Original German WWII M42 Heer Army Single Decal Helmet with 1943 Dated 57cm Liner & Chinstrap - stamped NS64

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely all original example of a late war German Model 42 Steel helmet. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 90% of its original lightly textured panzergrau (armor gray) paint, showing light wear from service. We cannot feel any major dents in the steel shell, and there is only some minor scuffing and chipping present on the exterior. The interior is in similar if not better condition, and does not look to have seen major use during the war. The left side of the helmet features a silver Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 85%, with a section of the eagle's wing scuffed through, and overall wear.

The rear interior of the apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size: NS64, over lot number D289, indicating it was manufactured by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, of Schwerte, Germany in size 64. These markings were stamped somewhat poorly, typical of late war production. This is a nice medium size shell, and can accommodate size 56 and 57 liners. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, complete with most of the original textured paint present on the tops. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers intact, showing only light wear and staining. The original top tie is still present, however it has degraded and torn through in several places, after which it tied together. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that this is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell, and there is a faint 57 stamped on the leather itself. The right side has the full maker information lightly stamped:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1943
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1943, which fits right into the mid war period. There is a very nice chinstrap attached to the liner, which still has all 13 of the size adjustment holes present. Interestingly, it is an early pattern with an aluminum buckle and retaining studs, which show oxidation to the surface, so they now look dark gray. The leather is in very good shape, still supple, with no tears, just some staining.

Overall a lovely late-war M42 Single Decal Heer Army helmet, completely correct! M42 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. 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 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.