Russian Ssh40 helmet, help please

**douglas2496** · 11-20-2012, 02:25 PM

Hi everyone, I have just purchased (inexpensively) my first soviet helmet. Is it a wartime helmet? I have looked at several reference books and I see there are numerous previous threads asking for help dating these helmets, and I have looked at many of them. It would seem this is of the wartime pattern, but could be early post war as well. Is this correct, and can anyone tell me anything else about it? Thanks everyone for your help.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 11-20-2012 02:25 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Adrian Stevenson** · 11-20-2012, 02:40 PM

Hi Douglas, I cannot add anything which you don't already know. Could be wartime or early post war as you say. The only real way of knowing is via the ink stamps which are long gone here.

Cheers, Ade.

**douglas2496** · 11-20-2012, 02:51 PM

Thanks Ade, its good to have that confirmed.

**Gunny Hartmann** · 11-20-2012, 02:55 PM

As Adrian said it's hard to date without the stamps, i've got one dated 1950 and it looks exactly the same as this.

**moaning minnie** · 11-20-2012, 03:28 PM

At least its not had the usual postwar repaint thats normally associated with the LMZ 1946-1949 lids and there repainted and relined then reissued again,so it certainly looks more the part than what you usually come across,nice buy indeed,regards minnie.

**douglas2496** · 11-20-2012, 04:38 PM

Thanks for your comments. I have now noticed its stamped 1.1950 into the metal underneath the back liner flap. Is this the date or the batch no? I ask as other helmets have what appears to be batch numbers (metal stamped) in this position, and the date is always ink stamped.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 11-20-2012, 04:48 PM

That is the size, 1, and the batch number.

Cheers, Ade.

**moaning minnie** · 11-21-2012, 06:39 PM

Hi Douglas i can't see from the pics whether the chinstraps are stitched or riveted?regards minnie.

**James C** · 11-22-2012, 08:55 PM

very nice douglas it certainly looks the part nice and salty just how i like them ,are you going to lightly coat in oil just to inhibit the surface corrosion and maybe bring out more of the colouration just a thought anyway nice find