Slovakia, First Republic. A Slovak Army M32/34 Steel Helmet, by C.A. Scholtz

A well-preserved Second World War Slovak Army M32/34 steel helmet, constructed of a flared magnetic steel shell. The exterior features seven protruding magnetic metal rivets securing in place the interior features. A painted black band fully surrounds the lower exterior, which is also flanked on each side by hand-painted white Slovak Crosses. The interior features a five-piece brown leather liner, all secured in place with the exterior rivets. Each liner piece culminates in two fingers, in turn perforated with four eyelets through which are looped drawstrings. The upper drawstrings hold the liner pieces together for a secure fit on the wearer’s head. The lower drawstrings accommodate stuffed white cotton pads. Stamped onto the reverse of each pad is a lion insignia indicating pre-war Czechoslovakian manufacture, a date of “38”, and a maker’s mark of “SCH-M” for C.A. Scholtz, Matejovce. The interior is also flanked by integral loops emanating from the remaining two rivets, formerly accommodating a chinstrap which has been lost to time. The helmet measures 240 mm (w) x 275 mm (l) x 152 mm (h). In addition to the missing chinstrap, the shell demonstrates minor, age-appropriate loss of paint with slight oxidation. It is in an overall near extremely fine condition.