Original German WWI Stahlhelm M16 Helmet- E.T.64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fine example of a totally original WWI German M16 Helmet. The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains about 80% of its original feldgrau paint with a nice overall patina. The helmet has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, both of the extended ventilation side lugs and all three of the flat-headed liner retaining rivets.

The interior of the helmet has the early all leather pattern, three pad leather liner with steel retaining band intact. All three leather pads are complete and all still have their original horsehair stuffing. Pads are a bit stiff and are still firmly held in place. All of the six liner string adjustment tabs are intact, and even the liner string is still present (probably a replacement). The chinstrap is a high quality reproduction. Shell is marked “E.T. 64”, indicating manufactured it was manufactured by Eisenhuettenwerke Thale A.G., Thale /Harz size 64 (originally intended to accommodate head sizes of 56cm to 58cm or US 7 to US 7 ¼).

There is also a dome stamp. On the inside dome of every WWI German helmet you will find a heating lot code, these codes were used by the factories during production. In many cases the heating lot code will indicate where the steel was milled. These steel mills are called rolling mills. The dome stamp in this helmet is quite clear and reads “DK37”.

With the 100-year anniversary of world war one approaching in 2014, this helmet, offered in very good collectible condition, is a perfect additional to any Great War collection.

History of the M16 Helmet-

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 Eisenhuettenwerke Thale A.G., Thale /Harz, 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 throughout the Weimar Reichswehr era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.