Original Belgian WWII Model 1926 Adrian Infantry Helmet with Lion Badge & Liner Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very good condition genuine World War II model 1926 Belgian Army “Adrian” helmet. The helmet retains the original olive green paint and is complete with the Belgian “Lion’s Head” badge to front. Size of the helmet is approximately US 7 (56cm). Features a wonderful complete original leather liner in very good used condition, missing chin strap. Overall condition of the helmet is very good, shell shows some minor dings, scratches and paint loss consistent with age. There are some dents on the aluminum comb, and the chin strap is a bit brittle, but otherwise this is a great example of a hard to find helmet.

In 1926 the Adrian helmet was modified by being constructed of stronger steel and simplified by having the main part of the helmet stamped from one piece of metal, and therefore without the joining rim around the helmet that characterizes the M15. The large ventilation hole under the comb, which had been a weak point of the old design, was also replaced with a series of small holes. The M26 helmet continued in use with the French Army until after World War II, and was also used by the French police up to the 1970s. This example has been painted red as shown. One of the chinstrap bales is missing and some of the rim has worn away.

During the interwar period Belgium began to produce their own domestically made M26 Adrians and exported them around the globe. These helmets can be distinguished from their French counterparts, because they have a slightly different comb and a wider rim.

In other countries the Adrian-type helmets were also in use with the fire-fighting units, railway guards or marine infantry (e.g. Japan’s SNLF). Adrian helmets are still prized by collectors today.