Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely all original example of a German Model 42 Steel helmet, as issued to the Wehrmacht Heer (army). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet still retains most of the original panzergrau (armored gray) paint, which is lightly textured due to the use of aluminum oxide. It shows some light wear from service and storage, but overall the finish is retained at around 90%, showing scrapes, scratches, and other expected condition issues. There is no decal affixed to the shell, as late in the war they were often omitted due to supply and time constraints, especially late in the war. This helmet looks to have seen only light use during the war, and was well cared for.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 0592, and the interior, left side, apron has a faint stamped manufacturer's code and size, E.F.66 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 66. The stamp was not struck well, but the gothic "F" is definitive for this maker, as is the zero that looks like a parenthesis, and the size was confirmed through measurement. This is a nice large size that can accommodate size 58cm and 59cm liners, or 7 1/4 - 7 3/8 US. Shells of this large size are harder to find, and more valuable to a collector.

All three original liner retaining pins are present, and look to be the type that were painted prior to installation, so they are a slightly different color, with the paint very well retained. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner present, and all eight fingers are present and supple, with the top tie still present and in lovely condition. The leather is in great shape, showing just a bit scattered staining and wear around the rim. The side of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 66 n.A. / 58, indicating that this is a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side displays a late war simplified maker stamp and date:

D  R  P

44

We have seen this marking on other helmets from the period, and the maker has not been verified, but could be a secondary plant of Schuberth-Werk.

The chinstrap on the helmet is in good shape, but close examination of the buckle shows that it is a post war replica, probably several decades old. It also only has twelve size adjustment holes on the longer part, not the correct thirteen, and the leather is a bit thinner than normal. Still, it looks great, and has probably been on the helmet for many years, now showing age that makes it match perfectly.

Overall a great genuine German M42 helmet, complete with a liner and aged replica chinstrap. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.

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 was given by collectors.

In 1942, Due to wartime demands, the M-42 design was put into production because it was significantly quicker to manufacture. The rolled edge of the M-35 shell was eliminated, creating an unfinished edge along the rim. This edge flared out slightly, along the base of the skirt. The elimination of the rolled edge expedited the manufacturing process and reduced the amount of metal used in each helmet, without sacrificing protection.