Just added this to my growing Warsaw Pact section which mainly consists of items that tended to make WP forces recognisable to the "Tom" on the ground as well as items that would do the same when seen in propaganda photos etc. So, I tend to pick up items of headwear, qualification badges and awards, daggers and bayonets etc so the steel helmets of the period are I suppose something of a must.

Here is a Romanian M73/80 steel hemet fitted with an enamelled brass badge for parade use. The helmet itself is a standard item and not a lightweight version as used by some countries and the badge is attached by two bent prongs inserted through two small drilled holes. It is not permanently fixed and could be removed in moments.

The liner is all leather with padding beneath it that seems to be a natural wool like material.
The buckle on the nape strap and the chin strap assembly appear to be of material types probably taken up from commercial sources rather than specified for the military which I find a common characteristic of Warsaw Pact forces equipment. The slot in the rear skirt is to accommodate straps used to secure the helmet to the large pack in marching order. The stampings either side of the slot appear to be batch and date indicators.;

Regards

Mark

Click to enlarge the picture