Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains most of its original paint but shows wear and use. The left side of the helmet features a nice Heer eagle decal. The decal is retained 70%. All three liner retaining pins are intact. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of it’s fingers intact. The liner still has its original size adjustment string. The liner is a bit dry but in really great condition.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, "5193" and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, "EF 64" indicating that Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany manufactured it. Size 64 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 58cm or US 7 to 7 1/4. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. Original chinstrap is missing.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine Heer Army helmet!

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, (Iron and Foundry Works), in the spring of 1916.

These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.

In an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet.