Original German WWII Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Droop Tail Eagle Steel Helmet with 56cm Liner – Q64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an incredible all original example of a Model 1935 German WW2 “double decal” helmet, with an early “Droop-Tail” Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a “National Colors” decal on the right. The decal is the correct “Straight Leg” version, only seen on helmets from makers SE , Q and ET. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains around 80% of the original Luftwaffe gray-blue paint and is in good condition overall, with just a few small dents, and no major damage. It does look like it has been lovingly cleaned for years, which has made it somewhat shiny.

The Luftwaffe decal is probably around 70%, one of the better droop-tails that we have seen. with overall age and checking, with wear.. The National Colors decal fared better, with probably 90% remaining, with only light overall wear. All three liner retaining pins are intact, with varying amounts of paint remaining.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped, 738 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, Q64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Quist in Esslingen, Germany in size 64. Size 64 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

The helmet still has its correct good condition M31 liner, with all 8 fingers intact and flexible. The leather is still quite soft, and does not show major wear, with the original top tie string is intact. The liner band is the correct early war aluminum, correct for a helmet of this vintage, and is marked 64 n.A. / 56, indicating that it is a size 56 for a size 64 shell. It is also stamped 56 faintly on the leather of the liner itself.  The other side has the manufacturer and date, which is clearly stamped:

D.R.P.
SCHUBERTH-WERK
G.m.b.H.
BRAUNSCHWEIG
1937

This liner does not have additional aluminum layer around the chin strap bales for reinforcement, which is correct. The chinstrap is intact, and still soft, though does have some cracking and deterioration. It has the correct aluminum buckle and studs, and is maker marked RAHM & KAMPMANN / WUPPERTAL-E. / 1937.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine very early double decal Luftwaffe helmet in great shape! Ready to display!

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.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 1935 along with the national tri-color shield for wear on the helmet.

The first pattern national eagle was utilized until a modified second pattern eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 1943 abolished the national eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.