Waffen-SS Double Decal Steel Helmet M40
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 50.GOR.01.01.02.01.001.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Steel helmet, magnetic, original black painted exterior, the SS insignia on the right side, the Swastika insignia on the left side, both insignias with scuff marks and some paint loss. The inside comes complete with its original nine-panel blackened leather liner, stitched together at the rear, each panel with five ventilation holes, a reinforced hole on the end of each panel for the feeding of the drawstring, seven of the nine leather reinforcing rings intact, with a small piece of the original drawstring remaining attached to one panel, the rest of it having been lost to time. There is an owner's label stitched to the underside of the liner on the right side, inscribed "Schreiber, Kurt / SS-Pioniersturmb. Dresden". The leather chinstrap with aluminum buckles is affixed to the liner's steel frame, but the the middle part of the chinstrap has been severed, with only the riveted loop ends intact. The underside of the skirt is stamped "068" on the left side and "3831" at the rear. Measures 242 mm x 300 mm x 160 mm in height. Scuffed exterior with contact marks, all three bolt caps are loose, dabs of brown paint evident on the exterior and on the underside skirt at the front, crazed leather liner exhibiting extensive wear and causing separation in the leather at the right rear, in fine condition.
The Waffen-SS Steel Helmets were modeled after the helmets of the German Army. The main design stems from the so-called M(odel) 35, which was a modernisation of the helmet design of WWI helmets.
In 1940, the M35 underwent slight modification in order to simplify the manufacturing process. Rather than using separate fittings for ventilation holes, the hole mounts were directly stamped onto the shell.
Besides this alteration, the M35 and M40 were the same and the distinction between the two models was made relevant by collectors; contemporary Germans referred to the M40 helmet as the M35.
The colour of paint varies between medium to very dark grey.
The early M40 helmets feature an SS runic symbol decal painted on the right side and a swastika decal on the left. The swastika decal was discontinued in early 1941, and in November of 1943 the SS runic decal was discontinued as well.
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