My new all correct Russian Ssh39 helmet

[rayg]

I've been looking to buy a nice WWII Russian helmet for a long time and have been reading the Soviet forums to try to educate myself but when I would see a Russian helmet on a table at a show or on line, I realized I still didn't have enough knowledge to determine whether the helmet was correct or not as I found it's mine field in trying to identify war time ones from post war ones as there are only small differences between them. I decided to look for a Ssh39 as it has a unique liner and the rivets are higher on the crown where as liner and shell pattern of the later Ssh40 was used well into the 80's and would be difficult to tell war time from post war time if the dated ink stamp was missing or unreadable. There is also the issue of fake stamps and repro linings. Plus not many Ssh39 helmets survived intact as it was common, to remove the linings in the winter so the heavy fur cap could be used and the arsenals replaced the linings but with the later pattern liner. To find one still with it's original liner intact and not beat up, and still with the dated ink stamp seemed like it would be almost an impossible task.
Well I found that there are a number of well knowledgeable collector members on those forums and I thought that if I wanted to get a correct helmet and not worry about it being correct, I should ask one those members if they could help me find a correct one. So I contacted one of them and asked if he had, or knew of anyone selling a nice correct Ssh39 helmet. He responded that he would try to help me find one. About 2-3 weeks later he contacted me and told me that my timing was right as he said he was just thinking of letting one of his go, as he said you can't own them all, so he said he had just put it up for sale on his web site and it is a real nice one..
Needless to say, I was interested and with some price negotiations, as it was not in-expensive, it became mine and it is a real beauty. And the best part is there are no worries or issues as it is 100% correct. Here it is, Ray

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[WarPig1976]

The big question,,, Does it fit.?

[rayg]

Fits both dummies heads, me and the other one it's on, LoL,
Attachment 48087

[kosmolinekid]

There have been a lot of Russian Helmets for sale in the last few years . I always like you wanted one but there are so many claiming to be WWII . Your post is a good reference point to start from. I take it that the "58" is the helmet size .

[rayg]

The 58 is the liner size, the helmet size is a 2A.
Here are a couple of sites I went on to learn about the helmets. I learned a lot about the helmets there.

Communist Bloc Militaria - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums
and this one which I posted mine on after I got it and credited the gentleman who I got it from.
Headgear And Steel Helmets Of RKKA, Red Army, Soviet Army at War relics forum


Ray

[rayg]

As long as we're on Russian equipment here is a thread on some SVT pouches and TT-33 holsters and a waist belt I recently acquired, Ray
Show purchases, WWII SVT pouches, Holsters and belt

[WarPig1976]

All I have is the accessories that come with 91/30s and a holster and tools that came with the Nagant revolver. I do have a belt and buckle that came with an auction win but I can't find it, I think it's a repo anyway.

[rayg]

kosmolinekid, Here's some dealers in Russian stuff also.
I studied the helmets they had too. The more knowledge you gain about them. the better chance you would recognize a correct one when you see one at a show or on line etc. Ray

Original WW2 German militaria, WW2 Red Army militaria, WW2 Soviet militaria and more...
http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Other.../12Russia.html
HELMETS HELMET COLLECTION RUSSIAN SOVIET HELMET RUSSIA including USSR

[kosmolinekid]

Thanks Ray, I've been looking at the repro German Helmets also. I've seen they have the Fallschirmjager Helmets out now too. That is on the top of my want list .