New arrival Austrian Helmet

[Imperialcollector]

As you can see this one must of been made in a rush if anyone has anymore information id be grateful. 

 

 

 

[Farkas]

Congrats, a nice find 😊

 

This is mine 👇 😊

 

This is an interesting post 👇

All quotes from ima-usa.com website.

👇👇
“ There are only 9 known factories that produced helmets during WWI for the KUK. Unlike the Germans the Austrian pattern helmet are often found without factory stamps and heating lot codes. When the heating lot codes are present it is often on the top of the helmet instead of the inside.”

 

“The Central Powers of Austria-Hungary used, manufactured and commissioned, variations of the World War One German Stahlhelm M16 design. The Austrian M1917 helmet was similar to the German M1916, but had a few variations including the chinstrap,, chinstrap rivets located higher up on the steel shell and variations in locations of markings among others.“

 

“Early Austrian helmets were supplied by Germany, the first shells supplied as the chinstrap rivets were mounted in a lower position. The Austrians fitted their own chinstrap bales, chinstraps and liner and painted them in Austrian "Isonzo braun." These modifications were carried out with German machinery at the "Adolf Westen di Cilli" factory, which is now Celije, in Slovenia.”

 

 

 

So..

I’m just finding out that the difference between the M16 and M17 is the band for the liner.

M16’s had leather liner bands, those same M16’s once fitted with metal bands were known as M17’s.

 

The chin strap on yours is webbing, an Austrian preference. German made helmets delivered to Austria had modifications made including switching the leather chinstrap for a webbing one.

There were 3 styles, 1 for converted German made helmets, 2 for Austrian home made helmets… yours has ‘fastening’ holes, that was only a feature on those issued on an Austrian home produced helmet, although chin straps are easily swapped through need or for preference.

A straight one 👇

 

Yours isn’t the only wonky one 👇

 

 

One other claim I’ve just seen is the original padded liner would not have metal reinforcement to the string holes 👇which yours appears to have. Whether this claim is correct I don’t know.

 

Maybe you can see marks where German made helmets would have had their chinstrap mounts?
Or perhaps other signs of original holes for the liner or vents?

 

That will possibly provide answers 🤞

 

cheers

tony 🍻

 

 

[Imperialcollector]

Thank you Tony as soon at it arrives I will check it out thank you again for taking the time to reply. 

[Farkas]

5 hours ago, Imperialcollector said:

Thank you Tony as soon at it arrives I will check it out thank you again for taking the time to reply. 

You’re welcome.

 

& Don’t forget to show us 🍻

 

 

[Imperialcollector]

Tony didn't realise you are in Cardiff does the U mark mean anything?

[Farkas]

On 14/07/2024 at 08:18, Imperialcollector said:

Tony didn't realise you are in Cardiff does the U mark mean anything?

Yes mate, born and bred 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
 

The ‘U’ is most likely a ‘heating lot code’ -whatever that is 😊

They apparently are commonly the only markings that are found if anything is.
It appears that, if present, they are usually found on the outside, on the top.

 

by the way…

I don’t know if you agree but to me there appears to be some letters or initials 👇

 

looks like

?WB or ?MB

Something like that, can you see it?

 

cheers

tony 🍻