GERMAN M42 CAMOUFLAGED COMBAT HELMET (STAHLHELM M42)

This German WW2 M1942 helmet is a stamped sheet steel construction. This helmet retains about 75% of its original hand applied green camouflage paint.

Rusted area to left side of the helmet, see photo.

All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The helmet's tan M31 leather liner has aged and darkened with usage.  The liner has all eight fingers. Liner adjustment string is present, but broken.

The reverse, interior neck guard apron has a stamped serial number, "3948", and the manufacturers code and size, "CKL66", indicating manufacture by Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, size 66. 

Original chinstrap is present, but is broken on one end. Nice, worn and used example.

M42 Helmet were designed by the German army in 1942 as a result of wartime demands.  The German WWII M42 has a razors edge replacing the rolled edge on the shell you would have seen on the earlier M35 and M40 German helmets.

The rolled edge was eliminated to expedite the manufacturing process and reduced the amount of metal used in each helmet.