German WWII Kriegsmarine M1935 Shipboard Steel Helmet, Complete
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $650.00

Original era manufacture. Recently we purchased the collection of a longtime local collector, a man who we count as a friend, as well as a good customer.While we were in the process of inspecting the items for purchase, I picked this helmet up off of the shelf. It immediately brought back a flood of memories, as Lynn and I had discussed this helmet in great detail about 30 years ago when he purchased it at a local gunshow. We were going back and forth regarding the possibilities of what it could be, it was certainly original, no doubt about that, covered as it was with a hand applied gray paint finish, with corrosion to the surface and interior, like it was around water for a longtime. We both looked at each other and the lightbulb went off in our minds at the same time...It's a Kriegsmarine helmet, we exclaimed!We both laughed as we remembered that little discussion quite clearly. Good Stuff.So here we are, a standard M1935 steel helmet, with its original liner and and original leather shinstrap. The shell is covered in a thick, battleship gray paint, hand done, as sags and  drips can be seen in the surface. There are numerous scattered areas which expose the steel surface, which are covered in a dark corrosion steel finish, with touches of orange paint peeking through, perhaps a primer coat applied by the Germans years ago.All three of the original rivets are in place, snug up against the helmet shell with their slot washers present, each covered with a coating of corrosion. Another small detail that I find interesting is that the ventilators have been painted over intentionally, I remember reading that one of the irritations of the German helmet was that the ventilators would whistle when in a wind, allowing cold air in as well. I could certainly understand them being painted over as a protection against the cold Sea air.Original leather  liner, stiff with age and with the same gray paint slathered on the edges of the helmet and liner band. The ends of two of the leather fingers have pulled away, but the original adjusting string remains in place.Original, and full length, leather chinstrap with an aluminum adjusting buckle, is mounted over the front visor of the helmet. It matches the condition of the helmet perfectly, and is quite likely the original strap to the helmet. This isn't a pretty, or flashy helmet by any stretch, but it has tons of the coolness factor, lots and lots of character.