Steel Para Riot Helmet

Evening all. Thought you would like to see my latest project I've been working on. It started when I brought a NOS visor from Stoneleigh, and recently I brought a RAC converted Para helmet. The chap before me had done most of the work, such as drilling holes for liner. I cut off the original RAC hangers and that left me with two holes. Some new bolts, and a bit of tweaking to the visor (the turtle is way wider) the visor fits and functions nicely. I painted it a "interesting" shade of dark green. Not the colour advertised, but it will pass!  I still need to make some hangers and buy a chinstrap.  Anyway, I wanted to recreate a helmet from the 70's as used by the Para's in NI, controlling riots. Hope you like it, feedback welcome.

Hangers and chin strap are not hard to make and the side buckles are available on ebay these are the ones I made for mine

Please take the time to stamp it as a reproduction, preferably in a way in which the stamp cannot be removed. Long after you are finished with the helmet and it has passed through a few hands, a permanent marking will save someone from getting stung with a reproduction.

loski wrote:Hangers and chin strap are not hard to make and the side buckles are available on ebay these are the ones I made for mine

The hangers were easy, but I think the chinstrap is beyond my sewing skills!  Yours looks good, how come you used the standard liner? I've always thought they were a bit crap!

edstorey wrote:Please take the time to stamp it as a reproduction, preferably in a way in which the stamp cannot be removed.   Long after you are finished with the helmet and it has passed through a few hands, a permanent marking will save someone from getting stung with a reproduction.

I will do, but I don't think it will be leaving me anytime soon!  I only collect things I want or know I will use!

I've never seen one like this, only in old photographs and books. Should go nicely with the Denison that I've brought!

I made up some hangers today (Far too tight to buy some ). I fitted a MK6 Chinstrap I had, but it will be replaced with a correct tan one in the near future.



What it looks like on-

The hangers were easy, but I think the chinstrap is beyond my sewing skills!  Yours looks good, how come you used the standard liner? I've always thought they were a bit crap!

I used the origional liner for the reason that Im too tight to pay the going price that para liner are going for if one comes up at the right price I might go for it, IMO Mk5 liners are quite comfortable as long as they fit proprly oh and put a plug of hard rubber over the LTD popper in the top.

Hi Microsheep I have the above green chin strap that would be OK for a 70's -80's para helmet (I can change the double D ring fastener for a gate buckle) that I would sell PM me if you are intrested.

There is a khaki Airborne chinstrap on Ebay now but with the quite(for me anyhow) steep buy it now price of £25.

loski wrote:
Hi Microsheep I have the above green chin strap that would be OK for a 70's -80's para helmet (I can change the double D ring fastener for a gate buckle) that I would sell PM me if you are intrested.

Hi loski, Thank you very much for the offer, but I'm going to go for a tan one, more recognisable for the period really!

Gulf91 wrote:There is a khaki Airborne chinstrap on Ebay now but with the quite(for me anyhow) steep buy it now price of £25.

I think I know the one you mean, a 1955 one? Yeah, I thought the price was too night, SOF do a repro for £20! Thanks though

Yep,steep indeed. Keep your eyes peeled as bargains do appear on there,I recently got an unissued 70s dated Khaki one for a fiver. Also,try searching for an Israeli one,much cheaper when available,only difference are the metal end tabs but they can easily be replaced with British type ones.

Will do! I frequent shows as well so I'll keep my eyes peeled there as well. I haven't seen any Israeli ones before, but they look identical, apart from the tabs you pointed out. Unless you wanted to offload yours?...........haha

Mine unfortunately is going on a 70s Airborne helmet that was missing its original chinstrap-Sorry.