A Single Decal Wehrmacht M42 Heer Stahlhelm; Size 68

A well preserved single decal Wehrmacht Heer (Army) steel helmet by Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke. The helmet is crafted out of a single sheet of molybdenum steel (magnetic) with original dark green paint on the interior and exterior of the helmet. It features stamped air vents, and a signature crude non rolled/crimped rim along the entire helmet, making this a textbook M42 style helmet. The interior features a standard eight-panel butterscotch-brown leather liner, each with five stamped ventilation holes, and an additional hole at the tip for the drawstring. The drawstring is constructed of embroidered white string and appears to the original to the helmet. The helmet is accompanied by a two-piece black leather chin strap, with its adjustment buckle and anchors for attachment to the liner’s frame within the helmet. The underside of the skirt is stamped “NS68”, (“NS” for “Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke, and “68” for size large). The liner is stamped “69” in black ink, with an additional stamp on the interior of the helmet (illegible). The helmet measures 300 mm x 250 mm, with the exterior dark green paint very well preserved, but with some light but obvious signs of wear throughout, but without any dents or holes of any kind. The Wehrmacht eagle decal is approximately 95% intact, but with cracking of the decal throughout, revealing fine white lines. The interior paint is moderately worn along the edges, but is overall very well preserved. The interior leather liner is fully intact, also with moderate signs of wear. Overall, this is a fine example of a later war period helmet in near extremely fine condition.