6-Vent Luftschutz Helmet – Factory Error

Asymmetric 6-Vent Luftschutz Gladiator Helmet – Factory Error
This is an excellent example of a 2-piece M38 Gladiator helmet produced under the early Reichsluftschutzbund contract. The shell retains its original, smooth Luftschutz blue paint in very nice condition, showing light wear. What makes this particular piece exceptional is a rare factory production error (Fehlstanzung): the left and right sides are asymmetrical, featuring four distinct salt-and-pepper vent clusters on one side and the standard two on the other, totaling six ventilation holes instead of the usual four. This double-strike punch occurred during the stamping process before the shell sections were welded together.
The interior is equally impressive and lightly worn, retaining its original drawstring and a completely intact, supple leather chin strap. The rear of the skirt features the stamped maker code RL2 38/28, identifying production by Paul Diener (Metalldrückerei und Stanzerei, Dresden). Directly below the factory stamp, the original water-transfer decal reads "Kopfweite: 56". Uniquely, the leather liner itself bears a clear, hard-to-find ink stamp for the civil defense equipment distributor: "Feuer-Luftschutz, Lüning, Gelsenkirchen" (referring to the renowned firm of Werner Lüning). The front Luftschutz emblem has been period de-nazified (swastika portion removed), while the rest of the winged decal remains sharp.