M42 HKP combat helmet

The German M42 helmet (Stahlhelm) was the final mass-produced combat helmet used by Nazi Germany in World War II, a simplified and more cost-effective version of its M35 and M40 predecessors. It is primarily distinguished by its raw, unrolled rim and stamped air vents. The M42 was introduced in August 1942 due to the need to speed up production and conserve resources as the war expanded. The most notable difference from previous models is the unrolled or "raw" edge of the skirt, a cost-saving measure that eliminated a time-consuming manufacturing step. Like the M40, the M42 featured air vents that were simply stamped into the helmet shell, replacing the separate, inserted vent rivets of the earlier M35. The steel quality in the M42 was generally lower than that of earlier models due to a lack of strategic alloying materials, making it more prone to dents and ripples. It utilized the same M31 liner system as the M40, though later-war production often used cheaper pigskin leather instead of steer or sheep hide. Chinstraps were marked with a manufacturer's code (Reichsbetriebsnummer or RB number) from 1943 onwards to conceal factory locations. The helmets typically had a factory-applied dull field-gray or slate-gray textured paint with aluminum oxide powder for an anti-reflective finish. Decals (e.g., Wehrmacht eagle, SS runes) were applied to early M42s, but the practice of applying decals was officially ordered to stop in August 1943 to further simplify production.

The item:
This very nice and honist M42 was found on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. M42 HKP (Sachische Emaillier und stanzwerke A.G), shell size 62 helmet with a batch nr 5072. This helmet retains 95% of it's original fieldgrey paint with a nice untouched patina. This helmet has not been cleaned. It comes with a dome stamp. No damage or repairs, very good condition.