Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army single decal M40 steel helmet, shell marked NS64 and lot numbered D118, retaining approximately 85% of its original lightly textured gray finish. It is fitted with a 1941 dated size 57 M31 liner by Werner Zahn of Berlin-Charlottenburg and retains a partial chinstrap assembly made from original early pattern components.

The stamped steel shell shows a strong service used appearance with substantial original finish remaining. The lightly textured gray paint is worn smooth in places and shows scattered oxidation spotting, with several areas of complete paint loss on the crown, right side, and front where the exposed steel has oxidized. The interior retains its paint better overall with only light wear and finish loss. The Heer eagle decal on the left side is approximately 75% retained and shows even age wear.

The left interior skirt is stamped:

NS64

identifying a size 64 shell manufactured by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, of Schwerte, Germany. Size 64 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8.

The rear interior skirt is lot numbered:

D118

There are also two painted:

L332

markings inside the shell, the significance of which is not presently known.

All three liner retaining pins are present and retain original paint to varying degrees, with the front right pin showing the greatest loss. The original M31 leather liner retains all eight fingers and has developed a chestnut brown tone from age and use. There is some white surface bloom, along with wear and minor splitting where the leather folds over the liner band, while the original top tie remains present.

The galvanized steel liner band is marked:

64 n.A. / 57

indicating a size 57 liner fitted to a size 64 shell. The opposite side is lightly stamped:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1941
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1941, which fits right into the early war period.

The chinstrap is incomplete and assembled from period components. It consists of two shorter buckle sections, both early pattern examples with aluminum hardware, joined for display by a section cut from a longer strap. It should therefore be considered a partial composite chinstrap rather than a complete original assembly.

Overall condition is very good and honestly service used, with strong surviving paint, a substantially retained Heer decal, original liner pins, a correctly sized 1941 dated liner, and a visually complete helmet profile. The principal condition issues are localized paint loss and oxidation, minor liner splitting and bloom, and the incomplete composite chinstrap.

With its NS64 shell, D118 lot number, 1941 dated Werner Zahn size 57 liner, approximately 85% original textured finish, and surviving Heer decal, this is a strong example of an early war M40 combat helmet. It would display especially well in a Heer combat helmet, single decal M40, NS manufactured helmet, early war headgear, or advanced German WWII helmet collection.

The 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.

These 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.

In 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.

The 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.

The Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.