Digger1915
Active member
Proving that nice untouched helmets can still be found on eBay, is this lovely little untouched M16. With size 62 being the only size of Imperial German Steel helmet that the Gebrueder Gnuechtel A.G., Lauter i./Sa., factory produced during the Great War, the shell is quite distinguishable by its deeply stepped vent lugs. The helmet shows obvious signs of use but little post war handling, with a well used liner, and remnants of chalk around the vent lugs and leather liner band, this example display a lovely shade of light field grey paint.
The original drawstring is present, with one of the pads retaining their filling. In the rear skirt is what looks like some writing with an indelible pencil with what appears to be the number 9 perhaps for 1919? The heating lot code of R385 is quite clearly struck inside the dome with the R denoting the rolling mill factory as Stahlwerk Röchling,Volkingen.
Whenever I see these untouched examples for sale, I almost feel obligated to collect them to save them from falling into the hands of the unscrupulous and being forever ruined with a fake camo paint job, and this one turned out to be a beauty.
Digger
The original drawstring is present, with one of the pads retaining their filling. In the rear skirt is what looks like some writing with an indelible pencil with what appears to be the number 9 perhaps for 1919? The heating lot code of R385 is quite clearly struck inside the dome with the R denoting the rolling mill factory as Stahlwerk Röchling,Volkingen.
Whenever I see these untouched examples for sale, I almost feel obligated to collect them to save them from falling into the hands of the unscrupulous and being forever ruined with a fake camo paint job, and this one turned out to be a beauty.
Digger
