German WWII Luftwaffe Single Decal M40 Combat Helmet

This is a Luftwaffe single decal M40 combat helmet with an ET66 stamped shell and batch number 803. The helmet retains its original 1940 pattern blue-grey finish across the exterior and interior. The Luftwaffe eagle decal is clear, showing only minor abrasions to the right-hand wing. The paint remains intact on all three of the liner retaining rivet heads.

The leather liner is in a well-preserved light brown colour and is stamped size 58, with fragments of the original drawstring still present. The brown leather chinstrap is maker marked Wutterpal and dated 1937.

A unique feature of this helmet is a soldier-fabricated carrying cradle. This field-made rig is constructed from a long buckled strap, a spring-loaded water bottle clip, and two metal and leather side clips. A black composition material was used on parts of the strap to secure the cradle, which has left a slight indentation in the helmet's paintwork over time. The tip of the long strap is maker marked and dated 1942. This piece serves as a documented example of field-modified equipment used to facilitate the transport of the helmet when not worn.

Ref; 95716