Refurbishing a WW2 German M42 Stahlhelm + A Review of all my Original Re-enactment German Helmets!

Hello my friends!
First of all, sorry for the waiting!!
I hope you are all having a great start of the New Year!
I know it's been way too long, but here I am again with a new video!
I decided to do a restoration video!
In this video I will be Refurbishing an Original German WW2 M42 helmet!
I bought this original Stahlhelm a while back for a good price, and now I decided it was time to work on it!
This helmet will be used in the future, trench videos, and reenactment events of course!
More content on the way, stay tuned!
I hope you enjoy the video!! :)
Follow me on Instagram:
nick_histor...
For important questions, my Email:
[e-mail]
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[@History-Secrets]

Hey my loyal viewers! Having a good New Year so far? Let's hope for a better year, and more Historical Content! 💪

[@Oyashima731]

My year is starting off with a great start! 🥳

[@History-Secrets]

@@Oyashima731 That's great to hear!!

[@DJC_2003]

This year I'm setting my goals to health and wealth!

[@vdjei]

My year is going good

[@Appalachianbackpacking2008]

Amazing with this awesome content!

[@rickkerts3802]

Dont you worry Nick, take your rest and dont rush things. Thankyou for this video, always enjoyable!❤

[@History-Secrets]

Thank you for the kind words!!

[@super-kamarigaming7907]

@@History-Secrets No, thank you for being the greatest history youtuber out there. I want to send you something but idk if I have any Original Historical stuff, I have only 1 thing. You got me into reenactment and wanting to form my own group and getting helmets.

[@Bate-on4be]

I could already see that it was a CKL before you showed the stamp. the M42s from CKL are always easy to recognize by the ventilation holes. I wish you a speedy recovery. Greetings from Germany

[@History-Secrets]

Yes! But I wasn't completely sure about the number in the first place, so I wanted to get a better look! Thanks!

[@user-cp5fh5ov3z]

How do you measure the helmet number in cm or in inches?

[@jacobrozich209]

When the world needed him most. He came!!

[@evancarriere7548]

thats what she said

[@Badbhoys]

@@evancarriere7548 👀👀

[@ziepex7009]

pause

[@contentdeleted1063]

@@evancarriere7548 ayo what 👁👁

[@johncataloni8552]

Great video, always enjoy the helmet restoration videos. (Side note) for your M1 Garand, you should look into getting lockbar rear sights and a milled trigger guard if it does not have one. This will make the rifle look more accurate for ww2 as well as allow it to be used accurately for any stage of ww2

[@curiousentertainment3008]

Yep and the rifle he has was demilled in the stupidest way he could easily reactivate it.

[@StratBurst92]

Excellent video. My Dad was a Sgt. in a US Army Combat Engineer Battalion in the Eto in WW2 and brought back a few things that he gave to me. A silver panzer badge and a stickpin. At that time, I started collecting medals and awards.The only helmet that I really wanted was a Afkrikakorps camo, but they were impossible to find. I contacted someone who is really great at restoring helmets and he did a great job making me a M 35 AK camo. So well done you would think it is genuine. I am happy with it as a display piece.

[@Oyashima731]

Hurrah! you came back! I hope your back gets better, stay safe!

[@SteveMrW]

Nice to see you back, I like the collection of Stalhelms. When putting the rivets in I have found it easier to trap the washer between the tip of a finger and the liner. Position it inside the hole, you can the push the rivet into the washer from the outside. Also, I have used textured paint before (not the same make) and found that the nozzle becomes blocked. Did that happen with your textured paint?

[@mattyboi0915]

Great restoration Nick! I hope you back feels better 👍

[@candyman6159]

Hi History Secrets, i love you're videos, and all are epic in their own way. But the best videos are the ones where you are metal detecting. If you want to go metal detecting again, you can try it near the village of Hoven in Germany. Near the village, there was a battle between the British Cornwalls and the German SS- 104th and 100th panzerdivision with alot of casualties. Hope you think about it...

[@gruppenfuhrer45]

For my re enactment, we did 5th SS WIKING 1944. I’ve got an original shell 66. Love it.

[@jvcpaints]

Wicked good video, man. I've got an old M42 that could use love refurbishing and this video has inspired me to actually give it a whirl. Good luck with all your projects!

[@Wreckdiver59]

Always interesting to see you restore a helmet. I'm curious about the way you apply the decal. I understand the method, but I wouldn't think it was very practical for mass production. I can't see keeping an inventory of helmets around for weeks while the decal dries. Do you know if they used another method, or maybe had a way to dry them faster?

[@sigurbergurandresson9175]

A lot of the time they were installed by the soldiers in the field

[@twocheckstv4548]

I’m assuming that when they were done in factory that would be dried for a few days during transportation/the time it takes for soldiers to get them. Then they would just take them to the field anyways

[@mandoambo8221]

Hey I'm restoring an M42 with ET SS decal and textured paint from DDAY 1944, would you recommend decal lacquer to further protect the decal or do the DDAY 1944 decals hold up well with the supplied resin?

[@remcodejong2342]

Ik hoop voor je dat je spoedig hersteld. En nog veel meer van die geweldige video's maakt. Ze kijken altijd heerlijk weg en zijn erg leerzaam. Ik blijf me verbazen hoeveel jij weet van ww2 respect. Dus blijf vooral doorgaan groet Remco.

[@The3broslife]

First of all Happy New Year Nick. So sorry that you have been feeling unwell. I really hope that your back will get better soon. It is really awesome to have you back. Really enjoying the video.TakeCare and KeepSafe.🥰😀😷🦋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@venadoazul7663]

I have a question about the m35 helmet, after the regulation in 1940 that required removal of the tri color decal was it mandatory that the apple green be repainted feldgrau as well or did some soldiers continue to keep the apple green during the duration of the war?

[@Chiozze]

Hi Nick, awesome video as always, and nice collection! I have the same problem you have with the liner on my replica M38 helmet. You have any tip on where to buy a better m38 liner?

[@thomasweatherford5125]

Hey Nick! I’ve had lots of success using water sandpaper to remove old, cruddy spray paint. It takes a while, but it works. Never tried it on a helmet, but I have on old metal signs to get at the original paint underneath. Just go slow and see if it works. 🍻

[@youthanise]

Hey Nick! I’m thinking of restoring a WW2 Brodie MK2 and as you would re paint it. But I had a lot of paint on the inside but not alot of paint on the outside. And I know you like having the original paint and hate stripping away the paint. So should I restore it or just leave it?

[@SomethingAboutRightAngles]

Always a better day when you upload. Thanks man, Really needed it today👍

[@tinkeringforfun]

I'm more than happy to wait for your videos as and when you are able to post them! Kein Stress und gute Besserung! :)

[@tinkeringforfun]

Would sandblasting the paint off the helmet be too aggressive or cause damage to the surface, or is it unnecessary?

[@ryoshi4042]

hope your back gets better again and take your time to get the video special for us and dont put too much time just doing videos! love the content keep it up

[@thecuttingedge5700]

no need to apologies, we understand your hard work, those helmets are amazing!! I just ordered a SSH40 and I'm going to restore it

[@steellion1803]

What is your status

[@Gaystapo]

I have a original early m42 from ET (which later became ckl, as you mentioned in the video) what's interesting about it is that it's shell size is stamped as a 64 when it's actually a 66. Its lot number is 1487 which means it should be a single decal heer helmet, meaning it'd look a lot like this beauty you refurbished in this video

[@jasperschoenmakers3965]

You are back, finally!! Always enjoy your videos. Take care and take your time

[@longdin2235]

Hey man you don’t have to apologize for any thing every time I see one of your video it always puts a smile on my face

[@deutschersoldat7212]

You have nothing to apologise for Nick! I sincerely hope that you recover very soon! When I saw the posts on your Instagram I couldn’t wait for this video to come!

[@PaukkuTane]

And he is back 😁💪 Feeling better? Nice Job on that helmet, but still that blue-black (ish) helmet is my favorite 🪖 Thanks again, well done as usual 😁

[@bobolikewwii24]

I also love history just like you Nick. Your videos just make my day take the rest you need we will wait.

[@History-Secrets]

Thank you for your nice comment!!

[@zimmmerit6308]

Very nice video. One question, I have 60 head size and what size do you advise?

[@Skywalker_4045]

Hey nick, I just got my first M35 helmet today, it’s a reproduction and it’s not the most accurate but it’s the best I could find, do you have any places that would be good to but helmets from?

[@seaworthy2546]

So i have a question about this helmet that I have. It's pretty obviously either a Mk1 or 2 British helmet, but for whatever reason it's painted tan and has a large spike or something that was added on to the top. it has the original liner, or at least it looks original. same with the chinstrap, although it is snapped. was the spike and afterwar modification or something like that? i genuinely have no idea what's up with that helmet (i'm no good with naming helmet types or calling things the proper name, i.e the spike, but yeah) this is probably a bad idea to post but i can't find anything else about it

[@madladyt4287]

Hey nick! Happy new year mate! I’m just wondering I have received a restored German helmet for my birthday, and now I just need a tunic. I don’t have that much money to spend on one so I was just wondering what cheap (or expensive) websites would you recommend? Thanks so much mate! Have a great 2022!

[@coraline_page9435]

Did you ensure that the decal was placed 3mm below the vent hole as per regulation?

[@wolfystudios1117]

Took me longer than i thought to see this video. It was worth It! Loved the video! I wish i had this much helmets haha, but, its harder for me to get them, and for now i'm happy with the only one i have (a Finnish M55 that i turned into a S S one). Greetings from Brazil!

[@babayaga8045]

Your videos are legit . From one WW2 Vet grandson to another . Thank you for preservation of history that should never be forgotten. 🙏😇🤘😎🤘

[@nicobor2427]

Ayyy new video btw Happy new year Nick ❤️❤️❤️

[@mr.unoriginal5674]

Hey Nick long time eh? Hope your back is doing better every day don't worry about us viewers complaining about the uploads I find it better this way personally (I get to catch up on what I missed haha) update on my collection I have a 5 cell m1 Thompson pouch! And my helmet got a make over again it's got a new camo and ready for my decals for the whermacht!

[@Bulbagaba992]

Hello, new subscriber here. May I know if the decals of the helmets are printed in reflective sheeting? Were the OG ones the same too? Sorry for the noob questions and thank you.

[@biopower5160]

Happy New year Nick! When is your birthday? Thinking about sending a swedish m26 helmet🔥🔥 And btw Nick, if that motorbike is road legal we would love to see some first person gopro riding footage!

[@History-Secrets]

Thank you!! My birthday is February 23rd! That's really kind, but you don't have to! 💪

[@biopower5160]

@@History-Secrets thinking about it👌🏻

[@m1adventures835]

I hope your back gets better, -was so happy about the new Video 😄

[@verjiniahary]

I do not really care how long it is intil there is a new video i love your chanel!And i also like the smell of paint.This video is historically correct.Also i started to collect and your channel inspired me!

[@Simon-kl9in]

Bedankt voor de video, de M1 Garand Ping maakt mijn dag veel beter. Gelukkige nieuwjaar!

[@History-Secrets]

Bedankt voor je reactie! Goed om te horen, gelukkig Nieuwjaar!!

[@Simon-kl9in]

@@History-Secrets heb je toevallig een idee of er dit jaar een herdenkingswandeling is voor de 82d airborne division

[@eliakachun9993]

In my opinion, German helmet collecting is a thing of its own, almost separate from ww2 memorabilia. I love stalhelms, and I envy the guys that were able to buy them for pennies on the dollar way back in the day. Great content man I love seeing the helmets!

[@Boraborabora336]

He’s back, hope you get well soon from your back problems :)

[@theodorebennett7938]

Happy New year Nick! Love the great content.

[@sirstahlhelm6977]

Thank you for coming back!

[@lcplb3]

hello! I have a question, I was wondering where you get all your original helmets, also where do you get your uniform stuff such as your belt, combat boots and decals. anyways that's it.

[@babayaga8045]

You and Potato Digger are awesome at restoring those helmets. Great job🤘😎🤘

[@danweldanny5039]

Glad you're back. take your time, we can wait. Nog de beste wensen

[@tranceman99336]

Thanks Nick for your videos. They are very interesting and I love your videos. I hope your back gets better soon and take it easy. Looking forward to more videos!!

[@John_eek]

I’ve been thinking about getting a original Stallhelm but the thing is I have no clue where to look, or what to look for? Any recommendations?

[@vitalykhodotaev564]

Thank you for the video! Nik, there were no orders from S. S. to the ET. Earlyer ЕТ had made M35 and M40 helmets for them as well as for heer and the lift, krigs. But not M42. They continued to produce helmets for the S. S again only in 1943,when the markings were changed to ckl. That means If you have an ckl or CKL helmet then it's absolutely OK for it to be S. S. But only not M42 ET. Also no M42 NS and hkp had recived orders for S. S helmets.

[@coldwarmilitaria1343]

Yes a new german helmet video i love these

[@nekoskiroplayer]

I got a question for you. i just recently picked up a m35 ET68 shell. There are a few items on the shell that make me question its authenticity. One of the main things is it doesn't have a lot number and the rim is not smooth. it looks like a decent reproduction if it is. Were there helmets that didnt have lot number and were the vent holes always flush to the shell?

[@curiousentertainment3008]

If your helmet was an m35 the vent hole should be pressed in and not flush with the helmet like the one shown in this video. So if your helmets vent hole looks this the one he’s restored it’s an m40 or later or a repro.

[@nekoskiroplayer]

@@curiousentertainment3008 sorry i should have clarified. They are two separate pieces the back of the vents look as if they are spilt by an incorrect press fit. I have an original m35 that has the vent backing flush against the shell. I noticed one of HS m35 helmets vent backing had a lip to it and wasn't flush. It might be a manufacturer change.

[@martynass1053]

Hey Nick, what book did you say you use to see the information about a german helmet?

[@phantomghost8234]

Where do you get and buy your historical gear? Been wondering for a while and want to get into reenactments (Love the videos keep doing them!)

[@edensgate8985]

Dang man, you got a lot of helmets! The suprising part is this isnt even all of them. How do you afford all these, helmets cost a lot. Keep up the good work man!

[@merijn3755]

Oof a good old Nice helmet restauration, amazing video again!! I hope your back problem Will be gone soon!!

[@prodnation]

My new year's present! Great to see you back! Edit: don't rush things big man. Stay cool.

[@2ND-ID-REENACTOR1944]

I've never clicked so fast, makes having covid 19 far better!

[@History-Secrets]

I hope you recover soon!!

[@2ND-ID-REENACTOR1944]

@@History-Secrets thank you, you too stay safe and take care!

[@robertspeicher5047]

My uncle, after serving in Korean war, finished his service time Germany. He brought home a "42" helmet. I remember was a grey with the Luftwaffe eagle. Being a not learned kid, painted big white swatikas. We moved and my grand parents. Don't know what happened to that helmet. But I do remember it was BIG. I heard there were size 68 helmets

[@simondillinger9431]

Hi guys happy u posted a new vid! Ga zo door met de geweldige inhoud!

[@TheCollinsCatalogue]

it’s a nice year, also I hope you can be doing some trench videos when your all good!

[@silviocarravieri9439]

Dear, very good job!! Please tell me which kind of glue used before applying the decail and After? Thank you

[@Parker2076]

Yes Finally!!! A new video has been made!! Thanks for the great content!

[@giggywig42]

Hi, do you know how the decals where applied originally? I cannot believe that it was done with the same amount of care you show here :o)

[@cobymcintosh6270]

Nick may I ask but we're do you get the helmets I've been looking for some for a while.

[@Astroiscool884]

hi Nick I have a question where do you buy your decals from?

[@flanker7926]

Finally a new video, Have Been for Waiting a long time.

[@frostii2158]

Great video! Sorry im 3 weeks late lol. I have a question, do you have any more police stuff, like that “really blue” helmet

[@UncleBaxton25]

Hope your back feels better

[@carsonmischek2246]

How could we be mad at such an awesome content creator. Love your vids!!!!!

[@user-sv4rb4nc6t]

Bro you my Favorite KZbinr und nochmal liebe Grüße aus Deutschland 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪 mach weiter so bester KZbinr

[@History-Secrets]

Danke Kamerad!! 💪

[@user-sv4rb4nc6t]

@@History-Secrets bitte kein Ding

[@No_fritz01]

The god returned!!, Love the helmets Nick!.

[@ben_productions9196]

Hey I was just wondering where you get your helmets online?

[@sunil_de6856]

I bought what i believe to be an original M40 helmet shell with battle damage and a Wehrmacht Heer decal, but i don't know how to find out if it actually is real. Can you give me any tips on what to look for?

[@tashload]

I had researched decal application and found much info that the helmet decals had some kind of varnish brushed on the insignia as a final step.

[@goose8818]

I was thinking of making a double decal M35 SS helmet an i was just wondering wear you get the paint and decals

[@JDMilitaria]

I just got myself a nice sized 62 LW M42. Didn't realise they were just as sort after, if not more then the standard size.

[@czechhistorybuff9302]

Finally got some high quality content to watch! Very nice video.

[@History-Secrets]

Thank you for watching!!

[@TatorsOnCrack]

A video idea for the future: Do a metal detecting video in your backyard (including the trench and other stuff)

[@Kurt-Kobrain]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW VIDEO FOREVER HELL YES

[@jhernandez8830]

great video, nice job on restore. Are original WW2 German helmets common in Europe? Are they pricey?

[@Pesho-mb4vt]

I think of buying a finland m40/55 helmet, because it's a lot cheaper then actual wehrmacht one. To repaint it and put a decal, I think it would turn out pretty nice and authentic!

[@History-Secrets]

Yes, they are great helmets!

[@hansharders3977]

Where can you buy those for Europe? IMA doesnt ship to Europe, I want one since à long time ago

[@Pesho-mb4vt]

@@hansharders3977 Idk, i looked at ima too

[@zacharycook2674]

Man when did you get your d day paint from. They've been out of majority of there paints for at least 3 months

[@floohneh8374]

Nice Video! I wish I had such a nice Stahlhelm collection as you do! Nice greetings from Germany👌🏻🇩🇪

[@A.ikiadis1264]

About a year ago I bought an original German helmet that I think and was advertised as one from the second World War. It is very weird as has very weird pins and air vents,on the left side there is not even a pin or a hole , both air vents are filled in with one of them bigger than the other. On the back on the neck shield there's some sort of flat piece of metal. And the pin on the back I just a chunky piece of metal. It is painted a light green and on the left side is a white painted SS and on the right an Obergefreiter symbol also in white paint. I don't know if you know any thing on this helmet or if there is any way I can send you pictures of it . Also your videos are great keep up the good work.

[@stonewalljackson8321]

Back problems scare the hell out of me. I've been a diehard skateboarder since I was around 6 and I've sustained numerous serious injuries, none of which thankfully were related to my spine, however a small bruise or something would linger for weeks and strain basic labor or tasks no matter how trivial it was. I remember going off a high dive at the local pool with my friends one summer ago and that barely noticeable bruise became so irritating that I could barely sleep that night. Go easy on that spine, it supports and functions your whole body against the crushing force that is the Earth's gravity. Anyways great video!

[@blackforest8449]

Oh hey your back, great video.

[@worpo177]

Hope your doing ok nick! Also first!

[@History-Secrets]

Thanks for your comment!!

[@narvikcollector4973]

Love your channel. Been subbed for 3 years now. Keep up the great work. I collect ww2 stuff as well and recently bought a Latvian SS hat( 5th SS division "wiking") original too

[@finnhuff3235]

I have an original luftschutz Gladiator helmet with no liner with some of the eagle decal and some of the original price tag still on it it also has some original paint on it should I restore it

[@AlexsinaYT78]

nick evry video makes me happy please dont stop

[@soldierstudios7316]

Hope you are getting better! These videos are so cool!

[@tycproductions8357]

Hey Nick, I have a question, Was it possible for US and German Medics to go up in rank, like Corporal, Sargent, etc.

[@lowerthanyou1606]

I’m going to repaint this early m35 I got a while back it had a real fake winter paint on it, what is a good place to buy paint and decals for a early war s s double decal helmet?

[@Christians_outdoors]

Nick this was a very good video Hope you are haveing a good new year!