{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-army-single-decal-m40-steel-helmet-with-1940-dated-56cm-relic-liner-and-replica-chinstrap-stamped-se64","title":"Original German WWII Heer Army Single Decal M40 Steel Helmet with 1940 Dated 56cm Relic Liner and Replica Chinstrap, Stamped SE64","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very appealing original German WWII Heer Army M40 steel helmet with substantial original finish, an exceptionally well preserved single Heer decal, and its original 1940 dated M31 liner assembly in relic condition. The shell is stamped \u003cstrong\u003eSE64\u003c\/strong\u003e for manufacture by \u003cem\u003eSächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G.\u003c\/em\u003e of Lauter, with lot number \u003cstrong\u003e869\u003c\/strong\u003e at the rear. Although the leather portion of the liner is heavily deteriorated and the chinstrap is a post war replica, the helmet retains strong period character, approximately \u003cstrong\u003e80%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its original textured finish, and over \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its Heer eagle decal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M40 was the simplified successor to the earlier M35 helmet and retained the familiar German \u003cem\u003eStahlhelm\u003c\/em\u003e profile while incorporating stamped ventilation openings directly into the shell. This example is finished in a lightly textured \u003cem\u003ePanzergrau\u003c\/em\u003e (amor gray) blue gray paint, much of which remains intact despite obvious service wear, age, chipping, and oxidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior retains approximately \u003cstrong\u003e80%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its original blue gray paint. Wear is distributed naturally across the shell, with chipped areas and oxidation contributing to a strong service worn appearance. The interior retains the finish to a similar degree, although paint is missing from the top of the dome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side carries the original Heer eagle decal, which is retained at over \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e. It shows some surface scratches and slight yellowing from age, but there is no major loss of the design and the eagle remains exceptionally strong visually.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear interior neck guard is stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e869\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left interior apron is stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSE64\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSE\u003c\/strong\u003e manufacturer code identifies \u003cem\u003eSächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G.\u003c\/em\u003e of Lauter, Germany, while \u003cstrong\u003e64\u003c\/strong\u003e indicates the shell size. This size shell was intended to accept M31 liner assemblies in approximately the 56cm to 57cm range. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three original liner retaining pins remain present and in good condition. The steel pins appear originally to have had plated surfaces, and oxidation beneath the finish has resulted in substantial paint flaking on two of the three heads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe helmet still contains its original style M31 galvanized steel liner assembly, although the leather and padding are now in relic condition. Almost all of the leather liner is missing, and a large portion of the felt underpadding has torn away from more than half of the circumference and now hangs from the inner liner band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe outer galvanized steel liner band is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e64 n.A \/ 56\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis indicates a \u003cstrong\u003e56cm\u003c\/strong\u003e liner assembly intended for a size \u003cstrong\u003e64\u003c\/strong\u003e helmet shell. The opposite side retains the full maker and date marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB. \u0026amp; C.\u003cbr\u003eBERLIN\u003cbr\u003e1940\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis identifies the liner manufacturer as \u003cem\u003eBiedermann \u0026amp; Czarnikow\u003c\/em\u003e of Berlin and dates the assembly to \u003cstrong\u003e1940\u003c\/strong\u003e. Biedermann \u0026amp; Czarnikow later moved liner production to Litzmannstadt in occupied Poland, where wartime production made use of forced labor. NSDAP authorities renamed Łódź to Litzmannstadt in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War. The \u003cstrong\u003eBERLIN \/ 1940\u003c\/strong\u003e marking on this example therefore represents the firm's earlier production period before that relocation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1940 date and \u003cstrong\u003e64 n.A \/ 56\u003c\/strong\u003e size are entirely consistent with this M40 shell. We see no obvious evidence from the supplied information that the liner assembly was replaced, although the present relic condition of the leather limits how much can be determined from the surviving components alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe currently fitted chinstrap is a post war reproduction constructed from thick leather with a steel buckle and attachment studs. It carries the replicated marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR. LARSEN\u003cbr\u003eBERLIN\u003cbr\u003e1935\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marking is commonly encountered on European reproduction chinstraps and should not be mistaken for an original wartime maker stamp. The replica strap now shows its own oxidation and age and may have been installed on the helmet many years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition overall is very good as a service worn shell with a relic liner. The helmet retains approximately \u003cstrong\u003e80%\u003c\/strong\u003e of its original textured finish and more than \u003cstrong\u003e90%\u003c\/strong\u003e of the Heer decal, while the shell itself displays attractive wear, chipping, and oxidation. The principal condition issue is the heavily deteriorated M31 liner, with most of the leather absent and extensive loss to the felt padding. The replica chinstrap is fully disclosed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the German WWII helmet collector, this example has several particularly desirable surviving features: an original \u003cstrong\u003eSE64\u003c\/strong\u003e M40 shell, lot number \u003cstrong\u003e869\u003c\/strong\u003e, a strong single Heer decal, approximately \u003cstrong\u003e80%\u003c\/strong\u003e original textured finish, all three liner retaining pins, and a correctly sized \u003cstrong\u003eB. \u0026amp; C. \/ BERLIN \/ 1940\u003c\/strong\u003e M31 liner band. The relic liner and reproduction chinstrap are clear condition considerations, but the shell, decal, markings, and untouched service wear give the helmet excellent visual character for a Heer headgear or German WWII field equipment collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe German Stahlhelm\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, (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":45959330660421,"sku":"ONSV26EMC021","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/69721BB6-7F3E-4B4E-99CB-E918A33B6C96.jpg?v=1791564540","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-army-single-decal-m40-steel-helmet-with-1940-dated-56cm-relic-liner-and-replica-chinstrap-stamped-se64","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}