Hungarian M50/70 Helmet

[Flying10uk]

Here is my Hungarian M50/70 helmet in nice unissued condition. It is only really a clone of the wartime Russian helmet but the Hungarians made an excellent, quality job of this helmet. The difference between the M70 and the original Hungarian version, the M50, is the liner with the M70 having 4 thick pads. These helmets also have an "anti-infrared" paint finish, hence the gloss finish.

[Aragorn243]

Nice looking helmet but not understanding the gloss paint, might hide it at night but the sun would glare off it in the day. Any light at night would do the same.

[Flying10uk]

not understanding the gloss paint

Supposedly it's the "anti-infrared" coating which I assume has to be gloss to work.

[browningautorifle]

These helmets also have an "anti-infrared" paint finish, hence the gloss finish.

It escapes me how that could possibly work though, active IR is an invisible beam cast like white light but on your passive receptors it shows up as green daylight. We had cam nets for our vehicles that were "Supposed to" be IR resistant too but I don't think any of that went past the sales pitch.

[Aragorn243]

IR detects heat, not light and a helmet will be much cooler than a man's head or face which would be exposed so it doesn't make a lot of sense. More likely it's a parade helmet.

[Flying10uk]

All these Hungarian M70 helmets that are on the surplus market, at least all that I have seen, all have the same glossy finish, although my photos probably make it look slightly more glossy than it actually is. The explanation that has been given is that it is some sort of "special paint/coating", not just a glossy paint finish. The UK painted all of it's army vehicles a gloss or semi gloss bronze green for at time in the 1950's/60's which always seemed like a stupid idea to me but presumably someone thought that it was worthwhile at the time.

[Flying10uk]

[Aragorn243]

You sold me, now I have to find one of these too.

[Flying10uk]

now I have to find one of these too

You shouldn't have too much difficulty at the moment but I don't know how much longer they'll be readily available on the surplus market.

[Aragorn243]

Made an offer to a guy on eBay, he already accepted. It doesn't look as nice as yours, but it'll do. Most looked a little abused that were available. Checked off eBay also, no difference there. I checked to see if I had one first and looks like I need the M53 also. My Hungarian helmets appear to have ended with WWII.