1943 Helmet, Steel, Airborne Troops

[Loupie1961]

a recent purchase: a 1943 dated Mk II HSAT produced by BMB, Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd (Dagenham). It has the customary leather chin cup and straps. It looks like they could have been replaced at some phase of its service, since the two lateral fastening screws are unpainted white metal, whereas usually are painted brass. I have read somewhere that the back screws retaining the straps of the chin cup were usually unpainted brass, and eventually painted only if the helmet was given a new layer of paint:could any expert confirm this? Paint seem to be original, the leather sweat band in a reasonably good condition.

[tinlid]

Your correct, the two side nuts and bolts have been replaced, they should all be unpainted brass. (as with all BMB HSAT) These can be picked up quite easily on the net.

[Composite]

Did the brass ones get dropped sometime post-war in favour of smaller headed ones....which in turn got dropped for great big shiny silver things when the non-designated plastic thing (official term) was introduced??

[tinlid]

The Mk3 nut and bolt introduced in 1942 and used on the Mk2,Mk3 & P-types I'm sure was used well in to the 50's on the Mk2 HSAT. Probably right till the end of the HSAT life, what, 70's 80's?