M42 Two Tone Camouflage Helmet

Product Description: This M42 Two Tone Camouflage Helmet is an absolutely fantastic, top shelf piece. This helmet was sprayed inside and out with a light green camouflage paint finish. A darker green camouflage paint was then brush applied in splotches. Over 95 percent of this original, wartime applied camouflage paint remains, with some very small chips and scratches, as well as typical patination from age and use. The camouflage scheme on this helmet is particularly attractive, and is in a configuration that is typical for Luftwaffe helmets. Inside, this M42 Two Tone Camouflage Helmet is complete with its original liner and chinstrap. The liner band is zinc, which is correct for this wartime M42 helmet. The leather part of the liner is complete, with some honest wear and age. The original drawstring is intact. The full length, 13 hole chinstrap has a typical steel buckle, and is nicely marked with a legible RB number maker code (0/0346/0028). The inside of the shell is maker and size marked “ckl64” indicating manufacture by Eisen- und Hüttenwerke AG in Thale/Harz. The lot number is 3206. This helmet shows no signs of having been messed with after WWII. There is a nice dust ring between the liner band and the shell, and the liner retaining pins look to have never been out of the helmet. This M42 Two Tone Camouflage Helmet has tremendous visual impact, and could be a collection centerpiece. It displays extremely well.

Historical Description: The helmets used by WWII German soldiers were issued with a variety of solid paint colors applied at the factory. Different units deployed to combat zones had different methods to break up the iconic German helmet silhouette, for camouflage purposes. Some units issued fabric covers or camouflage nets. In other units, helmets were painted with camouflage colors. Among the most widely utilized camouflage paint finishes were solid tan for desert environments, solid white for winter use, and the tri-color camouflage scheme known to collectors as “Normandy” pattern camouflage. This camouflage style was certainly used in Normandy, famously by Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, and also by many other units. But it was also used by various units in all the occupied countries along the German-fortified “Atlantic Wall.” The Normandy camouflage scheme is characterized by the use of red, green, and tan/brown/yellow paint. In some cases, the entire helmet would be over sprayed with the tan base color, and then areas would be further over sprayed with the red and green. Other helmet painters chose to simply spray areas with the various colors. These paints were, generally speaking, the same pigments supplied to units for the purposes of camouflaging vehicles. The paint was usually applied in unit workshops, using industrial type spray guns, rather than by the soldiers themselves. Every painter had his own style, and there were probably infinite variations in the way the helmets were camouflaged. Normandy camouflaged helmets were regarded by enemy GI soldiers as attractive souvenirs, and they remain very desirable collectibles today.

We are the leading team of military antique specialists. We have specialized in military antiques for over 25 years.

Epic Artifacts offers free evaluations and the highest prices available for your collectibles.

We purchase single items, entire collections, or family estates.

Click the link here to learn more: Free Evaluation or Inquiries 

or feel free to email us directly: info@epicartifacts.com