DENMARK
A genuine pre-war issue Glud and Marstrands heavy M23. And heavy
it is too - quite noticeably more than the M1941 civil defence(?)
version pictured below.
It actually weighs 1600 grammes as opposed to the 1180 of the
M1941, and it feels like more.
Note that the whole construction of the liner and chinstrap is totally different to the M1941 pictured below. The adjustment-cord is almost certainly not original, but what do you expect after seventy-odd years!
I am given to think that the hand-painted Dannebrog on each side
denotes use in the Danish Resistance during WW2.
Unlike Marzetti, I do not think this helmet affords good vision;
peripheral vision seems very restricted, a fatal flaw in a combat
helmet.
Definitely is NOT a prewar
Danish M23. It seems like it has only
ever been painted black -
a police helmet perhaps?
There are two small holes directly
above the front liner rivet
that may indicate a badge fixing at
some time.
Am I the only person who sees a
marine ray's underside 'face'
on the front of this helmet?
This may be an unusual liner; it
has nine lobes, but is secured
in the usual manner with four cork
or wooden spacers riveted to
the shell.
This helmet came from the Faroe
Islands, so may be a local variation.
This has what seems an unusual sliding chinstrap/adjustment buckle. Local Faroes variation again?
A straightforward M1 clone, this time with the shell manufactured in Austria (a stamping inside reads U. SCH 65 - denoting Ulbricht, Schwanenstedt, 1965.)
Danish M1 clone shells were also produced in West Germany and
Denmark - check any stampings for identification.
In the early 1950s Danish troops were supplied with US-made M1s.
The liners to go with the European-manufactured shells were made in Denmark.
DENMARK_M48 liner stamp detail
This CF stamp denotes the helmet was issued to Danish Civil Defence - the Civilforsvaret