Helmets,steel.

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:51 pm

Anyone ever come across a sharpened WW II helmet?

I remember sharpening one for demonstration purposes in 1956, but have never come across one, before or since.

Tom-May · Post by **Tom-May** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:22 pm

I don't know about a sharpened WWII helmet, but the first pattern of the 'Brodie', British Steel Helmet in the Great War (early/mid 1916) was made with a 'raw' edge (no binding).

Later Great War and subsequent helmets of a similar pattern (ie: later Brodies and those worn into WWII) were made with a steel binding to the edge.

Any use?

Tom

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:44 pm

Tom,

Instructions used to be in the 'Blue Book' (otherwise 'Instructions for Armourers') as I remember the front 8 inches were sharpened with a file to a good cutting edge. Perhaps they were 'de-sharpened' on return to stores.

Just wondered if anyone had seen one.

stripperclip · Post by **stripperclip** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:25 am

never saw one myself but then the american steel pot would not have lent it's self to well for that.

Post by **Niner Delta** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:27 pm

Better be damn careful when you salute.

Vern.

Tom-May · Post by **Tom-May** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:55 pm

Aughnanure Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:44 am

"...Instructions used to be in the 'Blue Book' (otherwise 'Instructions for Armourers') as I remember the front 8 inches were sharpened with a file to a good cutting edge. ..."

It sounds to me as if whoever wrote that particular book had been reading the unarmed combat book by Fairburn (or was ir Sykes) of 'fighting knife fame - That seems to advocate a head butt across the face with a steel helmet (IIRC).

Tom

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:41 am

Tom,

As I remember we had the 1935 edition so the idea possibly came from the First War.