Ventless M16 field grey - former SS - former SA
I owned this helmet for some years. An M16 with removed vent lugs. I had found only one decal on the right side and did not know where I can place the helmet?
The mystery was solved by a collector friends. I ‘ve always wondered why a decal on the right side and not on the left? The reason must have been that I had been looking for a Heer eagle. I have not come up with the idea to look for hand-painted runes. A closer look and with good light, a collector friend saw the first white rune and then immediately the second. I also always thought that the helmet has black scratches. Now I know that the helmet is black under the field grey.
The mystery was solved and a big surprise. Very interesting is the decal on the right side of the helmet ( black / white / red ) is in the running the colors from left to bottom right. And not from right to bottom left. :confused: …the chintrap is deko!
The history of the helmet:
- The helmet was used in the First World War.
- The vent lugs were removed
- Got a SA Brown paint
- Got a SS Black paint + hand painted runes & b/w/r decal
- Got a field grey paint
Here are the pictures and a few new detailed images that I have made in daylight. There you can see the colors.
The decal:
The hand painted runes
I have found a number. This could be a service number (Dienstnummer) ?
Kind regards
Basti
