Arrowheadology.com

Kat · #1 06-06-2011, 09:17 AM

My husband collects militaria and a friend gave him this helmet. Thought I'd share it. It is a World War I German M16 helmet. It has the initials W.B. scratched into the skirt, a serial number on the dome (R1177) and a maker number on the skirt as well (BF62). 62 is the size.

Kat

paleo_joe · #2 06-06-2011, 10:38 AM

Wow, that's nice! I love that stuff. Imagine the thoughts that went on inside that helmet.

If your husband is a collector, I have a bayonet for the Turkish Model 1893 and Model 1903 Mauser rifles still coated in armory cosmoline. These were the main battle rifles for the Turks in WWI, based on the Spanish Model 1893 and the hugely successful German Model 1898. I would sell it for $40 plus $10 shipping. 10" blade, 15" overall. Blade is bright underneath the grease, scabbard has one small ding, handle some small damage at one end but not that visible.

PLS · #3 06-06-2011, 12:22 PM

Do you know if the serial number goes with the helmet or the person? Would be neat to hear if it went with the person and be able to search old records.

Cannonman17 · #4 06-06-2011, 12:28 PM

Serial number is for the helmet, not the soldier. Very nice early helmet and it doesn't appear to be messed with. It's getting hard to find these as everybody wants to add camo paint to try and make them more valuable but in the end they wreck them. Very nice.

Gibby · #5 06-06-2011, 12:39 PM

That helmet looks pretty mean. That is cool.

Kat · #6 06-07-2011, 10:34 AM

Thanks! It is a very neat thing. Whoever wore it kept something in the right pocket of the padding, it was opened more often and is darker, probably his cash. The serial number in the dome (I think) corresponds to where the metal came from. The lugs on top were for ventilation.
Kat