Small size late war m42 helmet

**kradman** · 02-07-2015, 01:54 PM

Picked up this late war M42 helmet , looks never painted so may have been left unused at the end of the war

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-07-2015 01:54 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**timothy** · 02-07-2015, 03:11 PM

Very nice example. timothy

**harryamb2** · 02-07-2015, 08:48 PM

nice find.

**Danmark** · 02-07-2015, 09:47 PM

Some late made M42 helmets seem to be not painted but have a "chromate dip" to stop them rusting.
I don't know that as a fact but I have one too that has some sort of coating that could not be considered 'paint' in the truest sense - way too thin - more like a wash or dip.

Anyone know exactly?

**M38** · 02-08-2015, 01:53 AM

Brian Ice has studied these late war M42's extensively and has theorized that some of them were coated with a phosphate based rustproofing material, due to lack of quality paints available at the end of the war. The phosphate coating was very thin and served only to inhibit rust. This could be one of those. If you can make out the whole lot number, or find a date on the liner, it would help to pin down the year of manufacture of this helmet.

Cheers,
Terry

**MAP** · 02-08-2015, 01:57 AM

That's a real interesting helmet. Never heard about this process. Thanks for showing and for everyone else for the education.

Michael

**helmet2id** · 02-08-2015, 02:12 AM

Is the lot # "5056"? Jim G.

**FALLSCHIRMJAGER** · 02-08-2015, 07:49 AM

Hi, an interesting helmet, I would be interested to see if these late war M42's have a tendency to be on the small size as an average, bearing in mind the increasing use of child soldiers in the Reich at this time? Leon.

**Kateri** · 06-06-2019, 08:30 AM

I know this is an old thread but I was wondering about the lot number.
My ckl60 has a very lightly stamped 4 as the second digit and your great looking helmet's stamp looks similar in the photos at least .
I've enjoyed viewing your M42 a few times already and will again.