M45/ ventless 42 helmet

[akmo]

Hello all
I recently aquired this through the net. I read many stories and multiple points of view concerning these odd ball helmets. It appears that it use to have an m44 liner installed but has since snapped out

[MAP]

Very interesting. Not one I have seen or handled. Know very little about them except for what I have read in Ken N's book (I think its a whole paragraph). Some talk that these were never issued so liner and chinstraps were typically not installed. That said I know very little. Hopefully those with more experience can provide some color.

M

[helmet2id]

There is an M42 hkp66 with the same lot# on the GHW lot number data base, not described as a ventless helmet. I don't have Brian Ice's book, but I would guess the lot number is not late enough for this to be a ventless example. Better pictures, clearer and focused on the areas where the vents would have been, both on the exterior and the interior, should be posted. As of now, I am skeptical, sorry, Jim G.

[MAP]

Thanks Jim. Ken N notes in his book of a CKl example with an early lot number (I'm not comparing to HKp lot numbers). The jist being that it wasn't a "switch" over to a new production technique in that vented helmets were still produced afterwards. His guess as to why is either a prototype or factory flaw.

The example provided in Kens book was supplied by none other than Brian Ice.

That said, this is for information purposes only. I bow to those with more knowledge.

[Schwerpunkt]

There is an M42 hkp66 with the same lot# on the GHW lot number data base, not described as a ventless helmet. I don't have Brian Ice's book, but I would guess the lot number is not late enough for this to be a ventless example. Better pictures, clearer and focused on the areas where the vents would have been, both on the exterior and the interior, should be posted. As of now, I am skeptical, sorry, Jim G.

I agree Jim.
Basically nothing official is known about these , only conjecture.

[ObKrieger]

By that late in the war, there would have been plenty of helmets/caps to go around for the few combat capable troops the German military had left, and therefore no need to go through the hassle of changing the production methods. A fresh recruit in early 1945 would have probably received a beat up M35 that had several previous owners, or maybe a factory fresh M42 without decals. But that's my two cents.