New Austrian Helmet

Peter B

Well-known member
Just got this World War I Austrian helmet. Really like the condition and the fact that it has the original liner band at all three split pins.

Unfortunately the liner is gone you can just see the bits of leather left in some of my pictures.

I am thinking of putting a reproduction chinstrap on. Wish I could somehow put in a reproduction liner and keep the original liner band. But I think the problem is getting the liner band out without wrecking the original split pins and I’m not sure if I’d be able to put the leather pads back into the original liner band.

The only other option is to buy the complete replacement liner with liner band and put it in and risk messing up the original split pins. Plus then it wouldn’t have the original liner band.

Or just leave it as is.

Thoughts anyone.

Peter
 

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One more picture in its display location.
 

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I would leave it as is messing with those splitpins is always a risk you do not know if the pins would loosen as wanted or if they break
And even if you get lucky bending them back, squeese thight as it was ,you wil not sucseed in this

Jonas
 
Nice piece. Part of the charm of the thing is that it appears to be not messed with. You won't be improving the value by adding a reproduction liner and/or chinstrap. There is also a high likelihood that the spit pins could break as has already been pointed out. I'd leave it as is.
Mark D.
 
So I decided to go ahead and am quite pleased with the results.

The leather liner parts and chinstrap got their aging from the decaying leather dust and rust as I worked the helmet and liner band. No issues with the split pins as I used a screwdriver in the centre as I bent them as recommended. Hardest part was getting the liner band back in as it fit quite tightly to begin with.

I got the replacement parts at the Prairie Flower Leather Company and ma very pleased with them. Thanks again Steffan.

Peter
 

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Missing pictures.
 

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