Opinions sought on a Heer M35 Stalhelm, Please Advise

[Rich Moran]

Been looking for some time to fill a couple of helmet gaps in my collection. Can anyone please advise that this M35 is the real deal? Thank you in advance.

[AndyM35]

Hi Rich,

The whole helmet looks good to me. A nice Heer helmet with a period applied rautarn camo finish.

Andy

[Nmilitaria]

Looks all good to me to

[Rich Moran]

I've confirmed the helmet purchase with the seller. Thanks for the replies thus far.

I've become curious about the rautarn camo finish and tried finding more on the history of this. Alas, after reviewing 10+ pages on the forum using "rautarn camo finish" keyword search as well as an interweb search I'd found little on the subject.

Questions are when did this 1st come into use? Was this type of finish a mandated type or was it done by the troops own election to be as subtle in the field as possible?

I've read that the troops used what ever they could find when done in the field so I'd presume the rautarn camo finish was applied by the individual or a group of people who were told to do it in the field for their comrades while they attended to other tasks, hence the names in these.

I've also read that the rautarn camo finish is hyped as a Normandy finish by some but that makes no sense as an M35 is an early issue item. My thought is perhaps this was done in the early 1939 year as the build up to invade Poland was at hand.

This stuff drives my curiosity to understand and find out as much as possible, perhaps the mind set for it is what was going through the minds of people who were about to embark on an deathly life time adventure and their thoughts on survival by any means necessary. Morbid I know but I think it's all part of why we collect these things.

[MAP]

We will never really know when the helmet was painted but certainly period done. It's a classic field painted example. I would guess it was painted in the 40's.

[Rich Moran]

We will never really know when the helmet was painted but certainly period done. It's a classic field painted example. I would guess it was painted in the 40's.

Thanks MAP. My gut instinct said it is the real deal but wanted to be sure before committing to it.

That's the major reason for wanting it, it was definitely there and only if it could talk. Wish I could find info on the owner and better understand when the rautarn finish was applied. I know it is just a guess
at these finishes but for being a M35 I am certain it had seen a lot of crazy stuff.

[MAP]

Well, yes. M35's certainly were around the longest. These were also the most refurbished helmets given their age.

It's a great example. No faults. Re-paints never got their "due" IMHO. But recently I've seen more of an interest in them.

[Rich Moran]

Well, yes. M35's certainly were around the longest. These were also the most refurbished helmets given their age.

It's a great example. No faults. Re-paints never got their "due" IMHO. But recently I've seen more of an interest in them.

MAP, I was surprised at the price for this, IMHO it was a fair price. Anymore the prices on these helmets is crazy. Perhaps this category has not reached it's full potential as finding a Luftwaffe one has my interest if I can find one in the same price range with a peek a boo adler like this Heer M35.

[AndyM35]

I've confirmed the helmet purchase with the seller. Thanks for the replies thus far.

I've become curious about the rautarn camo finish and tried finding more on the history of this. Alas, after reviewing 10+ pages on the forum using "rautarn camo finish" keyword search as well as an interweb search I'd found little on the subject.

Questions are when did this 1st come into use? Was this type of finish a mandated type or was it done by the troops own election to be as subtle in the field as possible?

I've read that the troops used what ever they could find when done in the field so I'd presume the rautarn camo finish was applied by the individual or a group of people who were told to do it in the field for their comrades while they attended to other tasks, hence the names in these.

I've also read that the rautarn camo finish is hyped as a Normandy finish by some but that makes no sense as an M35 is an early issue item. My thought is perhaps this was done in the early 1939 year as the build up to invade Poland was at hand.

This stuff drives my curiosity to understand and find out as much as possible, perhaps the mind set for it is what was going through the minds of people who were about to embark on an deathly life time adventure and their thoughts on survival by any means necessary. Morbid I know but I think it's all part of why we collect these things.

Rich, the term rautarn more or less refers to a paint that has been mixed with a variety of media such as wood chips or concrete etc. in order to conceal the helmet more by removing the glare etc. And I agree with Map regarding the possible time it was applied as things were starting to heat up more so by the 1940’s, however to give a very accurate time frame is difficult without provenance.

Well done on adding a classic to your collection. I have one very similar and their appearance really does have the look of having “been there”.

Andy

[BlackCat1982]

Very nice addition, don't be tempted to go digging for the decal.