Liner for China KMT M35 helmet—19 November 2022

Learn a lot on this liner and fortunately found a good original leather and liner as well as good replica liner.

Below article is from Alexander & Sons Restoration:

https://alexanderandsonsrestorations.com/helmet-chinese/

The aluminum liner used during this era is referred to by collectors a the unreinforced version. Between 1931 and 1937 German factories produced this version. It was soon found that the soldier’s practice of hanging the helmet by it’s chinstrap from field gear when on the march or when not in use would warps the liner’s outer band which after time would cause the band to fracture. In 1937 the Germans redesigned the outer band by riveting two strips of aluminum to both sides of the band thus reinforcing it. These 2nd pattern liners never saw service in China, as at the time of their production Sino-German cooperation was at an end.

The Chin Strap

Chinese M35s are found fit with at least three different types of chinstrap. The most common is the German M35 version, a basic leather strap with aluminum hardware, but more then a few have been found fit with the earlier carbine hook, or M27 chinstrap or the double carbine clip strap. These same strap were being used by the German army as well. The chinstrap and liners from Chinese M35s are often found devoid of any manufacture markings or dates. At the time of production the German government did not require the marking or dating of military equipment. This did not change until 1937, when the German government ordered their military contractors to maker mark and date all equipment. For this reason many of the helmet component, and even the helmet’s themselves  sent to China between 1935 and the 1937  are unmarked.