Original German WWI M17 Stahlhelm Helmet with Original Paint and Liner with Chinstrap – Si.66 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great example of a totally original WWI German M17 Helmet. The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains over 90% of its original gray/green paint. The helmet has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets with lugs on the inside and both of the extended ventilation side lugs intact! They are the correct simple design for a larger size 66 shell. All three of the flat-headed liner retaining split pins, and the rear split pin has a much thicker head, which means it is a correct rear pin. The helmet also has a complete original Leather chin strap, with the correct attachment rings.

The interior of the helmet has the 1917 steel band pattern, three pad leather liner with most of the leather still intact! This steel band is the only difference between the M17 and the M16, which had a leather band. All three leather pads are present, with the original rear tie strings and stuffing. Unfortunately the ends of the “fingers” attached to these pads have broken off on about 3 of the 6 fingers. the original securing string is still present. The original chinstrap is present, shows wear and is somewhat stiff and dirty, but it is complete with no tears or repairs that we can see.

The shell still has an original top ‘dome stamp’, which reads B i 3 5 2, as well as the size and maker mark over the left ear: Si. 66. This is the marking for helmet maker Eisenhütte Silesia, Paruschowitz Oberschlesien, which made size 62 and 66 shells during the WWI period. The size 66 shell is a larger size, which can accommodate liner sizes 58cm to 60cm. This large size makes it more valuable to a collector.

This is a great chance to pick up a nice honest WWI German helmet, ready to put on a stand and display!

History of the M16/17

The Stahlhelm was introduced into regular service during the Verdun campaign in early 1916.

The M1916 design had side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs which were intended to be support for an additional steel brow plate or Stirnpanzer, which only ever saw limited use by snipers and trench raiding parties, as it was too heavy for general use.

The shell came in different sizes, from 60 to 68, with some size 70s reported. The suspension, or liner, consisted of a headband with three segmented leather pouches, each holding padding materials, and leather or fabric cords could be adjusted to provide a comfortable fit. The one-piece leather chinstrap was attached to the shell by M1891 chinstrap lugs, the same kind used in the Pickelhaube helmet.

The M1916 design provided excellent protection: Reserve Lieutenant Walter Schulze of 8th Company Reserve Infantry Regiment 76 described his combat introduction to the helmet on the Somme, 29 July 1916:

“… suddenly, with a great clanging thud, I was hit on the forehead and knocked flying onto the floor of the trench… a shrapnel bullet had hit my helmet with great violence, without piercing it, but sufficiently hard to dent it. If I had, as had been usual up until a few days previously, been wearing a cap, then the Regiment would have had one more man killed.”

But the helmet was not without its flaws. The ventilator horns often let cold air in during the winter, requiring the wearer to block the vents with mud or fabric. The large, flared skirt tended to make it difficult for soldiers to hear, distorting surrounding sounds and creating an echo when the wearer spoke.

Originally painted Feldgrau (field grey), the Stahlhelm was often camouflaged by troops in the field using mud, foliage, cloth covers, and paint. Official issue cloth covers in white and grey appeared in late 1916 and early 1917. Camouflage paint was not formally introduced until July 1918, when German Army Order II, No 91 366, signed by General Erich Ludendorff on 7 July 1918, outlined official standards for helmet camouflage. The order stipulated that helmets should be painted in several colors, separated by a finger-wide black line. The colors should be relevant to the season, such as using green, brown and ocher in summer.

After the effectiveness of the M1916 design was validated during the 1916 campaigns, incremental improvements were subsequently made.