Description
Luftwaffe M42 Single Decal Combat Helmet with Chicken Wire from Collection of John Burnett
This desirable and combat-worn Luftwaffe M42 helmet features a dark blue-grey combat finish, approximately 75% intact, with excellent patina and service wear. The helmet is fitted with a full basket of period-applied chicken wire, added by the soldier for camouflage purposes—a rare and highly sought-after field modification. Over time, the wire has subtly interacted with the paint, leaving a white, powdery ghosting effect across parts of the shell, further supporting its authenticity and age.
The Luftwaffe decal remains approximately 70% intact, showing the correct application and aging characteristics expected of an original decal from this period.
Inside, the helmet retains its brown leather liner, size marked 57, with minor discoloration and a few small tears around the lower edge. The non-reinforced zinc liner band is properly maker-marked, size stamped, and dated 1942. A drawstring is present, and a partial brown leather chinstrap is included.
The shell is stamped ET64, indicating production by Eisenhüttenwerke, Thale, in size 64. The rear skirt bears the lot number 1701, consistent with a 1942 production run. Light surface rust is visible on both the shell and the wire, stable and in keeping with long-term aging.
This helmet comes with excellent provenance, having formerly been part of the John Burnett collection. It was purchased from Bill Shea at The Ruptured Duck, one of the most respected names in the field of WWII memorabilia. I will include the original accompanying paperwork along with my own Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for the buyer.
As with all my German helmets, I guarantee the originality of this piece and offer a lifetime guarantee with a COA.
This is one of only a handful of genuine wire-camouflaged helmets I have inspected in the last 30 years—making it a truly rare and exceptional example.
A textbook, combat-used Luftwaffe helmet with a rare chicken wire camo configuration and solid provenance—an outstanding and increasingly scarce piece for the serious collector.
