M18 Camo Steel Helmet
- Thread starter Torch03
- Start date
John Josef
Well-known member
Any stamp markings on the chinstrap? I'm always interested in seeing those. Thanks John Josef
Mappa
Well-known member
Yeah, and the chinstrap is of later orgin than 1918… lets say early TR period
Hi,
To me the chinstrap looks like an original M18 chinstrap (or a well-made aged repro, but not to my eyes), what indicates that it is from after 1918?
Regards,
Lars
Stahlhelm
Well-known member
It's hard to say with these pictures if the chinstrap is original or not. The stitching does look rather new in the images, but if it is a repro or copy they did a great job. Good pictures of any markings as well as the stitching and especially the rivets would help.
Otherwise, the chinstrap in this style - M18 pattern made of natural tan leather rough side out - has nothing to do with anything used during the TR period. M18 chinstraps were still used in early Reichswehr helmets but were ordered to be made of blackened leather sometime in the early 20s. They are very rarely encountered.
A Reichswehr helmet I once owned with a 1926 dated M18 pattern chinstrap
Otherwise, the chinstrap in this style - M18 pattern made of natural tan leather rough side out - has nothing to do with anything used during the TR period. M18 chinstraps were still used in early Reichswehr helmets but were ordered to be made of blackened leather sometime in the early 20s. They are very rarely encountered.
A Reichswehr helmet I once owned with a 1926 dated M18 pattern chinstrap
Steve Nick
Well-known member
Hard to tell if this chin strap is original.
I suspect that elements of the clip assembly have been reproduced based on an original strap.
As has already been observed, the leather and stitching of the clip assembly looks too new to my eyes. Whoever did it did a good job of it.
Below a couple of pics of my M18 chin strap.
I suspect that elements of the clip assembly have been reproduced based on an original strap.
As has already been observed, the leather and stitching of the clip assembly looks too new to my eyes. Whoever did it did a good job of it.
Below a couple of pics of my M18 chin strap.
John Josef
Well-known member
Sorry to say I'm skeptical 
Stahlhelm
Well-known member
The leather on the chinstrap in question certainly looks new and so does the stitching. I've never seen such mangled, ineptly installed rivets on any WW1 item. I wonder if original metal M18 chinstrap components were used to make the new strap.
The chinstrap posted by Steve is an excellent example of what an unquestionably good one looks like.
The M18 helmet looks to have been cleaned, the liner removed at least once, and someone had applied transfer decals to it at some point for reasons unknown. At least the liner looks original to the helmet. It's my impression that an attempt was made to restore the helmet to a more collectable condition by removing the decals and installing a new chinstrap.
The chinstrap posted by Steve is an excellent example of what an unquestionably good one looks like.
The M18 helmet looks to have been cleaned, the liner removed at least once, and someone had applied transfer decals to it at some point for reasons unknown. At least the liner looks original to the helmet. It's my impression that an attempt was made to restore the helmet to a more collectable condition by removing the decals and installing a new chinstrap.
