Ssh-40 with painted star

[rocketscientist]

Hello! What's your opinion on this war-time soviet helmet I have just got in my collection? I have little or no experience in this type of helmets, please help!

ciao
sergio

[rocketscientist]

I forgot to mention that this helmet shows the markings of LMZ, and seems having been issued in 1944. There is no chinstrap, but the hooks are firmly there.

[Al-muell]

I am by no means a helmet specialist, but by comparison to ones I have seen it looks OK to me. The star may be original to it as well, altough they weren't too common. Is there a small star stamped on the lower side of the visor?

[rocketscientist]

Thanks for your comments, Al-muell. There is no star, I know what you mean. There is one in a post-war reconditioned helmet I have in my collection. My understanding is that the star was added in the refurbishment process and should not be present in wartime helmets.

Just for completess, I have got comments from reputable experts that the LMZ stamp is not compatible with the year (1944) since it was abandoned some years before for a new layout. Therefore the stamp is a fake. The red star is also questioned, since it seems having being abandoned in the late war helmets.

[Al-muell]

Hmm, I didn't notice the stamp is wong, but it is.
The painted star was always a rare occurence (much rarer than it is common belif), however it would be possible that this star was placed there durig the war, if a soldier or his commander would like it. But since the stamp is fake, the star is also likely to be
As for the stamped stars - I mean the one stamped in metal, not an ink stamp. They should be present in wartime helmets, they are absent in later ones (like those made in late 50's).

[rocketscientist]

uh-oh! Then it is worse than I expected...
Thanks for this piece of information, Al-muell!

[slava1stclass]

rocketscientist,

A period image that dates to May 1st, 1948 as taken in Kyiv.

Regards,

slava1stclass

[desantnik]

Not to be a Johnny-come-lately and I fully admit that I have little experience with Soviet helmets, but the clarity and boldness of the stamps looked suspect to me.

[CtahhR]

I believe this is a later example that has been made to look like an earlier one to cash in.

These later ones can often be picked up (in bulk) for $10-$15 a piece (delivered) and obviously someone wanted to put a little bit of effort in to make a fatter profit.

I have a few dozen Soviet helmets that I may drag out next year and photograph.