Original Item: Only One Available. This is a heavily service-worn original Imperial German WWI M1916 Stahlhelm shell, manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A.G. and marked ET64. Beneath remnants of a later overpaint are substantial traces of an earlier multicolor camouflage scheme in bright yellow, light, and green tones, with defined borders still visible around portions of the shell. The later paint was largely stripped away at some point, exposing more of the underlying finish, while additional overpaint remains around the rim and in scattered areas. The helmet is now fitted with a reproduction chinstrap and retains all three liner pins, although the liner and liner band are missing and the pins are consequently loose.

German M16 helmets were originally finished in variations of Feldgrau, but camouflage was also applied in the field during the war. On July 7th, 1918, General Erich Ludendorff issued formal instructions for disruptive helmet camouflage. The order called for large angular fields of matte color, with light and dark shades placed beside one another and the individual fields separated by black lines approximately a finger's width across. There were many non-regulation patterns used, with splotch being one of the more popular styles. This example shows bits and pieces of different styles, and is very unique.

The shell was applied with an interesting non-regulation camouflage scheme of bright yellows, whites, and greens. The paint looks best when displayed from either of the two sides, with the paint lines and borders well-defined in the areas around the ventilation lugs. Some of the overpaint is shown still retained along the rim of the helmet. The original camouflage paint is retained at about 50%.

The helmet still has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. There is a reproduction chinstrap fitted. It also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct longer type with a small step for the medium size 64 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

The shell is faintly stamped E.T.64 indicating that Eisenhuettenwerke Thale A.G., in Thale /Harz manufactured it. This company made shells in sizes 60 - 68 for the war effort. Size 64 is a nice medium large size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8. The top of the shell interior is now heavily oxidized, so no rolling mill mark can be found.

Condition is distinctly well worn and incomplete, but the shell itself remains historically interesting. The major condition issues are the loss of the complete liner assembly, loose liner pins, reproduction chinstrap, heavy interior oxidation, extensive disturbance of the exterior paint through postwar overpainting and later stripping, and scattered surface wear.

Its primary collector appeal lies in the surviving ET64 shell, stepped ventilation lugs, original M16 hardware, and substantial remnants of an earlier camouflage treatment beneath later paint. Even in incomplete condition, the surviving layers document several stages in the helmet's history and make it particularly suitable for a collection focused on WWI German helmets or field-applied camouflage.