Original German WWII Heer Single Decal WWI Austrian M17 Reissued Helmet with 57cm Liner – Size 64 Shell Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting Genuine WWI Austro-Hungarian Model 1917 helmet, which after WWI was over, was kept in service, and then reissued for use in WWII for the German Heer (Army). The original “Isonzo braun” paint looks to have been removed, and then WWII early war “Apfel-grün” (Apple Green) paint was applied. The correct Heer Eagle decal was applied, and it was then fitted with a German M-31 aluminum liner dated 1939. It was then repainted on the exterior side of the shell with a lightly textured “Feldgrau” (Field Gray) later on, though the decal was covered. 

The paint is retained very well, with just a few areas where it has chipped through to show the apple green undercoat. The decal is retained at around 90% with some scratching and wear, and part of the lacquer top coat has flaked away, which shows that it is a silver eagle, and not gold.

There is a paint 64 on the inside of the shell, as well a stamped 64 over the left ear, however we believe this was done when it was refurbished for WWII use, as there is no maker mark or code. This would be typical for Austro-Hungarian M17 helmets, as many of the makers used only ink stamps, easily painted over. It does however have a clear 4 6 5 rolling mill lot number stamped onto the inside of the dome. We measured the outside of this helmet, and we are fairly certain that it is in size 64cm. This is a nice large size that would usually accommodate size 56 to 58 hat sizes, which is 7 to 7 1/4 in U.S. sizes. The helmet has had the original chin strap bolsters removed, replaced with solid rivets.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and they are WWII German style, not the original Austrian style, with most of the original Field gray paint. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of it’s fingers intact. The liner does show discoloration in use, and while soft, it is also in somewhat delicate condition. The original top tie is present and in good shape. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached to reinforced sides. This is the last pattern before the move to galvanized steel bands. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that it is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell. There is also 57 in a circle stamped on one of the leather fingers. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1939

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who later moved operations to Łódź in occupied Poland to take advantage of the slave labor in the ghetto located there. NSDAP authorities renamed Łódź to Litzmannstadt in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War. The chin strap is unfortunately completely missing, as they often degrade over time.

This is a very nice example of a WWII reissued Austrian M17  helmet, one of the first that we have been able to offer. Ready to fill a spot in your helmet collection!

Austro-Hungarian Helmets

The Central Powers of Austria-Hungary used, manufactured and commissioned, variations of the World War One German Stahlhelm M16 design. The Austrian M1917 helmet was similar to the German M1916, but had a few variations including the chinstrap, chinstrap rivets located higher up on the steel shell and variations in locations of markings among others.

Early Austrian helmets were supplied by Germany, the first shells supplied as the chinstrap rivets were mounted in a lower position. The Austrians fitted their own chinstrap bales, chinstraps and liner and painted them in Austrian Isonzo braun. These modifications were carried out with German machinery at the”Adolf Westen di Cilli factory, which is now Celije, in Slovenia.

Later Austria-Hungary made their own helmets, and eventually developed a model similar to the German M18, but it did not see wide use before the end of the war, just as with German’s M18. Both were an an important stepping stone towards the German helmets of WWII, which moved to chin straps attached to the liner, not the shell.

Austro-Hungarian WWI Helmets Makers-

There are only 9 known factories that produced helmets during WWI for the KUK. Unlike the Germans the Austrian pattern helmet are often found without factory stamps and heating lot codes. When the heating lot codes are present it is often on the outer top dome of the helmet instead of the inside. The following is a table of Manufactures codes of helmets produced by the Austrians. Several of these makers did not stamp the code into the shell of the helmet but rather marked them with an ink stamp. Therefore many Austrian shells will be encountered today that seem to have no maker mark as the ink stamp has worn off, but most will have rolling mill codes.

Maker Name Factory Location Maker code Sizes Model

A. Westen Cilli Celie, Slovenia AW 64 M17

Brüder Gottlieb u. Brauchbar Brunn BGB 66 M17

C. A. Scholtz,Mateocz Sloeakei CAS 66 M17

Berndorfer Metal-Warenfabrik Berndorf, Austria “Bear” logo 66,64

Bruder Lapp, Rottenman u. Warcholowsky Unknown ? M17

Nadrag,Transilvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17

Resicka, Transylvania Transylvania Unknown ? M17

Bleckmann & Poldihutte Klando Boemia Unknown x Stirnpanzer

Gebruder Bohler & Co., Kapfen Austria, Stiria GB “Star” 66 M17

Rolling Mills Marker Code

Ludwikow L

Bleckmann B

Poldi P