In the fall of 1984, I watched as this helmet was bought from the table of a shot-gun seller at a local gunshow. The price was $65. It was a friend of mine who got it and by that evening he had traded it to a rival helmet collector�for 2�P-38 pistols with holsters. I was devastated... But as of this week, 22 years later, I own it.

Quite possibly the rarest M35 type helmet that exists. I have seen pics of M35s with the feldherrenhalle insignia but haven't seen one with the straight SA like found on the Gladiators. The M35 "Feldherrenhalle" helmets are always re-worked Luftwaffe helmets. But this one was factory produced as an SA with the chocolate brown paint sprayed inside and out. There is a 1939 acceptance stamp on the inside dome. It is the standard one that reads "Beschaftungsampt fur heer und Marine". The aluminum re-enforced liner band is dated 1939 and the chinstrap is marked "G. Scheile, loburg, 1939"

The round SA decal has a gouge in it at upper left. The gouge was made in a downward direction. It may be that the helmet had others stacked on it while the decal was still fresh because the gouge looks like it was made by the chinstrap bale of the helmet on top. Just a theory.

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This is a photo from Baer's book showing an M35 with the standard SA decals. It's the only period photo that I have seen of one of these. The caption reads that he is a "Felherrenhalle" member and he wears a "Feldherrenhalle" cuff title.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken,

I must say you are the "Mack Daddy" when it comes to helmet collecting!!

me

Magnificent. That would be the real deal. Congratulations.

Cody

Ken,

What a coup! Outstanding acquisition and a rare find indeed. I have never seen another. An impressive helmet.

Cheers,

Yes , I agree , very rare helmet.
Should compliment your collection nicely.

Joe Semen

What a day on this forum!
Amazing gear...and Kens is , indeed, a topper!
Paul

Wow.... I am impressed!!!! (and jealous) Tell you what, I'll post over a pair of P-38's and holsters and you can post me the helmet?? Sounds like a fair deal?

Absolutely stunning helmet Ken. Wow.

Very nice Ken

I doubt many have seen one of these in hand, they are just super rare. Congrats


Glenn

I stand corrected. I have seen another one of these helmets...not in the flesh but in Ludwig Baer's 1977 German language edition of his helmet book. After looking at Ken's nice example I seemed to recall seeing another one somewhere. After a short search I found it. Here is a scanned image...

Ken,
You must be living right. Incredible helmet. I believe you are right about the chin strap bale. The width of the damage is about the same size of the bale.
Larry

WOW WOW AN ASTRONOMIC RARE HELM IN SUPER CONDITION CONGRAT

Ken, congrats to an impressive and incredible rare helmet.
Thanks for showing it,can�t stop looking.

Anders L.

Absolutely stunning........ Congratulations!!

Cheers
Don

Ken, what a great helmet...

Put me first in line when this one comes available, if ever in my lifetime....need the down payment now?

Ken, great helmet and great condition.
Tony

sweet, stunning, and woth waiting 22 years for

Wow, that's certainly an EXTRAORDINARY helmet. I agree, Ken. With that in your hand, you can sell all these nice ones you've been selling these days. Congratulation, bud!

Shu

Wow!! that's a rare bird!!!

Magnificant helmet Ken, you take good care of this baby

KR
Dennis

Never seen one before, but that is a truly unique helmet. Both helmets appear to be made by Quist - interesting.

Cees

Thank you for all the kind remarks gentlemen. Although it is the product of much convincing and cajoling, as well as a hefty outlay of precious funding, I consider myself lucky in nailing this one down.

Looking at the one in Darryl's post, it appears to me to be an ET, judging by the vents but I have never been that good at judging from the shapes of the different helmets. It would be nice if it were a Q. Mine is a Q64. The lot number is 0777. I'd love to be able to track down the owner of this one pictured in Baers book to verify the maker and lot number.

This is a factory made SA rather than a re-issue and it stands to reason that there probably was not a large order for these helmets from the factory. I would further guess that only one factory got the contract.

As per Kelly Hicks' gathering of known original M35 Black SS helmets in his book, there are three that are the same Q maker, 66 size and the same steel lot number. That sort of confirms that each was part of a lot that was delivered by the same order. (Albeit, later reworked by another order) With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to find that the one illustrated by Baer was the same as mine. If the one in Baers book were not the same maker/lot number, I would be hard-pressed to prove my theory by other means as it is highly unlikely that I'll be running across another of these.

That helmet is awesome, Damn I wish they were more commen so us SA collecters could all have one. Also are there anyshow around Michigan you ever attend? The only one I ever go to around here is the Novi Shows.

As lot numbers are my fort�, I noticed that I have seen a helmet with the exact markings as the SA helmet:

M35 Q64 0777 DD KM 1939 domestamp reinforced band

Concerning M35 Q lot numbers, 0777 is a fairly low number. I would not expect them to have been stamped out as late as 1939. I am wondering if these helmets could be factory re-issues.

Also, these helmets could have just been old stock, stamped out earlier, (1936 perhaps?), but not actually completed until 1939. This would explain the lower lot number.