WW1 German M. 18 Cutout Steel Helmet (Mod. 1918 Stahlhelm) Rare & Original

A RARE & ORIGINAL FIRST WORLD WAR CAMOUFLAGED GERMAN M18 CUTOUT STAHLHELM (STEEL HELMET) SIZE 64 SHELL MANUFACTURED BY EISENHÜTTENWERKE THALE A. STAMPED ON THE SKIRT ET 64 AND IN THE CROWN R1311 AND INITIALED ON THE INNER NECK GUARD AK. This is a very good example of a First War German Mod. 1918 Stahlhelm painted in a two.

The manufacturers code stamped into the right hand forward neck guard is ET 64 and the dome stamp is R 1311. Indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A.

Thale /Harz as a size 64 shell. 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. In The History of the German Steel Helmet from 1916 to 1945. By Ludwig Baer, translated by K. Daniel Dahl, Baer describes how the. Low skirt of the original M16 and M18s inhibited hearing and as a consequence another design change was proposed.

A new prototype was sent for field trials in August of 1918. This new design modified the skirt at the lower edge of the helmet in an upward dip below the Stirmpanzer lugs. Today this model is known as the Mod.

1918 (M18) Cutout , telephone talkers or Cavalry helmet. The later terms have no validity as the design was meant for all troops, and not just to those who used the telephone or served in Calvary units. A change was also made in the type of paint which would be used on these helmets. A new paint known as Wollstaub had crushed wool felt mixed into it to produce a rough textured lusterless finish. The hope was this finish would reduce the glare on the helmets surface.

All told 100,000 M18 cut-out helmets all in size 64 were produced by the Eisenhüttenwerk factory during the final months of the war. The design proved to be extremely popular with the men at the front and had the war continued it is possible that the new design would have become the standard helmet of the Imperial forces. 1918 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 it is 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 some 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. Describes, the M18-cut out helmet is one of the rarest of German helmets produced in both WWI and WWII. These helmets are highly desired by collectors, and unfortunately most on the market today are fakes. All M18 cut-out helmets are marked ET64. The ET64 stamp must be in gothic script. If the helmet lacks this stamp or is in any other script, the helmet is a fake. The helmet should also have a heating lot number in the dome of the helmet.

Almost all originals have at least 6 characters in the series. The series usually start with the letter R.

The dome stamp is visible and appears to be R 1311 , although the last number is difficult to make out with accuracy. Attached to this listing for interest is a period photograph showing a German soldier wearing a similar Mod. From Australia, a very good example of the rare and highly sought after original. First World War German Mod.

Steel helmet painted in three colour camouflage. It is similar to item REL23287 held in the collection of the. Australian War Memorial which can be viewed online at.

This item is listed on ANZACBLADE e-bay and on my website of the same name. The item "WW1 German M. 18 Cutout Steel Helmet (Mod. 1918 Stahlhelm) Rare & Original" is in sale since Saturday, April 27, 2019.

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.

Campaign: World War I
Modified Item: No
Country: Germany
Product Type: Helmets
Authenticity: Original
Era: 1910s