Original German WWII Army Heer M40 Single Decal Textured Paint Steel Helmet with 56cm Liner & Chinstrap – Q64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good all original example of a German WWII M40 “Single Decal” helmet, issued to the Heer (Army). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains most of its original lightly textured field gray paint, showing some light wear to the exterior from service. There are some scratches and scuffs down to the steel, but overall the finish is at least 95% retained on the exterior, and the interior is even better. The left side of the helmet features a Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 60%, with some large chips missing, which may have been an attempt to “sanitize” it. The remaining portion has a lovely golden hue from the lacquer yellowing over the years. Loads of history and a lovely patina on this helmet!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped DN149 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, Q64 indicating that it was manufactured by Quist in the German city of Esslingen. Size 64 is a nice smaller 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.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact and have most of the original paint on the tops. The helmet still has its correct very good condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple, showing light wear from service. There is a bit of wear around the rim and light staining, but overall the leather is still in very good shape, though the top tie string is missing. The outer side of the mid war galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 64 n.A / 56, indicating that this is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell. There is also a 56 in a circle stamped on the leather of the liner itself. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

This is right in the right time frame for this helmet, and we do not see any signs that it was swapped out. There is also a very nice leather chinstrap with a steel buckle and studs fitted, which is maker marked on the end with strong>KORN / ALZEY / 1942. The chin strap is in very good shape, though there is some dry rot and wear, as to be expected.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine complete M40 Single Decal Heer Army helmet, with a great lightly worn look! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard to find on the market. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.

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 1934 tests began on an improved Stahlhelm, whose design was a development of World War I models. The Eisenhüttenwerke company of Thale carried out prototype design and testing, with Dr. Friedrich Schwerd once again taking a hand.

The new helmet was pressed from sheets of molybdenum steel in several stages. The size of the flared visor and skirt was reduced, and the large projecting lugs for the obsolete armor shield were eliminated. The ventilator holes were retained, but were set in smaller hollow rivets mounted to the helmet’s shell. The edges of the shell were rolled over, creating a smooth edge along the helmet. Finally, a completely new leather suspension, or liner, was incorporated that greatly improved the helmet’s safety, adjustability, and comfort for each wearer. These improvements made the new M1935 helmet lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to wear than the previous designs.

The Army’s Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.