I just picked this one up yesterday. It is an M18 style shell, complete with the original 3 pad white leather liner and carbine clip chin strap. It was repainted in flat black up to the steel liner band and adorned with a Heer adler and tri color, both at 98%+. Tied to the chin strap are the original German property tag and a tag identifying the US soldier who liberated the piece. One of the liner pads has a rectangular ink stamp which, unfortunately, is smudged and illegible. The left ear stamp is covered in paint and hard to make out or photograph but appears to be Q66. The black paint has flaked off in places, but is still probably 80% intact. Al B. was at the seller’s home picking up a few helmets himself when I got there yesterday. He speculates that these black dd Heer transitionals may have been used by either Heer fire brigades or possible Bahnschutz personnel. There are some period photos that show Bahnschutz personnel with black Heer double helmets. I posted this helmet earlier on GHW and at that time had some questions about the maker of the shell and to which branch of service this one was issued. Both questions were answered in short order. The shell is a Quist product, and the German Property tag indicates that Heer Gustav Hilker was a Res. Lokfuhrer - i.e. a Reserve Train Driver. This one was used by a member of the Reichsbahn! The decals are interesting as well. These are most often encountered on Vulkanfibre shells. The Adler is is rather unique and the Tri Color has a black border. These are odd, but right as rain. Anyway, it is a pretty neat piece despite the condition of the black exterior paint. Hope you like it. Jim G.

Click to enlarge the picture