Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a nice example of a totally original WWI German M16 Helmet, with a very nice "paneled" camouflage paint scheme which has been partially painted over with black paint over the years. This was a very popular type of camouflage used on both sides of WWI. The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 40% of its original hand painted camouflage paint. This was painted over the original field gray paint, and much of the helmet is covered in the later black paint.

The helmet still has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. It also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct longer type with a small step for the small size 62 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

The helmet has been fitted with Interwar/WWII style liner pins, but the liner itself is the original M1916 Leather liner. The liner has broken off of the rear pin, but is still held on by the two front pins. The liner is likely original to the helmet and just had the pins swapped out later. Two of the three liner pads retain their pillows. There was definitely something written on the rear visor of the helmet, but it’s almost completely worn away.

The shell is very faintly stamped N.J next to size 62 indicating that Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke of Schwerte i/Westfalen manufactured it. This company made shells in size 62 ONLY for the war effort, and have become one of the most sought after makers. Size 62 is a smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 55cm or US 6 3/4 to 6 7/8. There is also a dome stamp, R / 741 stamped into the interior crown, indicating the steel was rolled by Stahlwerk Röchling in Volkingen.

It is possible that with work, the black paint could be removed to reveal the older paint underneath, but the helmet will display nicely as is too. A great example, ready for further research and display!

History of the M16 Helmet

The Stahlhelm was introduced into regular service during the Verdun campaign in early 1916. The M1916 design had side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs which were intended to be support for an additional steel brow plate or Stirnpanzer, which only ever saw limited use by snipers and trench raiding parties, as it was too heavy for general use.

The shell came in different sizes, from 60 to 68, with some size 70s reported. The suspension, or liner, consisted of a headband with three segmented leather pouches, each holding padding materials, and leather or fabric cords could be adjusted to provide a comfortable fit. The one-piece leather chinstrap was attached to the shell by M1891 chinstrap lugs, the same kind used in the Pickelhaube helmet.

The M1916 design provided excellent protection: Reserve Lieutenant Walter Schulze of 8th Company Reserve Infantry Regiment 76 described his combat introduction to the helmet on the Somme, 29 July 1916:

"... suddenly, with a great clanging thud, I was hit on the forehead and knocked flying onto the floor of the trench... a shrapnel bullet had hit my helmet with great violence, without piercing it, but sufficiently hard to dent it. If I had, as had been usual up until a few days previously, been wearing a cap, then the Regiment would have had one more man killed."

But the helmet was not without its flaws. The ventilator horns often let cold air in during the winter, requiring the wearer to block the vents with mud or fabric. The large, flared skirt tended to make it difficult for soldiers to hear, distorting surrounding sounds and creating an echo when the wearer spoke.

Originally painted Feldgrau (field grey), the Stahlhelm was often camouflaged by troops in the field using mud, foliage, cloth covers, and paint. Official issue cloth covers in white and grey appeared in late 1916 and early 1917. Camouflage paint was not formally introduced until July 1918, when German Army Order II, No 91 366, signed by General Erich Ludendorff on 7 July 1918, outlined official standards for helmet camouflage. The order stipulated that helmets should be painted in several colors, separated by a finger-wide black line. The colors should be relevant to the season, such as using green, brown and ocher in summer.

After the effectiveness of the M1916 design was validated during the 1916 campaigns, incremental improvements were subsequently made.