A genuine Second World War British Mk II steel helmet retaining its original heavily textured anti-glare wartime finish. The shell now displays a naturally aged sandy khaki tone, the result of decades of wear and oxidation, giving the helmet a very honest and untouched appearance. The left side carries a red and yellow triangular flash associated with the Middlesex Regiment, carefully applied to the shell and now showing age consistent with the rest of the helmet.

The helmet remains exactly as found and has not been cleaned or restored. The exterior finish shows clear service wear with areas of cracking and paint loss, particularly around the rim, exposing small patches of surface rust beneath the original coating. The heavily granulated wartime finish remains clearly visible across the entire shell.

Shell
The interior of the helmet shell is stamped BMB 1939, confirming manufacture by Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd, one of the well-known wartime producers of British helmets. The shell remains structurally solid with honest wear consistent with long service.

Liner
The helmet retains its original liner assembly with the typical cruciform frame. The liner is stamped 1940 and is a size 7 example. As often encountered, the black rubberised padding has hardened and become brittle with age, with splitting and deterioration visible throughout. Despite this, the liner remains present within the helmet.

Chinstrap
The helmet retains its original spring-loaded web chinstrap, which remains present and in good overall condition considering its age.

Overall
A very characterful wartime Mk II helmet showing clear age and service wear, complete with a Middlesex Regiment flash and early war shell dated 1939. Helmets with identifiable unit markings always add additional interest for collectors, and this example remains an honest untouched piece that displays exactly as one would hope from an original wartime helmet.