SSH40 embossed numbers

[Miek]

That's the part I don't understand, noramlly there are 5 numbers, and this one only has 4... made me think this might be an early shell (low number)?

[Dom]

That's the part I don't understand, noramlly there are 5 numbers, and this one only has 4... made me think this might be an early shell (low number)?

It is not as easy

[Miek]

It is not so easy indeed, I can conclude (seeing your photos) that the second and third embossed numbers are date numbers, so in my helmet it's 2, space, 41 (date?), 2
Seeing your second photo, this helmet has also only 4 digits,
so could my helmet shell be a WW2 one that has been refurbished after the war?

[Dom]

It is not so easy indeed, I can conclude (seeing your photos) that the second and third embossed numbers are date numbers, so in my helmet it's 2, space, 41 (date?), 2
Seeing your second photo, this helmet has also only 4 digits,
so could my helmet shell be a WW2 one that has been refurbished after the war?

No it is pure coincidence, look this helmet dated 42.



Indeed your helmet is refurbished post war by LMZ factory.

[Miek]

Oh, ok, Not so easy to date such a helmet... (I'm used to US helmets and there's more info availlable on these helmets).

Do you think they would have added 'spider' stamps to the WW2 shells after having them refurbished at the end of the war?
If my helmet is a WW2 shell refurbished in 48 then I could live with it. If it's just a postwar helmet, then it will be sold...

[Dom]

Do you think they would have added 'spider' stamps to the WW2 shells after having them refurbished at the end of the war?

Yes

[Miek]

Thanks for the answers Dom!

Pity we can't find concrete answers about the numbering of the shells...
it would be logic that the fewer numbers are in the shell the earlier the shell is made (like the numbers in US M1 shells).
I've checked a post here on the forum about the font style and these numbers, and on my shell they are the early font style (no 50's version), so that's also good...