Germany, Ordnungspolizei. A Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Protection Police) M34 Steel Helmet

(Feuerschutzpolizei M34 Stahlhelm). This is a very well-preserved Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Protection Police) steel helmet, constructed of molybdenum steel (magnetic) with its original black paint on the interior and exterior. It is flanked on each side by two sets of seven-hole ventilation rosettes, and features a smooth crimped finish along the entire edge, making this a signature M34 helmet. The left side of the helmet features a second-pattern police decal depicting a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, within an oval oak leaf wreath, surrounded by a thin, shield-type silver border. The right side of the helmet features a NSDAP-style decal depicting a black mobile swastika on a white disk within a field of red, similarly in shield format. The decals, which each measure 32 mm (w) x 41 mm (h), in this arrangement indicate an issue period of 1936-1945. The interior has its original black leather M31-style civil liner, constructed of six leather panels, each with a stamped hole at the top through which is fed a woven thread drawstring. The chin strap is constructed of black leather with adjustable magnetic metal buckles, and is fastened to a black leather sweatband which is secured to the helmet by four magnetic metal rivets. The reverse of one of the interior panels is stamped “T.M.B. 56”. The top of the interior features a tan-coloured, padded head protector fixed to thick strips of cardboard emanating from the sweatband fixtures, also stamped with size “56”. The helmet measures 228 mm (w) x 276 mm (h) x 152 mm (h). Rusting and loss of paint is evident to the exterior, along with some wear to the right decal and age-appropriate fatigue to the leather features, but the helmet is in an otherwise near extremely fine condition.