Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very good service-worn Imperial German WWI M16 Stahlhelm retaining approximately 90% of its hand-painted panel camouflage finish and a partial M17-pattern metal-band liner. The shell is maker and size marked ET66 for Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A.G. and retains an interior steel-lot marking of R205. The late-war camouflage consists of green, reddish, and brown panels separated by broad dark lines, with the original field-gray finish visible beneath areas of paint loss.

The German M16 Stahlhelm was introduced during 1916 as a response to the enormous number of head wounds caused by artillery fragments and other battlefield debris. Its deep skirt provided significantly greater protection to the sides and rear of the head than earlier forms of military headgear. The stamped steel shell is the familiar M16 pattern with the prominent ventilator lugs on each side. These lugs also served as mounting points for the heavy Stirnpanzer brow plate.

Interestingly, there are faint stamped markings under the rear brim, the top stamp being AK as a single character over 66. These markings denote that the helmet underwent wartime depot refurbishment. That means this helmet likely began life with an M1916 leather liner, was worn and torn, and refurbished at depot in 1917 or 1918 with an M17 metal liner band, and was then painted camouflage following the July 1918 Ludendorff directive.

The shell is stamped ET66 indicating that Eisenhuettenwerke Thale A.G., in Thale /Harz manufactured it. This company made shells in sizes 62 and 68 for the war effort. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 60cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 1/2. There is a clear rolling mill mark on the interior crown, R205, indicating the steel was made by Stahlwerk Röchling, Volkingen, the usual supplier for ET helmets.

The M17 liner band retains two of the three leather pads, but the pillows are gone. The two remaining pads show heavy wear along the bends, with one coming close to falling off. There are small remnants of the third pad with a string in its place. One of the pads retains the original tie string.

The underside of the rear brim has the word Back scratched into the finish, next to an excellent Imperial German soldier’s name inscription, with what may be his unit underneath. The name looks to be Shilling or Shelling, but we cannot make out anymore than this. A good research project.

The entire camouflage finish has darkened considerably with age. The panel arrangement and broad dark dividing lines are consistent with the late-war camouflage system formally directed by the German Army in July 1918. That order called for helmets to be painted in several contrasting colors appropriate to the surrounding terrain, separated by finger-width dark lines intended to break up the recognizable outline of the helmet.

This example is particularly appealing for the unusually extensive survival of its camouflage. Approximately 90% of the hand-painted panel finish remains, with the darker age-toned colors, exposed underlying field gray, localized bare-steel oxidation, partial M17 liner, ET66 maker and size stamp, R205 interior marking, and partially legible soldier inscription all contributing to its untouched service-worn appearance.