Camo M40 SS Helmet – Q64

Product Description: This Camo M40 SS Helmet shows signs of heavy wartime wear and has a great “combat” look. The exterior surface retains most of the original paint, with scattered chips and marks from daily wear in field conditions, as well as traces of what appears to be light camouflage paint. There is a moderate build-up of patina from age. The single decal is extremely worn, apparently having been scrubbed off. Only traces remain, but there is enough decal present to be certain that it was an SS emblem. Inside, this camo M40 SS helmet has a completely intact liner. The leather is complete, and shows only light darkening from age and wear. There is some light flaking around the edge with a bit of surface loss to the forehead area. The leather is size stamped “56.” The original drawstring is intact. The liner band is a prewar reinforced aluminum type. There is no chin strap. The inside of the skirt is stamped with the maker and size “Q64” indicating manufacture by Quist, as well as the lot number “DN194.” This is a very nice helmet with great character, that would be perfect for a combat display. The condition rates as excellent.

Historical Description: When the German Army first marched into war in 1914, it went to the front lines wearing the traditional “Picklehaube” helmets. The war soon developed to necessitate the need for an improved headgear to protect the wearer. The German Army developed the M16 helmet in 1915 and began issuing it in mass quantity to its fighting troops in 1916. The M16 underwent changes to bring about the next model, the M18. Both the M16 and M18 saw use by the German Army during WW1, as well as the interwar years by the Reichswehr and Freikorps. In 1931, a new liner system was developed. The M16 and M18 helmets were in mass supply right up to the time the Nazi Party took control of the German government. During Adolf Hitler’s rearming of the German military in the early 1930’s, the M16 and M18 helmets saw extensive refitting with the newer liner system, fresh paint, and the addition of a centralized decal system for the newly formed Wehrmacht’s respective branches. Decals were generally placed on each side of the helmet, one side being the branch and the other the national colors shield or party shield. In 1935, the M35 helmet was introduced. This new design was lighter and more streamlined than the older style helmets and is what the world now recognizes as the iconic helmet of the German Military. M35 helmets can most easily be identified from the separate rivet ventholes and rolled edges. With the outbreak of war, some changes were made to bring in a new model, the M40. The changes made to this new model was the use of a more matte field grey finish and the vent holes were now integral to the helmets shell. In 1940, the national colors decals and party shields were ordered to be removed. It should be noted that many M35 helmets were brought up to date by repainting them with the matte field grey finish and/or other modifications if necessary. These refitted helmets are what collectors now term “reissue helmets”. The next model helmet to evolve was the M42. The model M42 has the same features of the M40 with the exception of the edges of the helmet not being rolled and remain flared. This was to speed up production and lower cost as the war dragged on and the German economy began changing to a total war economy. In 1943 all decals were ordered to be removed from combat helmets.

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