Wz28 Polish helmet near mint

[KradSpam]

Here is one I've never posted, I didn't know what it was for a while but managed to read the little welded on tag at the back, "Ludwików kielce 1939", a few googles later and voila, Polish Wz28

Apparently these were assessed and rejected by the army and used for other duties, but I cannot find another one anywhere with the German / Austrian style horn vents. I hope you like it, anyone seen this before, I think it is pretty uncommon? If anyone can comment on the usage on this particular type of helmet I would love to know.



The buckle looks like the Czech type but the paint on it matches the shell perfectly....

[Cenowski]

I've seen it somewhere before but i cant be sure, maybe from one of the few Motorized Divisions in the Polish Army, also the Policja Państwowa used something quite similar for riot gear in the IIRP.

[Cenowski]

[KradSpam]

Thanks for the info! The helmet in the book seems to be marked Wz16 though, would that be the same as a German M16?

[Cenowski]

Wz short for Wzór means model/type so i think it the Polish version of the M16 model..... Where did you get it?

[KradSpam]

Helmet comes from England, I bought it from a man who told me it was Bulgarian, but I never thought that was the case. How much do you think this one might be worth? I'm more familiar with German helmets

[dastier]

The Poles used German and Austrian M16/M17 helmets in the 10th BK. Kradspam - if the seller thought it was a Bulgarian helmet, I wonder if it could be an export Polish helmet?

[KradSpam]

I had the chance it was an export suggested on another forum, but to be honest I just don't know. I can't find another one like this anywhere on the web! A member on GHW has one of these though I am waiting for pics with interest.

[dastier]

Try posting in the World Steel Helmets forum here on War Relics. I received quite a bit of help to my inquiries there. Also in the Axis Militaria and Related subforum of the German Militaria 1939-1945 forum.

[pat15567]

It is not wz.28 helmet it may be a little modified wz.35 paramilitary helmet - they were used by the civil anti-aircraft defense (OPL) and firemen ... color is very uncommon, same as german WW1 style "horns". Perhaps some german wartime modification ? But to be honest for me it looks as a modern modification of normal wz.35 to act as a pre war wz.28. There are other misatkes also, but it's better not to mention about them just in case producer notice them Wz.35 opposite to wz.28 has a folded/curved rant. Here are the samples:

Original wz.28:


wz.35 - firemen version with characteristic top:


Sample of wz.28 in very good contition: