Original German WWII Heer Single Decal WWI Austrian M17 Reissued Helmet with 59cm Liner – Size 66 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 was removed, and then WWII early war “Apfel-grün” (Apple Green) paint was applied, which is still present. The correct Heer Eagle decal was applied, and it was then fitted with a German M-31 steel liner dated 1940 and attached chin strap. This may not be the first liner this helmet was fit with, as the Apple Green was usually used more in the mid 30s.

The paint is retained well, though there definitely is wear in areas, especially around the vent hole lugs. The decal is retained at around 90% with some scratching and wear, and part of the enamel top coat has flaked away. 

There is no maker or size marking stamped on the shell, however this is typical for Austro-Hungarian M17 helmets, as many of the makers used only ink stamps, easily painted over. It does however have a clear 5 1 2 1 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 66cm. 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 still has the correct short vent hole lugs without steps, for attachment of a “stirnpanzer” helmet plate. Smaller sized helmets would have a step, but this does not, confirming its larger size.  It still has the correct chin strap mounting bolsters on the inside of the shell.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and they are WWII German style, not the original Austrian style. They are however painted a darker green, probably from the wartime replacement. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of it’s fingers intact. The liner does show some use, but not major use, so it is still in very good condition, with some minor discoloration. The original top tie is present and in good shape. The galvanized steel liner band is marked 66 n.A. / 59, indicating that it is a size 59 liner for a size 66 shell, and there is a 59 in a circle ink stamped on one of the fingers. The other side of the liner band has a clear manufacturer’s mark and date:

SCHUBERTH – WERK K.-G.
D.R.P
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

Attached to the liner is a very nice condition early-war produced chin strap, with aluminum buckles and attachment rivets. There is no major damage to the chin strap, just the usual wear, and it is a very nice example. The chin strap was probably transferred over when the liner was replaced.

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