Austrian M17 Helmet with Original Issued Cover

[Stahlhelm]

Gottlieb u. Brauchbar manufactured M17 Austro-Hungarian Stahlhelm with its original issue tan cover. These first five pictures are the dealer's photos. They do the helmet and cover more justice than my pictures can for the moment.

 

[Stahlhelm]

The reinforcement discs sewn around the vent lug openings are made of leather, and the cover still retains the original twisted paper drawstring. Two safety pins are located toward the front/sides on either side of the hemmed edge of the cover.
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[Stahlhelm]

Some pictures of the helmet without the cover. Both the helmet and cover show heavy wear and hard use.

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[Stahlhelm]

A few shots of the cover removed from the helmet. The interior of the cover has two areas with faint illegible blue ink stamps.
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[Stahlhelm]

Finally, a rare period picture from Ludwig Baer's "Vom Stahlhelm zum Kampfhelm" showing these issued covers in use.

Only a very small percentage of Austro-Hungarian troops were apparently issued steel helmet covers during WW1, and the vast majority of covers that are occasionally found in period pictures are "field made" examples such as the one worn in the bottom photo.