Mauser Helmet

mauro · 03-09-2008, 10:39 AM

I have received some days ago this nice Mauser Helmet.
I assume that these helmets were used by employees or guards most probably during WWII or after. I am wondering if some of you has more info or maybe pictures about the use of these helmets.
Cheers,
Mauro

tenbears · 03-09-2008, 11:10 AM

Maybe it's the picture but the high gloss of the paint leads me to belive that their is no primer coat underneath the paint. I had a M35 that some one stripped off the orginal paint and repainted it using a spray can. And the result was a high gloss finnish due to the bare metal underneath. Also the decal should have some sort of lacquer over the decal and along the border of the helmet where the decal is. Anyway that is how the military ones should be. Interesting helmet with the Mauser logo.

Ron Smith · 03-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Mauro,

It is a "Werkschutz' factory guard helmet. I know a collector who said that he went to Germany to buy a collection and 75% turned out to be reproductions. These are being reproduced with BMW, Walther, Messerschmidt, Folk-Wolfe and many other labels.

I have no information on how to spot the repros from original.

Ron

Vlim · 03-09-2008, 12:04 PM

There's another "Mauser" marked one for sale on a Dutch auction site.
That one looks more like a fire brigade helmet to me.

George Anderson · 03-09-2008, 02:04 PM

Mauro, I found one two years ago at a local gunshow that had BMW decals on the exterior like yours. Inside it had decals indicating property of BMW factory air raid warden. The helmet I had was fiber construction with metal trim. The chin strap was similar but not exactly the same.

mauro · 03-10-2008, 12:06 PM

Hello guys,
Thank you for the info. I am far to be expert on this matter therefore all tips you provided to me are really useful.
If in the future you meet similar stuff, just remember this topic and upate it.
Cheers,
Mauro

Imperial Arms · 03-10-2008, 03:31 PM

Hello Mauro,

A few years ago, I gave a similar Mauser helmet to a friend as a gift. I cannot determine whether these (firemen) helmets are genuine, but if I had to take a WAS, I suppose that they are reproductions aimed at collectors who want to have some amusement. I had also noticed one in the past with a Walther banner.

The remarks I can mention against your type of helmet is that the paint finish would probably be dull/matt and not gloss, and the Mauser banner would be painted on the helmet instead of a decal. In addition, the helmet liner appears as if it has never been worn on a head.

The helmet is an attractive decoration as long as it was not expensive and I doubt that it had links to the Mauser factory pre-1945. You can always wear it as protection if bombs were to drop on Belgium!!!

Have fun,
Albert

mauro · 03-10-2008, 04:35 PM

Hi Albert,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that it is a curious item; this is why I have bought it.
For sure this kind of helmets, original or not, are not really common therefore it is a nice add-on to my collection of Mauser stuff.
Concerning the Mauser Banner, it is not a sticky label; I canÃ¢??t remove it without removing the paint of the area. It seems more another layer of paint but for sure not a decal.
Now in Belgium there is a big storm and I am replying to you wearing the helmetÃ¢?Â¦

Have fun,
Mauro

03-09-2008, 10:39 AM	#1
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	Mauser Helmet I have received some days ago this nice Mauser Helmet. I assume that these helmets were used by employees or guards most probably during WWII or after. I am wondering if some of you has more info or maybe pictures about the use of these helmets. Cheers, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

03-09-2008, 11:31 AM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Mauro, It is a "Werkschutz' factory guard helmet. I know a collector who said that he went to Germany to buy a collection and 75% turned out to be reproductions. These are being reproduced with BMW, Walther, Messerschmidt, Folk-Wolfe and many other labels. I have no information on how to spot the repros from original. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

03-10-2008, 12:06 PM	#6
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	Hello guys, Thank you for the info. I am far to be expert on this matter therefore all tips you provided to me are really useful. If in the future you meet similar stuff, just remember this topic and upate it. Cheers, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

03-10-2008, 04:35 PM	#8
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	Hi Albert, Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that it is a curious item; this is why I have bought it. For sure this kind of helmets, original or not, are not really common therefore it is a nice add-on to my collection of Mauser stuff. Concerning the Mauser Banner, it is not a sticky label; I canÃ¢??t remove it without removing the paint of the area. It seems more another layer of paint but for sure not a decal. Now in Belgium there is a big storm and I am replying to you wearing the helmetÃ¢?Â¦ Have fun, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

03-09-2008, 11:10 AM	#2
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	Maybe it's the picture but the high gloss of the paint leads me to belive that their is no primer coat underneath the paint. I had a M35 that some one stripped off the orginal paint and repainted it using a spray can. And the result was a high gloss finnish due to the bare metal underneath. Also the decal should have some sort of lacquer over the decal and along the border of the helmet where the decal is. Anyway that is how the military ones should be. Interesting helmet with the Mauser logo.

03-09-2008, 12:04 PM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,987 Times in 1,205 Posts	There's another "Mauser" marked one for sale on a Dutch auction site. That one looks more like a fire brigade helmet to me.

03-09-2008, 02:04 PM	#5
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,528 Times in 787 Posts	Mauro, I found one two years ago at a local gunshow that had BMW decals on the exterior like yours. Inside it had decals indicating property of BMW factory air raid warden. The helmet I had was fiber construction with metal trim. The chin strap was similar but not exactly the same.

03-10-2008, 03:31 PM	#7
Imperial Arms Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Malta, EU Posts: 579 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Hello Mauro, A few years ago, I gave a similar Mauser helmet to a friend as a gift. I cannot determine whether these (firemen) helmets are genuine, but if I had to take a WAS, I suppose that they are reproductions aimed at collectors who want to have some amusement. I had also noticed one in the past with a Walther banner. The remarks I can mention against your type of helmet is that the paint finish would probably be dull/matt and not gloss, and the Mauser banner would be painted on the helmet instead of a decal. In addition, the helmet liner appears as if it has never been worn on a head. The helmet is an attractive decoration as long as it was not expensive and I doubt that it had links to the Mauser factory pre-1945. You can always wear it as protection if bombs were to drop on Belgium!!! Have fun, Albert