Unusual Bulgarian M51 helmet

[Humanic]

Hello,

This one is not very usual.
I have seen somewhere over the Internet photo of similar, so it might be no fantasy item.
I hope you like it.

BR,

Alex

[JesperS]

The guys at World War Helmets have a similar one. I think it's good.

[Estonian]

Hello. I am interested in what is being talked about. Am I missing something?

[Trwade]

Looks good to me, here's a photo of my M51 helmet with similar decals. A little harder to find the M51 helmet with both the star & decal but I have seen a handful from reputable sources as well. Cool helmet!

[Estonian]

[Jack59]

Nice photo Estonian. Good assortment of M51s & M36s helmets. Never a dull moment with the Bulgarian helmets. The M51s were also exported to delinquent (isolated) countries & rebel groups in Africa, but that is another story
Jack

[Jack59]

Just got my first M51 last week! Never to late.

I believe it qualifies as unusual, I'll explain why.
Lets have a look.

What caught my eyes was the poor pressing quality of the steel!












This helmet as a minimum of 3 layers of paint.




This M51 model was refurbished with parts of the new M72 helmet.
The new metal band is almost an exact Italian M33 copy now.



Side interior view of the M72 metal band.


Back interior view.


Nice view of the liner's split pine heads.


Note the shape of the bale attachment, clearing the cradle.




Strangely the chinstrap is of an older model, recycled?




Now the unusual stuff with the liner.
The size 57 as been stamped with ink & cold stamp as well!
Not very Bulgarian style for sure!


Note the liner's single stitching, reinforced string liner hole & paint texture.


The last unusual thing is this stamping.
Some kind of Industrial Socialist Worker's symbol?




As I often say, there is never a dull moment with Bulgarian helmets!

[Estonian]

This should be the correct M51 helmet.

[Jack59]

The last unusual thing is this stamping.
Some kind of Industrial Socialist Worker's symbol?

Here is similar & better image of that liner stamping. The industrial wheel stamping is not seen often on Bulgarian liners. Inside that wheel are 2 Cyrillic letters. Could be KK.





I don't know the meaning of it for now. To be honest not to much is known on the M51/72 helmet's family, the details from their history may have been lost in time.

[Estonian]

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