NS68 SD M42 helmet.

**AndyM35** · 12-01-2019, 01:21 AM

Hello all,

The newest addition to my collection. A bath tub sized NS68 SD M42 which arrived on Friday. Named to soldier “Holtschmit” the helmet has a nice HJK decal, a nine finger liner and a 1942 chinstrap manufactured by R.Ehrhardt in Poessneck, Thuringia.

The shell was pressed at the Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke and remains free of any major ripples in the skirt. The manufacturers code and lot number are quite lightly stamped however I believe the lot number to be 3901. The exterior of the shell is finished in a matt Feldgrau which shows signs of what I believe may have been exposure to heat at some point. The liner shows good use while the drawstring will shortly be replaced with a correct period example.

Overall, I’m very happy with it and hope you enjoy the photos.
Andy

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 12-01-2019 01:21 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**PotatoDigger** · 12-01-2019, 01:54 AM

Very nice helmet, Andy, must be quite the bathtub indeed in that size

Has a very nice look to it

I think the lot number might be 3094 with the left part of the 4 being stamped so lightly as to not being visible.
Can you make out a manufacturer and year marking on the liner band?
The name is also a nice bonus, not a name I've heard before either.
Luis

**Adravor** · 12-01-2019, 02:30 AM

Nice Helmet! I also love that it is named, that gives it so much character.

**reneblacky** · 12-01-2019, 03:12 AM

Me likes Mate, but I'd pass too big

Crap I forgot I have a 68!! I'll have to bin it!

**reneblacky** · 12-01-2019, 03:14 AM

Dumb question - could this have marks in the inner liner?

**MAP** · 12-01-2019, 05:26 AM

Finally...Long time coming.

A great looking example Andy. And very nice photos to show it off. This one ticks all the boxes one wants to see in an M42.

Big thumbs up. Congrats!

**TWS** · 12-01-2019, 06:02 AM

Nice big one there Andy. Congratulations on picking it up. The HJ&K is tasty and perfect for an NS (as I'm sure you know).

I found one Holtschmit on the Volksbund site, but he was a WWI casualty. Decent chance "your" Holtschmit survived the war.

**AndyM35** · 12-01-2019, 08:28 AM

Thanks Luis!

Thanks for the heads up on the lot number - I’ll take a closer look. I must admit I haven’t looked at the liner band yet as it’s quite tight and I don’t want damage it. I have a small mirror on a pole (something I picked up from MAP) and I might get a torch and have a look at some point. I love named helmets and with your comment regarding the rarity of the name I may have some chance of narrowing down the original owner.

Andy

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Thanks Luis. Yes, named lids give the helmet that human element.

Andy