M42 Helmet ?

[boristhepig]

Hi
I would like an appraisal of this helmets shell, I know that the liner is a replacement and the shell has been reconditioned/painted. But was originally under the impression that the shell was original.
The ET64 and lot number stamps look good, But looking closer at the inside of the shell I notice 2 spot marks to the front and centre (see the last picture) that are giving me doubts.

Information

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[bigduke6]

Been a while since I had a few German helmets mainly M35 M40 only a few M42's but don't recall the spot marks, the Size ET64 looks like it stands proud rather than stamped also ?? hard to say from pics. Someone may chime in and compare there helmet, I was always shy of helmets with replaced liners unless the helmet was in a distressed state.

[Gil Boyd]

Being half German, I have seen Fire helmets made to look like the real McCoy, but I can't for the life of me remember if ET64 featured in them as it was a makers name. I mention Fire, but it could just be the angle of the photos!! Has this been resprayed can you see? Also odd that the edges are not turned inwards and rolled simetrically. Fakes can always be spotted by the rolled over lip being all over the place.
Here is a video on Youtube that might help with the stamps but there are oodles of pieces to llok at if you are concerned. To my eye I would say it looks OK, sadly I can't tell you the class it was made for!

[browningautorifle]

I have seen Fire helmets made to look like the real McCoy

That was my first thought, looks so very tall to be a combat helmet. The edge of the hole in the side looks wrong too, sort of concave where it should be more of a rim.

I'm thinking it's a repro.

[boristhepig]

Hi
The ET64 is definitely stamped and the helmet has been repainted. I have been looking all over the web and haven't come across those type of spot marks on an original or a repo.

I have added some more pictures

[Gil Boyd]

Boris,
I believe the numerical stamps are correct, not sure about the rim, which, if I was about to buy it, would deter me. May be a rational explanation for it, but every helmet on my family side had turned up very precise German rims!!

[bigduke6]

Gil, its an M42 it never had a rolled rim like the M35 and M40.

Forgot to mention a handy colour paperback book, Combat Helmets of the Third Reich (A study in photographs) by Thomas Kibler.

[Gil Boyd]

Geoff,
Does that then direct it more to Civil service like the Fire Brigade?

[bigduke6]

Gil, it was another cost saving exercise, the M40 did away the rivet constructed vent hole and was pressed instead, can't remember what else was done on M40, the M42 was another design to cut costs as the rolled edge was removed and if you look on google and compare the M42 with the others there is a slight angle on the last 1/4" to give it strength. This would of been the standard issue from then on.

At the time cost cutting was everything, as Hitlers European tour wasn't going to plan, one thing that also came about on reducing machining and cost was the MG42....... think these were the first guns or one of the first to use hammer forged barrels...... and speaking of MG42, you only have to look at the Gimpy and see where the trigger mech and bipod come from.......

[Gil Boyd]

Always seemed to me to be a great bullet catcher the German helmets