WW1 German M.16 Steel Helmet –(Mod.1916 Stahlhelm) – Camouflaged Shell - ET 68

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WW1 German M.16 Steel Helmet –(Mod.1916 Stahlhelm) – Camouflaged Shell - ET 68:
$424.78

A FIRST WORLD WAR CAMOUFlagED GERMAN M16 STAHLHELM(STEEL HELMET) SIZE 64 SHELL MANUFACTURED BY EISENHÜTTENWERKE THALE A.G., THALE/HARZ AND FEINTLY STAMPED ON THE SKIRT ET 68.THE BACK OF THE HELMET IS PAINTED WITH A LARGE NUMBER 7, PROBABLY ACOMPANY NUMBER, WHILE THE INSIDE OF THE HELMET IS PAINTED WITH THE OWNERS NAME‘FÕCHE’. This is a very good example of a First War German Mod.1916 Stahlhelm painted inathree colourcamouFlage.The manufacturers codestamped into the right hand forward neck guard is now very difficult to readbut appears to be ET 68. indicatingthat it was manufactured by EisenhüttenwerkeThale A.G., Thale /Harz as a size 68shell. No crown number is visible.The rear of the helmet is painted with a large number 7, which was in all likelihood a“Kompanie” designation. The name ‘Föche’ is painted on the inner skirt.

The GermanModel 1916 steel helmet which was introduced into the service with the forcesof the German Empire in 1916 (hence the designation). It was designed primarily by two men,Frederich Schwerd and Dr. August Bier to protect soldiers heads from fragmentsand shrapnel injuries. As Chad Compton in his excellent Axis History onlinearticle records: “The designs for theModel 1916 were drawn up in September 1915. By December of that year, the M1916was being used by a Sturm (Assault) battalion for trial purposes. The massproduction of the \'Stahlhelm\' began January 1916 and it was widely distributedto soldiers in the Imperial German Field Army on the western front”. The M.16 was replaced by the improved M.18 in1918 but the wars end meant that relatively few of the new type were issued.

This Mod.1916Stahlhelm does show evidence of use and has a heavily weathered patina,particularly across the crown. Both lugs are still in place and serviceablealthough the chinstrap and lining are missing.There is surface rust and pitting on the inside and outside of the shellbut overall the helmet is very sound. The paint is in good condition with somewear and characteristically it appears to have been overpainted at least onceand maybe even twice. Like the previous example I sold, I have owned thishelmet since 2005 and it has not been repainted, restored or refurbished since.The paint is worn in places and is marked by old surface oxidization; there isevidence of a base grey/green paint finishbeneath both the camouFlagepattern on the exterior and interior of the shell.

This example is named ‘Föche’ in paint on the left hand inner skirt and very faintly onthe right hand inner skirt with the manufacturer code and size ET 68. The rear of the helmet ispainted with a large number 7, whichwas in all likelihood a “Kompanie” designation. Attached to this listing for interest is a period photographshowing a German rifle section all of who are wearing similar camouFlaged Mod.1916 Stahlhelm.

Flage. it issimilar to a number held in the collection of the Australian War Memorial whichcan be viewed online at: [link removed by ]and at [link removed by ].

POSTAGE: I don\'t clip the ticket on shipping, so what you pay is what it costs toship.