M17 Stalhelm with Camouflage

[RON]

I finally did it!! The Nr. 2 on my list is still on its way but I can share a couple of the seller's photos.
Edwin will probably recognize this one :wink: and I only considered it after the seller realized it was initially overpriced and reasonably reduced it.
The liner isn't in the best of conditions but at least it's all there, including horsehair padding & adjustment string.
There's no chinstrap but that 4-tone 1918 regulations camo. somehow 'spoke to me' with its salty authentic look:

 

[Westfront]

Beautiful helmet :bravo: .

 

[poniatowski]

Nice! Congrats!!

Ron

 

[badener]

Nice helmet...and named!

 

[ebeeby]

A good one - congrats!

Eric

 

[RON]

Thank you guys!
Now I need to figure-out what the name is exactly and who the guy was :wink:
More importantly, I need your suggestions on how to:
1. Stop the rust from spreading further without damaging the paint (external protection) & the liner (you can see the rust inside the shell)
2. Protect that liner from further flaking (you can see tiny bits that fell from it inside the shell)

 

[edwin]

Congrats with your very nice helmet. Thats the one from the collectors guild if I am not mistaken. I frequently check their website but I did not notice that they reduced the price of this one, lucky you

Regards,

Edwin

 

[stuka f]

Great helmet!
It's just.... they are to expensive to my point of view; but that is a other discussion!
Like I said great helmet!
cheers
|<ris

 

[kellerrat]

Woo hoo :bravo:

Congratz on finally landing one Ron. Its a nice one too.

It should be fine if you keep it in a dry place..the rust won`t spread without moisture, just leave it alone.

A lovely helmet.

Andy

 

[RON]

Thanks guys. Really happy with this one!
Edwin: Like I said in my introduction, I knew you'd recognize it
Andy: Wouldn't you slightly oil it at least? (not soaking it, just giving it a soft/light rub of G96 or similar protection oil)

 

[argonne]

Très beau et bien authentique dans sa splendide patine!! Que dire de plus? Félicitations and congrats, Ron!!!
=D> =D> =D>

Philippe :salute:

 

[Adler]

It's a beautiful camo Ron! I would take the advice from Andy... don't touch it and leave it as it is, just keep it dry...

Adler

 

[edwin]

I agree with Karel and Andy, leave it alone. Its just too risky to try clean a delicate stahlhelm or pickelhaube

Regards,

Edwin

 

[Chlodovech]

Congrats,

a great helmet, no spike but a great helmet !

 

[Robert]

Now I need to figure-out what the name is exactly and who the guy was

Very Nice! Concerning the naming it appears to be "Gefr. Heck.", the first probably the abbreviation for "Gefreiter" which is a military rank.

 

[RON]

Thank you guys; still waiting for the helmet to arrive to my roommate in Montreal (while I'm about 15,000 km away!)

Hey Bob; I guess we still need to find out who the heck Corporal Heck. was...
(sorry for the cheezy humor, had one beer too many on this lovely springtime BBQ Sunday ccasion5: )

 

[kellerrat]

Hi Ron

I live on a boat and even with de-humidifiers and closed cases, I need to clean and oil all my steel items on a regular basis. I normally use a light oil like 3 in 1 or a gun oil. Its not ideal, but the moisture levels from living on a boat leave me little option.

In your case and in your situation, I would leave well alone. Its a great helmet with a great paint job. If you can keep it away from moisture it will remain like that. As for the liner, there are plenty of posts on this forum about what to do (or not to).

If you really want to do something with the liner, you need to start looking for a nice complete example, which means you need to amend that list of yours

Wish I could say I`d had a few beers too many..I`ve been laid up with a bad back all weekend :/

Andy

 

[b.loree]

A sweet helme Ron. Congrats!

 

[RON]

Here's my salty helmet after adding an M1895 Chinstrap for the shoot...
The shell is quite rusty with active corrosion inside and a freil/flaking liner but the camo looks great, especially on the right side. Maker's mark & size are quite faint and look like: "B.F.6?" (for F.C. Bellinger, Fulda & size is most prob. 64). There's also "R1515" inside the bell which I presume is the helmet's serial number?

 

[Spiker]

Great helemt ! =D> congrats.

nice photo shoot too ,thanks for sharing.