Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example of a German WWII M40 helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army). It was used in the field, and has a lovely textured camouflage overpainted shell. This is well retained, with the expected wear from service. The inside of the shell does not have any textured paint, so this was most likely a field repaint to help increase the camouflage profile of the helmet. We can see some areas where the texture has worn, showing the original base color. All three liner retaining pins are intact, with most of their original paint. It does not look like this helmet was ever fitted with decals.

The interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped, IN362 and just above this is stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Quist in Esslingen, Germany in size 64. Later in the war Quist moved all markings under the rear skirt. Size 64 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/4. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

The helmet still has its correct good condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present. The liner also still has its original size adjustment string. The leather is somewhat worn overall, and now stiff, with some tearing in the fingers. The liner band is the later war galvanized steel, correct for this model of helmet. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that it is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. It is also maker marked and dated on the other side:

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1943, which fits right the later war period. The helmet still has a complete chin strap as well, a rarity, as these are almost always missing on service used examples. It is however partly torn through around the securing stud on one end, and is definitely in delicate condition.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M40 Heer Army Textured camouflage helmet, with a great service worn look! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard 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.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.