British WWII 1st Pattern Fibre-Rimmed Paratrooper Helmet

This is a rare and highly sought-after British WWII 1st Pattern Fibre-Rimmed Paratrooper Helmet, a coveted piece for collectors of airborne memorabilia. The helmet shell retains approximately 40% of its original light green finish, showing signs of wear and age, including minor indentations and surface scuffing. The fibre band remains intact, but the lower part of the shell has 16 splits beneath the fibre rim. This is a known issue with the 1st pattern helmets, as their shells were particularly prone to splitting over time.

The interior of the helmet is mostly complete, with its original Sorbo rubber liner and inner leather liner still in place, along with the canvas cradle. However, the rubber inner dome piece is missing. The leather liner is marked ‘BNB 7 1/8th 1942,’ a clear indication of the helmet's production date. The leather chinstraps are original to the helmet but have been sourced from another piece, as they are stamped by the company G & S.

Despite its signs of age, this helmet remains a rare and important example of early British paratrooper headgear from WWII. Its distinctive features, such as the fibre-rimmed shell and original components, make it a valuable addition to any collection of military history, especially for those focused on airborne units.