Soviet GPW helmet?

[Nack]

Well, if the shell is real, its still a "real" helmet, just heavily restored. Anyway, how often are you going to look at the liner? Put it on a display head and it will achive the same effect. :)

If the innaccuracy is that distrurbing to you though, you could also buy a polish helmet, which you have previously said there are a ton of around at cheap prices, and switch the liners somehow. That would make it look closer to the original. Just a thought. :)

[Soviet]

Hello Nack. Actually the only leather liner pattern known on SSh-36 helmet is the Shvartz Kaska liner type shown on p. 30 from M. Clawson book. So fare that's the only leather pattern I have noticed on SSh-36 helmets. It is said on M. Clawson book that a "one-piece seven leather liner" was put in the version used in the SSh-36 during the civil war in Spain. But because the German-style liner proved to be very costly, it was abandoned for cloth liners. That's the only leather liner version ever made for SSh-36 helmets.

The leather fingers liner type (like the German ones) was briefly reintroduced in the later SSh-39 model, but it is very rare to encounter those types of liners. Here is a picture from a SSh-39 blokadnik helmet from my collection. It bears the first type liner which is quite rare.

[Nack]

Very nice helmet Soviet. I'm jealous.

You are correct on the specifics--I was attempting to say that the cloth liner was not the only type of liner in the m36 helmet, and that the liners that did use leather didn't really look like the repro liner in Al's helmet. Thanks for the more specific information :thumbsup

[Al-muell]

Thanks for opinions.
This innaccuracy isn't actually "disturbing". I only regret that I didn't haggle more. Maybe it didn't cost as much as an original one, but still quite a lot...:(

[Nack]

I got my copy of Dr. Clawson's book last friday, and read it over the weekend. Nice book which provides a good reference for distinguishing the Soviet helmets on eBay from the "Soviet" helmets. Once you've seen the proper shapes, liners, stamps, etc, it all becomes clear. I won't buy any more Polish helmets on mistake now ;)

[3aStalina]

Originally Posted by Soviet

Does somebody can acknowledge the originality of this SSch-36 liner ?

i have the exact same liner in my M36 although its center is still attached to the band. like yours, it doesn't have the grey felt between the center and the band... i think it's an original variation of the 1st pattern M36 liner. remember that there were supply/material shortages during the war, chances are that the felt was not available but production had to continue... other opinions and facts are welcome :)

[3aStalina]

Originally Posted by Nack

Well, here are the pics of the "Soviet" helmet I acquired.
Now that the experts have seen the goods, do we all think it is 1950's Polish?

definitely a Polish M50 that's often mistaken for a Soviet Ssh39. an expensive mistake to make, sometimes :)