Ssh-40 with painted star

rocketscientist · 11-18-2012, 12:44 PM

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 · 11-18-2012, 12:48 PM

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 · 11-19-2012, 04:04 AM

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 · 11-19-2012, 03:44 PM

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 · 11-20-2012, 07:02 AM

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 · 11-20-2012, 06:00 PM

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

slava1stclass · 11-26-2012, 05:52 PM

rocketscientist,

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

Regards,

slava1stclass

***desantnik*** · 11-26-2012, 05:56 PM

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*** · 11-26-2012, 08:16 PM

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.

11-19-2012, 04:04 AM	#3
Al-muell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wrocław, Poland Posts: 1,828	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star 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?

11-19-2012, 03:44 PM	#4
rocketscientist Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 66	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star 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.

11-20-2012, 07:02 AM	#5
Al-muell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wrocław, Poland Posts: 1,828	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star 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).

11-20-2012, 06:00 PM	#6
rocketscientist Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 66	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star uh-oh! Then it is worse than I expected... Thanks for this piece of information, Al-muell!

11-26-2012, 05:56 PM	#8
*desantnik* Forum Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eurasia Posts: 2,342	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star 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.

11-26-2012, 08:16 PM	#9
*CtahhR* Forum Administrator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Deep In The Archives. Age: 17 Posts: 12,074	Re: Ssh-40 with painted star 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. __________________ "Signed with his own rubber stamp"

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