1913 Regimental marking with 1916 maker's mark

Amybellars

Amybellars

Well-known member
Got this helmet yesterday and was very happy with the purchase but this morning, I took a careful look and find something that I couldn't explain.

The rear visor has a regimental marking of GR112 1913 which is correct for Baden reg but the body was stamped 1916. This got me really puzzled?

Anyone can help with this ?
 
Note that the liner is the M15 style and not dyed black. Typically, a helmet accepted by GR112 in 1913 would have a black liner. This suggests that perhaps the original liner was replaced in 1916. I would carefully pull the liner out and look at the stitch lines on the inside for old stitch holes which have no thread in them. This would confirm that a new M15 liner was put into the helmet. This is the only scenario that I can come up with to explain the 2 dates and undyed liner.
 
I have a Model 1915 helmet with two dates, but it also has a BKA stamp. This indicates that the helmet was serviced by the BKA at some point and got re-stamped. My helmet is also stamped to two different units.
Does your helmet have a BKA stamp anywhere?

John :)
 
Looking at the photo of the rear visor, it looks like it would have been very hard to put the stamp on. As it is under the liner fold over.
 
That is another scenario......the rear visor was replaced but again, I would check under the lining and look for extra lines of stitch holes.
 
Well I just can't keep on looking at a 1916 skull with brass fittings. The liner has no double stitching but the rear visor was glued on using hot glue.

I stripped off all the brass fittings and have replaced all with grey metal parts. Am going to stitch on the rear visor tonight and will post the pics later.

Regards
Amy Bellars
 
The visor being clued on does not mean it isn't original to helmet, but may explain why the stamp position is the wait is.
 
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