Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive original German WWII M42 steel helmet shell configured for Kriegsmarine Navy use, stamped EF64 for manufacture by Emaillierwerke A.G. of Fulda. The shell retains its distinctive dark navy blue, almost black textured exterior overpaint, approximately 75% of its gold Kriegsmarine eagle decal, all three liner retaining pins, and a surviving 1940 dated Schuberth galvanized steel liner band. Kriegsmarine helmets are encountered far less frequently than comparable Heer and Luftwaffe examples, making the strong surviving decal and unusual dark finish especially appealing.

The stamped sheet steel shell has been finished externally in a very dark navy blue, nearly black textured paint applied over the earlier Panzergrau armor gray finish. Wear and chipping reveal portions of the underlying Panzergrau, providing a particularly interesting layered appearance. The exterior shows honest service wear but is free from major dents or substantial areas of corrosion.

The interior retains the original Panzergrau finish well overall, although some oxidation is present in the inner crown.

The left side carries a Kriegsmarine gold national eagle decal with the closed wing design. We examined the decal closely and its coloration appears consistent with a Kriegsmarine example rather than a Heer decal that has simply yellowed with age. The surviving gold has the characteristic strong yellow tone, and chipped areas do not reveal an underlying silver color.

The decal remains approximately 75% intact, showing general wear and scattered chipping, including areas where the exterior overpaint has worn through to the original Panzergrau finish beneath.

The rear interior neck guard is lot number stamped:

2018

The left interior apron carries a faint manufacturer and shell size marking:

E.F.64

The EF code identifies Emaillierwerke A.G. of Fulda, Germany, while 64 indicates the shell size.  Later in the war this maker would move both markings to under the rear skirt to save production time. Size 64 is a nice medium 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, and lot number "2094" on an EF64 marked helmet is also listed in the collector's helmet database as a Kriegsmarine helmet.

All three liner retaining pins remain present and still carry the dark exterior overpaint. They secure the galvanized steel outer liner band, which is the only surviving portion of the original style M31 liner assembly. The leather liner itself is no longer present.

The left side of the liner band is marked:

64 n. A. / 56

This indicates a size 56 liner assembly intended for a size 64 helmet shell.

The opposite side is marked:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

This identifies manufacture of the liner band by Schuberth-Werke K.-G. of Braunschweig in 1940. As the M42 helmet shell itself is a later wartime pattern, the earlier dated liner band may represent the wartime reuse of an existing liner component or a later period installation. Without additional provenance, we cannot determine exactly when the band was fitted to this shell.

There is no chinstrap installed.

Condition overall is very good for a service used helmet shell. The dark textured Kriegsmarine overpaint is strongly retained, the shell remains free from major dents, and the gold eagle decal is still approximately 75% present. The missing leather liner and chinstrap, interior crown oxidation, and general exterior wear are fully disclosed.

For the German WWII helmet or Kriegsmarine collector, this is a particularly interesting EF64 M42 with a highly distinctive dark Navy finish, strong surviving gold eagle decal, visible underlying Panzergrau paint, all three liner pins, and a clearly marked 1940 Schuberth liner band. The combination gives the helmet considerable visual character and makes it a strong display piece for a Kriegsmarine or German steel helmet collection.

The German Stahlhelm
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.