M1 Helmet Adrian Helmet my helmets

This blog is all about my little hobby: my militairy helmet collection.
some articles are about military units, in particular about the music of army bands such as the Fanfara Bersaglieri and the music of the French foreign legion.

Find pictures: Italian Helmet, Adrian Helmet, M1 Helmet, Brodie Helmet

I'm a man who likes to touch, feel, discus and work with militairy helmets, since I don't have a big spare room to display all of my helmets I started this blog. My idea is to build it up to share my helmets with the rest of the world.
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I have no other intention than sharing my passion and experiences with helmets. By no means I think I know it all, I'm just telling what and how I did things they don't necessarily need to be correct, always think for yourself and double check the facts, check multiple sources. I still learn a lot every day.

Because I can read Dutch, German, English and French and with the help of Google Translate several other languages I sometimes link to all kinds of Websites and Blogs in all kind of languages.
Some of my favorites:
https://casquescollection.skyrock.com/
https://grabenraupe.skyrock.com/
https://cascomundi.skyrock.com/
https://cedvdh.skyrock.com/
http://world-war-helmets.com/index
https://wo2forum.nl/

Création : 20/12/2015 à 18:09 Mise à jour : Aujourd'hui à 13:22

List of Helmets

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Commenter

#Posté le vendredi 05 mai 2017 20:05

Modifié le dimanche 04 juin 2023 19:52

Belgian Helmet model 49FN white.

Belgian Helmet model 49FN. This is actually a normal green army helmet, ABL,
painted white.Someone wrote BW on the front, I have no idea why and what it means.
Could be:
BW: BrandWeer = Fire Department
BW: Burger Wacht = Civilian Guard

I received information about this helmet.
It was used by 950e Cie Mun at Houthulst.
(950 Compagnie Munitie Houthulst)

This was the e-mail I received:
Hello B,

I personally got that BW from the former 950th Cie Mun, when it was dissolved, from someone who was employed there. That was Mun.Dep. Houthulst. according to that man this was from the Military Fire Brigade, hence the lettering "BW" ... I obtained that helmet with the closure of this depot at the end of 2001.

Grt, K.

Note the text in the liner: ABL 1949 X.B. 1951.
Model 1949 made by Xavier Buisset made in 1951.

Additional pictures see:
https://helmliefhebber.skyrock.com/3318149524-Belgian-Helmet-model-49FN-white-BW.html

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 16 septembre 2018 20:04

Modifié le dimanche 11 novembre 2018 19:14

List of Berets

On of my passions are helmets but I got also interested in military berets.
My special interest is in berets from The Netherlands and Belgium.
Little by little I'm building my collection. What I like about Dutch berets is that the emblems used are standardized in size and shape.
I think The Netherlands started using berets after World War 2, about the same time they started using British style uniforms.
I could be wrong, so correct me if that's the case.
Do not trow away a beret but contact me or send it to me.
Besides information about the beret manufacturer I like to look for information about the units using the emblem on the beret.
Most information I find by using Google, so it could be wrong, always use multiple sources to find actual information.
I enjoy doing this and I include many links to related websites in my articles. Some of the links will get you to websites or blogs of fellow military collectors.
Tags: Nederlandse Baret emblemen, Belgische ABL baret / muts kentekens, emblèmes de béret, insigne
Baretten in gebruik bij het Nederlandse Leger / Baretten in gebruik bij Belgisch leger.

see: tenuevoorschriften krijgsmacht
Koninklijke Marine Uniformen
Landmacht Uniformen
Luchtmacht Uniformen

Some information about NATO Stock Number
I have learned something about NSN, some more information: NATO Supply Classification Groups

List of berets:
United Nations Belgium
United Nations Canada
United Nations New Zealand
United Nations Pakistan
United Nations UNIFIL
United Nations The Netherlands
USA Multinational Force & Observers
OSCE

Germany/Netherlands 1 GE/NL Corps
Brigade Franco - Allemande

The Netherlands
The Netherlands berets

Belgium
Belgian Berets listed

France
2e régiment étranger de parachutistes
Ecole Militair Interarmes
Chasseurs Alpins

Germany
German Berets

Italy
Itally Bersaglieri

Spain
Spain Army

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 16 décembre 2018 11:04

Modifié le samedi 08 juillet 2023 19:22

Helmet Belgian Model 49 FN

The first helmet I want to introduce is a Belgian Model 49 FN

The second Belgium Model 49FN Army (2)

This ABL helmet from 1952 manufactured by the company X.B.
Xavier Buisset from Vilvoorde.
AB = Armee Belge (French)
BL = Belgisch Leger (Dutch)
both mean Belgian Armee

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 20 décembre 2015 18:20

Modifié le samedi 29 décembre 2018 15:42

Belgian Helmet MKIII

This helmet is made after the British MKIII, this helm is made by the company Sartel, more information about this helmet is welcom

13 | 7 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le mardi 22 décembre 2015 20:53

Belgian RECCE Helmet

RECCE stands for reconnaissance
This helmet is made based on the British MARK I RAC Helmet, Steel, Royal Armoured Corps.
This ABL (Armee Belge, Belgisch Leger) helmet from 1952 manufactured by the company X.B. Xavier Buisset from Vilvoorde.

13 | 1 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le mercredi 23 décembre 2015 20:56

Modifié le samedi 25 août 2018 03:37

Belgian Model 31 Adrian helmet

This is a Belgian Model 31 Adrian helmet, after the war its painted black and used by the Belgian gendarmerie.
I have started to remove the black paint.

continues at Continued Belgian Model 31 Adrian

return to List of Helmets

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Commenter

#Posté le jeudi 24 décembre 2015 17:03

Modifié le dimanche 03 octobre 2021 09:52

Continued Belgian Model 31 Adrian

These pictures schow the previous helmet while the black paint gets removed:[media_1_C]

continued at: https://helmliefhebber.skyrock.com/3269115098-Continued-Belgian-Model-31-Adrian.html

return to List of Helmets

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Commenter

#Posté le vendredi 25 décembre 2015 10:17

Modifié le dimanche 03 octobre 2021 10:04

Continued Belgian Model 31 Adrian

These pictures show the cleaned Belgian Adrian Helmet M31, the black paint is removed.

7 | 5 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le mardi 26 janvier 2016 20:46

Modifié le mardi 26 janvier 2016 21:00

Belgian Navy Helmet Model 51

This is my newest addition to my collection. Its a Navy helmet made by an Austrian company.
Don't know yet what the letters WWEU stand for. Thanks to a fellow helmet collector, Have a look at his blog www.casquescollection.skyrock.com

I now know these letters stand for Ulbricht Witwe . This company still exists see: http://www.ulbrichts.com/protection/produkte/

ZM/FN = ZeeMacht / Force navale

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Commenter

#Posté le samedi 26 décembre 2015 17:12

Modifié le samedi 25 août 2018 03:27

British RAC helmet, origin unknown

This is an interesting helmet. there is no inscription in the helmet shell only in the liner.
I would like to know where it was used and by who, does some one know?

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Commenter

#Posté le lundi 28 décembre 2015 02:53

Modifié le lundi 28 décembre 2015 03:12

Belgian Helmet Model 49 FN

These are pictures of a Belgian Model 49FN helmet, this time in blue, the text in the liner is AMV X.B. 1952.
At this time I don't know yet what AMV stands for, AMV = Aéronautique Militaire / Militaire Vliegwezen.
Ancêtre de la Force aérienne

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 03 janvier 2016 18:39

Modifié le dimanche 03 janvier 2016 20:43

Belgian Helmet for motordrivers ±1938

These are pictures from a Belgian pre WW2 motordriver helmet, this model is from around 1938, for additional information see: http://www.abbl1940.be/ABBL1940files/Hoofddeksels/Helm/HelmmotorrijderNL.htm
This helmet was found on an attic of an old house we renovated.

Inside of the helmet;

/
The picture below is taken at the Bastogne Barracks and it shows a very rare brown M38 helmet:
Thanks to Koen JV

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 10 janvier 2016 20:46

Modifié le jeudi 11 février 2016 20:20

Belgian Model 31 Adrian helmet re-used by Gendarmerie

These pictures show a Belgian M31 Adrian helmet. Re-used by the Gendarmerie.

It's a known fact that many army M31 helmets were painted black for use by the Belgian Gendarmerie.

I noticed that this helm was painted black manually and I was curious to find out if it was a former army helmet.

In order to figure this out I removed the lionhead and to my surprise I found an emblem painted underneath de lionhead. On the world war helmets forum Found the origine of the insigna, see:

http://www.world-war-helmets.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=853&hl=gardes+wallonnes

return to List of Helmets

5 | 3 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le samedi 06 février 2016 10:23

Modifié le vendredi 01 octobre 2021 10:10

British MK IV helmet

Below are pictures of my British MK IV helmet, his color is satin black. This helmet is in it's original condition, I have only cleaned it.

The MK IV is almost equal to the MKIII but uses a new system to hold the liner in place. It is called the "Lift Dot", this made it possible to easily remove the liner and to use the helmet shell as a bucket.
For the same reason the chin strap lugs were moved more towards the helmet rim. This way it was more stable when used as a bucket.

This helmet shell was made by RO & CO or Rubery, Owen and Company in 1952.

The liner was made by the company FFL, I haven't found any further information about this company.

See also the pictures of my MK IV helmet painted Green

Find a lot of information about the MK IV on my favorite website www.world-war-helmets.com
Mark IV

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 21 février 2016 17:07

Modifié le dimanche 19 novembre 2017 17:06

British MK IV helmet, Green

These are pictures of my British MK IV helmet this time painted green.

4 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le mercredi 24 février 2016 20:18

Modifié le mercredi 24 février 2016 20:45

USA M1 helmet Vietnam era?

This helmet was offered as an USA M1 helmet from the Vietnam era?

But seeing this picture I knew this is not an American M1 from the Vietnam era.
Check how the chinstrap is connected to the outer shell, like the ww2 helmet the straps are stitched to the loops, however the color of the straps is to dark for the ww2 helmets, see this web side for dating a M1 helmet:
http://nuke.combat-helmets.com/WorldWarII/USA/DatingM1/tabid/287/Default.aspx

So if it's not an American M1 what else is it?
I recognized it as a German Model 56 or "zweiteilige Stahlhelm" . For a very interesting and detailed history go to this webside: http://world-war-helmets.com/fiche.php?q=Casque-Ouest-Allemand-Modell-56

The letters inside the liner H.R.N. mean Hans Römer, Neu Ulm en 1958

List of Helmets

5 | 1 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le lundi 07 mars 2016 22:36

Modifié le samedi 09 mai 2020 10:13

Schutz-helme modèle 1948-62

This is a helmet from Switzerland: Schutz-helme modèle 1948-62.
This one is from 1954 and build by Paul Stalder Bern.

4 | 1 | Partager

Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 01 mai 2016 20:18

Modifié le dimanche 01 mai 2016 20:36

Dutch M34 Helmet

This is my latest helmet, I saw it at the Ciney Militaria and contacted the seller a few days later.
This is a Dutch M34 helmet. After the war it received a new interior and was used by the Dutch civil defense organization: "Bescherming Bevolking".

Back to List of Helmets

See also my helmets used by the BB:
Canada Helmet, Steel, Mark II
Canada Helmet, Steel, MKII GSW 1941 Blok Hoofd
United Kingdom Mark III BMB 1944 Dutch BB
The Netherlands M34 Bescherming Bevolking Helmet
The Netherlands MKII BB
The Netherlands MKII BB Block Head
Beret The Netherlands Bescherming Bevolking

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Commenter

#Posté le jeudi 05 mai 2016 19:42

Modifié le mercredi 16 février 2022 13:14

Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 1

In this article I want to show you a German M40 helmet restored by me with a lot of help from a friend, an
experienced car restorer. I bought this helmet when I was very young for 25 guilders, ±12 Euro.

I found a lot of information on https://germanhelmetvault.com/

When I bought it there was no paint at all anymore on the helmet. The green paint you see is aplied by me shortly after it came into my possession.
The next pictures show some detail on the helmets condition before I started to work on it.

There are cracks in the helmet, its possible they are battle damage but I doubt it. I think they are caused by all the years in the ground and while digging it up.

.
There are many people who's opinion is not to restore artifacts from the past but just preserve it. I have a lot of respect for that opinion. However since the helmet wasn't in its original condition anymore I thought it was a nice project. My intention was to learn as much as possible about German Helmets while restoring it.

Return to List of Helmets

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 22 mai 2016 16:42

Modifié le vendredi 17 janvier 2020 16:27

Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 2

The first thing I wanted to find out is how to close the holes in the helmet. There are several options like fiber math's or Body filler but that was not really what I liked most. I started to ask around and discussed the matter with my fellows who are car restores in their spare time. One of them suggested to repair the crack and the hole by welding them, see this example on how its done on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmS6Ec0NzXQ
The pictures below show the result:

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Commenter

#Posté le samedi 04 juin 2016 17:43

Modifié le dimanche 19 juin 2016 18:31

Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 3

After the holes were welded I removed as much as possible the remaining rust by sanding the helm. I know that German helmets have a lot number stamped in to it so I was very careful around the area where I expected this number and I found the number 3022:

I could not find the manufacturer code.
The remaining rust was removed with HG Roestoplosser.

contains :
orthophosphoric acid and propaan-2-ol and Isotridecanol, ethoxylated
www.rustbuster.nl

The dark spots are rain drops

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Commenter

#Posté le lundi 06 juin 2016 20:35

Modifié le mercredi 29 avril 2020 09:27

Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 4

Next step after the rust was removed was sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, and so on, until the surface was smooth and ready for the primer. This process is the same as used for car restoration. This is the helmet after the primer was applied.

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 12 juin 2016 19:49

Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 5

Now the helmet is ready to be painted.
I have spent quite some time on figuring out what paint to use, what technique to use and what color to use.
There is a lot of information on German Helmets and I decidded to try the 1942 paint Slate Grey or SchieferGrau:
Restoration of a German M40 helmet Part 5

See also some examples on this wibside:
http://www.nachrichtentruppe.de/9-alle-kategorien/ausruestung/77-der-stahlhelm-der-wehrmacht-modell-m35-m40-und-m42
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I had to figure out what material to use to create the rough texture in the paint finnisch.
First I tried these white grains used in modeling.
The results can be seen in the first 2 pictures, it came out to rough.
Then I was able to obtain some aluminium oxide, the result can be seen in the last picture.

Above, the Slate Grey "schiefergrau" RAL7015 with aluminiumoxide.
I pored some paint in a jar and mixed the powder in it next the paint was applied with a brush.
Before I tried to spray the paint on the helmet and then I threw the powder over the wet paint but the effect was
that it looked like the powder was on top of the paint in stead mixed in it. Maybe if I had applied more layers of spray paint it eventuelly would result in the same texture as mixing the powder in the paint.

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Commenter

#Posté le dimanche 19 juin 2016 19:08

Modifié le dimanche 19 juin 2016 20:18