Ventless M16 field grey - former SS - former SA

[ogpsycho]

First helmet presentation in this forum

I owned this helmet for some years. An M16 with removed vent lugs. I had found only one decal on the right side and did not know where I can place the helmet?

The mystery was solved by a collector friends. I 've always wondered why a decal on the right side and not on the left? The reason must have been that I had been looking for a Heer eagle. I have not come up with the idea to look for hand-painted runes. A closer look and with good light, a collector friend saw the first white rune and then immediately the second. I also always thought that the helmet has black scratches. Now I know that the helmet is black under the field grey.

The mystery was solved and a big surprise. Very interesting is the decal on the right side of the helmet ( black / white / red ) is in the running the colors from left to bottom right. And not from right to bottom left. ...the chintrap is deko!









The history of the helmet:

- The helmet was used in the First World War.
- The vent lugs were removed
- Got a SA Brown paint
- Got a SS Black paint + hand painted runes & b/w/r decal
- Got a field grey paint


Here are the pictures and a few new detailed images that I have made in daylight. There you can see the colors.








The decal:



The hand painted runes






I have found a number. This could be a service number (Dienstnummer) ?



Kind regards
Basti

[FALLSCHIRMJAGER]

That's a great "first helmet" to post! Looks like a very nice early example of an SS helmet from what I can see. A hidden gem indeed, good job your friend had good eye sight! Leon.

[Martin C]

Imagine all the stories this one could tell! Very nice and thank you for showing!

Mart

[SteveR]

Very nice find.

[Combat Boots]

Great job with the photos and detective work on the "lives" of this helmet! Enjoyed this post! Bob

[helmet2id]

I remember this one from GHW. It is a GREAT piece! Thanks for posting it here so I can drool over it once again. Jim G.

[MAP]

Once those SS runes are highlighted in your photo it is fair clear to see them under the paint. But without your photo's I wouldn't have seen them. 4 layers of paint. 4 stories to tell.

[seventyeighth]

Indeed, a lot of history in this helmet.

[ogpsycho]

Thanks for your reply gentlemen.

Kind regards
Basti