THE HELMET THREAD

You're more than welcome, compliments where compliments are due my friend!

That is a very interesting period pic Mate, I have never seen anything like this before, do you know the reasoning behind putting a pick through the top of the lids?

Again looking at your M-1916, and the old guy whacking the pick in, I can see where the hole may have come from.. very intriguing subject matter!!!

i believe it was part of the post ww1 de-militarization gary

on a side note and refering back to my latest f1 helmet ,i mentioned the amount of dents to this lid and i likened the damage to a blunt object could it be ballistic damage i say this because in the center of the indentation is a mark and paint loss ,ive seen referance pictures of other french lids to back this up although there is no penetration its just food for thought any comments guys

I remember years back hearing form an esteemed helmet collector(unlike me that collects all sorts of military related junk)that only collects in helmets he reckons that it is a French military disposals thing(or at least was) that all helmets for release must be heavily battered/dented. No idea how much truth there was in what he said and also the myth that every French soldier likes using their helmet as a hammer at any given chance who knows but cannot imagine that in every day use that most French helmets suffer that much damage???

jaycee wrote:i believe it was part of the post ww1 de-militarization gary

Ok cheers James, that makes sense.

Re: F1 lids heavily dented, to my knowledge there is a tradition,especially Para's,who dent their lids upon receipt from stores, but again could be some form of French stores demilitarisation process????

Goes back as far as the M26 Adrians-Apparently.

interesting subject so thanks gulf and gary on your thoughts i have heard of the tradition of diliberately denting french helmets come to think of it my mle1926 adrian has a few and to be honest the metal is that thin on these f1's i doubt it could withstand the velocity of a pee from a pee shooter i guess this tradition ended upon the introduction of the spectra but i have seen ballistic test helmet pictures i think it was the otan type it was just a thought anyway

As a matter of interest does anyone have any UNDENTED French steel helmets?

I have an unissued M51 but of the 5 or 6 F1s I have,all dented along with the 2 M51/56 Tap helmets I have.

my 2x f1's or both heavily dented which seems a shame as i cant display them naked as it were but once fitted with salades and covers you cant really tell and my unissued m51 is undented apart from when i dropped it

jaycee wrote:my 2x f1's or both heavily dented which seems a shame as i cant display them naked as it were but once fitted with salades and covers you cant really tell and my unissued m51 is undented apart from when i dropped it

Doh

very nice gulf ,now is this the bundeswehr version or the belguim version as its against wustentarn it must be bw ,is there any scribblings on the liner as to the number of jumps mine does so worth having a look heres my m56/66 to finish off my stahlhelm evolution its the closest i can get to a B11

Bundy Im sure as think the chinstrap on the Belgian one is slightly different?

No markings/scribblings as pretty sure its unissued.

Agreed Bundy,and a very nice example too Gulf!

Liking the East German M56 James, I have one of these too,odd shape but a classic!

On the lookout for a cheap correct net for it if anyone has a spare.

Thats the type.

its surplus to requirements and your welcome to it if you want it gulf

Fantastic James,please let me know what you want for it and ill sort out payment.

gulf we can do swapsies if you like im happy to do it that way pm us what you think

jaycee wrote:gulf we can do swapsies if you like im happy to do it that way pm us what you think

Do you have a wants list of items of a similar value youre after?

If so ill have a look to see if i can help,otherwise PM with a total and ill sort out payment.

All the best.

ok so my latest and most wanted lid to date has arrived the soviet ssh36 unfortunately no liner as its in relic condition it has remenants of the original green paint here and there for now i have lightly oiled the surfaces

Nice,not my cup of tea but have a mate who is desperate to get his hands on one.

thanks gulf ,i think they are becomming quite rare and i guess not to everybodys taste but its an interesting design and also it nearly completes my soviet ssh collection

Very rare James,especially complete ones.