WW1 German M. 16 Steel Helmet (Mod. 1916 Stahlhelm) Camouflaged Shell
AN ORIGINAL FIRST WORLD WAR CAMOUFLAGED GERMAN M16 STAHLHELM (STEEL HELMET) SIZE 64 SHELL MANUFACTURED BY EISENHÜTTENWERKE THALE A. STAMPED ON THE SKIRT ET 64. This is a very good example of a First War German Mod.
1916 Stahlhelm painted in a two. The manufacturers code stamped into the right hand forward neck guard is ET 64. Indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A. Thale /Harz as a size 64 shell.
No crown number is visible. German Model 1916 steel helmet which was introduced into the service with the forces of the German Empire in 1916 (hence the designation).
It was designed primarily by two men, Frederich Schwerd and Dr. August Bier to protect soldiers heads from fragments and shrapnel injuries. As Chad Compton in his excellent Axis History online article records: The designs for the Model 1916 were drawn up in September 1915.By December of that year, the M1916 was being used by a Sturm (Assault) battalion for trial purposes. The mass production of the'Stahlhelm' began January 1916 and it was widely distributed to soldiers in the Imperial German Field Army on the western front. 16 was replaced by the improved M.
18 in 1918 but the wars end meant that relatively few of the new type were issued. 1916 Stahlhelm shell does show evidence of use and has a heavily weathered patina, particularly across the crown. Both lugs are still in place and serviceable and fitted with a replacement chinstrap and liner band manufactured from thick leather, and held onto the helmet shell with three split prongs and three liner pads sewn to the band. Each liner pad has a small pouch on the reverse for padding. Each pouch is tied with ribbon, and filled with horse hair.
There is surface rust and pitting on the inside and outside of the shell but overall the helmet is very sound. The paint is in good condition with some wear and characteristically it appears to have been overpainted at least twice.
The paint is worn in places and is marked by old surface oxidization; there is evidence of a base grey/green paint finish beneath both the camouflage pattern on the exterior and interior of the shell. This listing for interest is a period photograph showing a German work party painting similar camouflaged. From Australia, a good example of the scarce and highly sought after original. First World War German Mod.
It is similar to a number held in the collection of the Australian War Memorial which can be viewed online at. The items I list on ANZACBLADE e-bay are also listed on my website.
The item "WW1 German M. 1916 Stahlhelm) Camouflaged Shell" is in sale since Wednesday, September 06, 2017.This item is in the category "Collectables\Militaria\1914 - 1918 (WWI)". The seller is "anzacblade" and is located in Griffith, ACT.
This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Authenticity: Original
- Country: Germany
- Campaign: World War I
- Product Type: Helmets
- Era: 1910s