cstrong\u003e66\u003c\/strong\u003e shell give it excellent display presence. The replica liner and chinstrap are clearly disclosed and make the helmet visually complete without obscuring the much more important original shell and transitional German finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteel Combat Helmets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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, in the spring of 1916. These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. At the end of WWI it is estimated that Germany had produced about 8,500,000 steel helmets. As a result of the restrictions placed on the German’s by the Treaty of Versailles, which dictated a standing army of only 100,000 personnel, there was an abundant surplus of these helmets, and though they saw widespread use by Freikorps personnel, there was still a stockpile controlled by the Reichswehr.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese excess helmets underwent minor modifications in 1923 with the addition of provincial identifying shield decals and in 1931 with the development of a new chinstrap and liner system. Although helmet development was ongoing when AH came to power in 1933, the M16 and M18 helmets were still the main headgear worn by the Reichswehr. The helmets remained the same until March 1933 when the provincial shields were discontinued in favor of the national tri-color shield. In 1934 the national eagle shield was introduced, and both the tri-color and eagle shields were applied to the helmets. After the development of the new M35 helmet, the WWI helmets were still issued to second line and training troops well into WWII. The Austrian M16 was almost identical to the German version with the positioning of the chinstrap liner rivets being the most readily identifiable difference.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAustro-Hungarian Helmets\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Central Powers of Austria-Hungary used, manufactured and commissioned, variations of the World War One German Stahlhelm M16 design. The Austrian M1917 helmet was similar to the German M1916, but had a few variations including the chinstrap, chinstrap rivets located higher up on the steel shell and variations in locations of markings among others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly Austrian helmets were supplied by Germany, the first shells supplied as the chinstrap rivets were mounted in a lower position. The Austrians fitted their own chinstrap bales, chinstraps and liner and painted them in Austrian Isonzo braun. These modifications were carried out with German machinery at the \"Adolf Westen di Cilli factory, which is now Celije, in Slovenia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLater Austria-Hungary made their own helmets, and eventually developed a model similar to the German M18, but it did not see wide use before the end of the war, just as with German's M18. Both were an an important stepping stone towards the German helmets of WWII, which moved to chin straps attached to the liner, not the shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAustro-Hungarian WWI Helmets Makers-\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are only 9 known factories that produced helmets during WWI for the KUK. Unlike the Germans the Austrian pattern helmet are often found without factory stamps and heating lot codes. When the heating lot codes are present it is often on the outer top dome of the helmet instead of the inside. The following is a table of Manufactures codes of helmets produced by the Austrians. Several of these makers did not stamp the code into the shell of the helmet but rather marked them with an ink stamp. Therefore many Austrian shells will be encountered today that seem to have no maker mark as the ink stamp has worn off, but most will have rolling mill codes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaker Name Factory Location Maker code Sizes Model\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA. Westen Cilli Celie, Slovenia AW 64 M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrüder Gottlieb u. Brauchbar Brunn BGB 66 M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC. A. Scholtz,Mateocz Sloeakei CAS 66 M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBerndorfer Metal-Warenfabrik Berndorf, Austria \"Bear\" logo 66,64\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBruder Lapp, Rottenman u. Warcholowsky Unknown ? M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNadrag,Transilvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResicka, Transylvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBleckmann \u0026amp; Poldihutte Klando Boemia Unknown x Stirnpanzer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGebruder Bohler \u0026amp; Co., Kapfen Austria, Stiria GB \"Star\" 66 M17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRolling Mills Marker Code\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLudwikow L\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBleckmann B\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoldi P\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46320953655365,"sku":"ONSV26FDZ025","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/BF7DE152-0766-42E4-B23D-7026908D143A.jpg?v=1794255940","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-austrian-m17-transitional-heer-army-former-double-decal-steel-helmet-with-replica-m31-liner-and-chinstrap-size-66-shell","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}