Original German M40 WWII Type Steel Helmet- Finnish M40/55, Size 58cm, US 7 1/4

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you, fellow German War Helmet enthusiast. This message popped up in my inbox just now. AOL's inbox is overflowing with messages. In the case of the depicted M40 WWII German helmet, all I had to go on was the seller's testimony, which stated that these helmets were used by the Finns during WWII. br>Here's what they say about their product: "Original Item:"br>"Original Item:"br>"Original Item:"b In another military antiques coup, IMA has just acquired the last of all known WWII helmet stocks from the Finnish government. These helmets are 100% genuine German manufactured WWII Ulm (Donaueschingen) is a city in the German state of Freiberg is a German town. br>The M40/55 helmet was supplied throughout WWII and then under special contract for the Finnish Army in 1955, hence the name. These helmets, on the other hand, were manufactured in the same factory, on the same machines, and by the same people who made them for Germany during WWII. With the classic rolled edge, correct steel thickness, and pressed ventilation holes, they are nearly identical to WWII issue M40s (and are frequently sold as such). We also have reason to believe that some of these shells are sanitized German WWII M35 and M40 helmets. Meaning that some are genuine WWII shells that have had all stampings rubbed out and the original paint stripped away to avoid the Allied ban on West Germany selling war materiel after WWII. br>For the Finnish army, the leather liners and chinstraps were made in Finland. Some of the helmets were in use until the early 1970s, so the styles vary. The shells, on the other hand, are compatible with our fantastic M35 WWII leather helmet liner and chinstrap, as well as our reproduction WW2 split pin and washer sets. Please keep in mind that in some cases, new front holes in the liner rather than the shell may be required. br>Because styles and colors (Field Grey, Field Green) may vary slightly, please refer to the photos for examples. Each helmet is offered in good to excellent condition, with minor storage wear, paint chips and scratches, and the occasional small ding, but no major dents or flaws. After all, these are genuine military helmets worn by real soldiers in the defense of their homeland. br>My helmet arrived in excellent condition, despite the fact that it is 76 years old. I was given a field green OD helmet with a shell size of 64. It came with a size 58 M40 liner that was excellently reproduced. As a collector, I did exactly what they told me not to do. I refinished it with a Hobby Lobby-purchased military olive drab finish that was a perfect match for the helmet's original color. Decals for a Wermacht Infantry helmet from that year were added. They, along with split pins and other irems, are available from IMA. It came out beautifully. So, to answer your question, yes, this is an original M40 helmet made in Germany. International Military Antiques, 1000 Valley Rd., was where I got it. Gillette, New Jersey 07933. Phone: 908- 903- 0106, I've spoken with the owners several times, and they've been nothing but accommodating. They also assisted me in matching an original M42 shell size 66 with a size 59 helmet liner that I had ordered incorrectly. That project turned out to be a huge success as well. With a price tag of $79, this helmet is a low-cost entry into the WWII German helmet collecting scene. Original WWII German helmets can be purchased for anywhere between $250 and $1,000. An original Waffen SS double decal WWII German Helmet in excellent condition has been listed for over $1800. I have five originals, three of which I bought together for $90 30 years ago. At a flea market, for example, it's 00. I didn't realize these were original helmets until last year, when I started researching this topic. I also have an original Finnish used helmet. They did not use original split pins or rivets, but the liner and pins are of higher quality than the originals. In addition, I included the original M42 helmet, which was unfinished and lacked a liner. It looks great now that I've refurbished it. If you buy a high-end original WWII German helmet that has paint or other defects from battle damage or simply age, you'll lose its collector value if you restore it. Good luck with your search. Thanks. [email protected] Shawn Kerkes com