{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-army-no-decal-m40-sawdust-textured-camouflage-helmet-with-1943-dated-57cm-liner-stamped-q64","title":"Original German WWII Heer Army No Decal M40 Sawdust Textured Camouflage Helmet with 1943 Dated 57cm Liner - Stamped Q64","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a fantastic patinated all original example of a German WWII M40 helmet, issued to the Heer (Army). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet looks to have been in service for some time, and had the shell field repainted with a fantastic camouflage paint job, utilizing sawdust as a texturing agent. There are multiple layers of paint, which then wore down, giving it a fantastic broken in look. There is some flaking away in areas, and also some dents. We even think we can see some \u003cem\u003eDunkelgelb\u003c\/em\u003e (dark yellow) DAK tan, so this is a helmet that has had a very long and interesting history! The interior of the helmet still retains a good amount of the \u003cem\u003epanzergrau\u003c\/em\u003e (armor gray) finish, which shows light wear and some oxidation. This looks like a helmet that saw long use during the war, with multiple repaints. Really a one of a kind helmet that would be impossible to duplicate!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped \u003cstrong\u003eDN304 \u003c\/strong\u003eand the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, \u003cstrong\u003eQ64\u003c\/strong\u003e indicating that it was manufactured by \u003cem\u003eF.W. Quist G.m.b.H.\u003c\/em\u003e in the German city of Esslingen. Size 64 is a nice smaller size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1\/8. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. It also looks like there is a faint name written on the rear skirt by the heat lot, which we were not able to quite make out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three original liner retaining pins are intact and retain most of the original textured paint on the tops. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all 8 \"fingers\" intact, though the top tie is missing. The leather is in very good condition, showing only light use, and there is no major staining or other issues It looks to be later war \"pig skin\" style leather, which is thicker and textured. The outer side of the mid war galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked \u003cstrong\u003e64 n.A \/ 56\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating that this is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIt is also maker marked and dated faintly on the other side:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRBNr. 0\/0256\/0038\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1943\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a small piece of the original chinstrap attached to the right loop on the band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a very nice 100% genuine M40 Heer Army \"no decal\" helmet, with a great textured camouflage paint scheme and a great service worn look! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard to find on the market. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\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, (Iron and Foundry Works), in the spring of 1916.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1934 tests began on an improved Stahlhelm, whose design was a development of World War I models. The Eisenhüttenwerke company of Thale carried out prototype design and testing, with Dr. Friedrich Schwerd once again taking a hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new helmet was pressed from sheets of molybdenum steel in several stages. The size of the flared visor and skirt was reduced, and the large projecting lugs for the obsolete armor shield were eliminated. The ventilator holes were retained, but were set in smaller hollow rivets mounted to the helmet's shell. The edges of the shell were rolled over, creating a smooth edge along the helmet. Finally, a completely new leather suspension, or liner, was incorporated that greatly improved the helmet's safety, adjustability, and comfort for each wearer. These improvements made the new M1935 helmet lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to wear than the previous designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44883334398021,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS060","price":3495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/IMG-2347.jpg?v=1776690345","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-army-no-decal-m40-sawdust-textured-camouflage-helmet-with-1943-dated-57cm-liner-stamped-q64","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}