Original German WWII M40 Refurbished 84th Infantry Division Souvenir Camouflage Helmet – Stamped Q66 Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fine example of totally original Model M40 M-1940 German WW2 large size 66 helmet shell, refurbished by a master German camouflage restorer. The shell is stamped Q66, indicating that F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen, Germany manufactured it. It is also stamped with lot number 208 under the rear skirt. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Size 66 shells are much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

Notable history of the WWII M40 Refurbished 84th Infantry Division Souvenir Camouflage Helmet:

– This represents a German Camouflage Helmet captured by Members of the 84th Infantry Division “The Railsplitters”, decorated on the front with their distinctive unit insignia. It was common for soldiers to personalize “bring back” helmets with their unit insignia.

– The helmet is also marked with ARDENNES, ROER VALLY, WURM, GIELENKIRCHEN, MELLENDORF, LA ROCHE, DÜLKEN, HANOVER, and GOUVY, locations liberated / taken with the help of the 84th Infantry Division was in during WWII. It is also marked with ELBE and RHINE, two rivers they had to cross.

– The 84th Infantry Division was ordered into active military service on 15 October 1942, at Camp Howze, Texas, about 60 miles north of Dallas. Then, it was composed of the 333rd, 334th and 335th Inf. Regts.; 325th, 326th, 327th and 909th FA Bns.; 309th Engr. Combat Bn.; 309th Med, Bn.; 84th Sig. Co.; 784th Ord. Light Maintenance Co.; 84th QM Co.; 84th Recon Troop.

– It embarked on 20 September 1944 and arrived in the United Kingdom on 1 October, for additional training. The division landed on Omaha Beach, 1–4 November 1944, and moved to the vicinity of Gulpen, the Netherlands, 5–12 November.

What does refurbished mean? While the shell is 100% genuine WWII manufacture, we have tasked, perhaps the very best German Helmet restorer in the USA, to customize this helmet. Every detail is hand done, with the finest materials including a hand painted shell, with a hand hand aged high quality reproduction liner. Please know that the paint, liner and chinstrap, while they look totally original are all new and the helmet has been refurbished to look as if it was picked up off the battlefield by a USGI and brought home as a war trophy.

This helmet is one-of-a-kind there will never be one exactly like it, making it a true collectors piece that will do nothing but appreciate in value in the coming years. This is a rare opportunity to own a genuine WWII German Helmet for a fraction of the cost of one with original camouflage paint.