Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting example of a WWI Austro-Hungarian Model 1918 helmet shell, which was converted for use by the Third Reich in the 1930s before the widespread issue of the M1935 helmet. These helmets are somewhat rare, and are often known as the "Hungarian" model, as they were not widely distributed during the war. Unlike the Model 1917 Austro-Hungarian helmet, the M18 had the chin strap loops as part of the liner band itself, and a canvas chinstrap, as opposed to leather. They also had had the chin strap attachment rivets on the sides under and behind the vents to reinforce the chin strap attachment. Aside from that, they conformed to the German M18 type.

During the process it looks like it was repainted, possibly several times, and had a Heer Army Silver Eagle decal applied on the left side. It was fitted with a liner, however the current liner installed has lost almost all of the leather on the inner band, with only the portions on the outside of the band retained. The current color on the helmet is the mid war textured Panzergrau (armored gray) color, and with the single decal and galvanized steel liner, this helmet may have in fact not been refurbished until wartime, or possibly it was refit again.

When the M-31 liner was installed, the split pins were put through right in front of the chin strap mounting points, going through holes made in the outer liner band, which is not how these was normally done. The two front slots on the liner band are still present, but nothing is installed. After this process, it did see long service, with the paint now showing an overall oxidized patina due to wear and age. This gives it the incredible look of a helmet that was really there, in service for two world wars. The Army Silver Eagle decal is still relatively well retained at about 60%, showing overall wear and degradation.

The rear of the helmet skirt is marked with a small "Bear" logo over 64, indicating manufacture by Berndorfer Metal-Warenfabrik A Krupp AG in Berndorf, Austria in size 64. This is the only factory that manufactured the M18 "Hungarian" model helmets. Size 64 is a nice medium size that would usually accommodate size 56 to 58 hat sizes, which is 7 to 7 1/4 in U.S. sizes. We checked the top of the shell, and we could only find a number 4 out of the rolling mill marking due to oxidation. We have also noticed that the helmet shape is slightly "skewed", so it may have been bent out of shape at some point.

The helmet also has lost the right side vent lug, and there is missing paint in the area, so this happened during WWII service. It still retains the left side extended ventilation side lug, which is the correct longer version with a "step" for the larger size 64 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size when both were still present.

All three of the liner attachment pins are present, but they are missing the original paint, and have all oxidized, so they definitely have not been changed out anytime since the helmet was refit during the war. The liner band is galvanized steel, and is very tight in the shell, so we are not able to see any markings on the side. The chin strap is completely missing, and only the leather on the outside of the inner band remains, suggesting this helmet spent a good amount of time outside before it was picked up.

A very interesting WWII Reissued M18 "Hungarian" helmet shell by Berndorfer with a single decal, most likely left on the battlefield and picked up some months after it was out in the weather. Ready to research and display!

The Central Powers of Austria-Hungary used, manufactured and commissioned, variations of the World War One German Stahlhelm M16 design. The Austrian M1917 helmet was similar to the German M1916, but had a few variations including the chinstrap, chinstrap rivets located higher up on the steel shell and variations in locations of markings among others.

Early Austrian helmets were supplied by Germany, the first shells supplied as the chinstrap rivets were mounted in a lower position. The Austrians fitted their own chinstrap bales, chinstraps and liner and painted them in Austrian Isonzo braun. These modifications were carried out with German machinery at the"Adolf Westen di Cilli factory, which is now Celije, in Slovenia.

Later Austria-Hungary made their own helmets, and eventually developed a model similar to the German M18, but it did not see wide use before the end of the war, just as with German's M18. Both were an an important stepping stone towards the German helmets of WWII, which moved to chin straps attached to the liner, not the shell.

Austro-Hungarian WWI Helmets Makers-

There are only 9 known factories that produced helmets during WWI for the KUK. Unlike the Germans the Austrian pattern helmet are often found without factory stamps and heating lot codes. When the heating lot codes are present it is often on the outer top dome of the helmet instead of the inside. The following is a table of Manufactures codes of helmets produced by the Austrians. Several of these makers did not stamp the code into the shell of the helmet but rather marked them with an ink stamp. Therefore many Austrian shells will be encountered today that seem to have no maker mark as the ink stamp has worn off, but most will have rolling mill codes.

Maker Name Factory Location Maker code Sizes Model

A. Westen Cilli Celie, Slovenia AW 64 M17

Brüder Gottlieb u. Brauchbar Brunn BGB 66 M17

C. A. Scholtz,Mateocz Sloeakei CAS 66 M17

Berndorfer Metal-Warenfabrik Berndorf, Austria "Bear" logo 66,64

Bruder Lapp, Rottenman u. Warcholowsky Unknown ? M17

Nadrag,Transilvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17

Resicka, Transylvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17

Bleckmann & Poldihutte Klando Boemia Unknown x Stirnpanzer

Gebruder Bohler & Co., Kapfen Austria, Stiria GB "Star" 66 M17

Rolling Mills Marker Code

Ludwikow L

Bleckmann B

Poldi P