Description

An outstanding and extremely rare German M35 Waffen-SS double-decal combat helmet featuring an original tan camouflage finish. This helmet was recovered in the Orne region of Normandy during the 1980s. The helmet is a « Q62 » shell bearing lot number « 4583 », corresponding to an early-war production. The exterior retains over 95% of its tan camouflage, expertly applied by spray gun. The paint exhibits natural and consistent wear throughout, with numerous scuffs, scratches, paint losses, and field-use marks, giving the helmet an exceptional combat-worn patina. A particularly remarkable feature of this example is the presence of both original decals beneath the camouflage paint. The SS runic shield remains discernible on the right side, while traces of the national shield are still visible beneath the sand camouflage on the opposite side. This configuration clearly indicates a wartime field application of camouflage without prior removal of the decals, a highly desirable characteristic among advanced collectors. The original rivets remain firmly in place and display the same untouched age and patina as the rest of the helmet. The interior is equally well preserved and retains its original reinforced aluminum liner band. The leather liner remains in good overall condition, the drawstring is absent, while the original chinstrap is still present and was period-shortened during service. This helmet has been featured in several renowned reference books, most notably the camouflage study « Tarnfarben Volume 1 ». An exceptional opportunity to acquire a truly outstanding Waffen-SS camouflage helmet, published and documented, of a quality and rarity that is unlikely ever to be encountered again on the collector market!