Undocumented M1-c Variant

[Mark K]

Perhaps someone here may have seen this variation before ? and could be of assistance with a positive identification...

I found this an interesting helmet system and it is not a variation that I have seen before, the description was short and sweet the seller had it listed as a ( Spanish Paratrooper Helmet-Spanish M65 ? ).. I have researched these helmets on occasion in the past having a couple of examples already in my collection of the Espanol M1 Paracaidista and Spanish M65's with that said I did not recognize the liner system...

I went back to check Joceba Revuelta's website ( Helmets of the 20th Century ) where he covers these quite extensively there is no information and or even an honourable mention that this particular variation was ever used by Spain, I have for the most part checked every helmet reference sight I know of in my quest for knowledge and contacted more than a few friends and fellow collectors already to rattle ideals back and forth and the discussion keeps getting dragged back towards Spain as a possible country of origins do to the painted number on the underside of the liner the application of said numbers was also practiced by Argentina and a few other nations that I know of.. 

And so if this is the case why is there not a comparable example to be found anywhere and or documented information on this helmet system, with the help of a couple other collectors from the War Relics Forum we were at least able to determine that the helmet body is German in origins and is a rare and hard to source Model 1956 as was manufactured by Quist Esslingen between 1956 and 1958, Quist and Linnemann & Schnetzer only produced around 180,000-190,000 shells for the German armed forces And to are knowledge Quist did not export any of these helmet bodies at this time but there is the possibility that they could have been sold as surplus after they helmets were withdrawn from the Bundeswehr in 1960/1961..

There is no known link between the German and Spanish government that supports such a sale ever transpired but as such it is not uncommon for brokers to be involved ( third parties ) whom at the time would purchase equipment in lots based strictly on weight or volume the whereabouts of the German M56 after they were removed from service is largely unclear...

We can confirm by the stamps in the liner that it was as well manufactured in Germany and was produced by Schuberth-Werke Braunschweig and is of a later date 1968 as found in a circular stamp on the interior near the dome and is thought to be to be an export example.. Still so many un-answered question in regards to this particular helmet were they modified in large or small numbers and by whom ( Country of origins ) is it a military depot/Armouries re-fit are they Rigger modified. Until period images a comparable example and or more information can be found it is at this point un-documented and will remain for the most part a nagging little mystery in my collection...

 

Regards Mark

[Proud Kraut]

Mark, I can´t help with the ID of this helmet. Just wanted to say that I really appreciate the amount of informations you are providing in the intros of your threads and with your pictures. I´m learning a lot from your posts, thanks for sharing your knowledge here!

[Mark K]

2 hours ago, Proud Kraut said:

Mark, I can´t help with the ID of this helmet. Just wanted to say that I really appreciate the amount of informations you are providing in the intros of your threads and with your pictures. I´m learning a lot from your posts, thanks for sharing your knowledge here!

Thank you it is appreciated glad you found them both interesting and informative I am passionate about collecting and the associated research of each helmet, perhaps a little over zealous at times with my descriptions and images..

 

Regards Mark