Sunday, October 5, 2008

Danish M48 Steel Helmet - Civil Defense

third in a series of five civil defense helmet posts
What's not to like about Denmark?












Things from Denmark are always great...unless of course they happen to be ferocious Vikings who want to kick in your door and your teeth and rape your women and your chickens. That part of Denmark I can live without, thank you very much.

Otherwise, I like all things Danish, especially their appreciation of that stellar classic of helmet design: the M1.


Drink it in, you know you love it.

The M48 is an outstanding clone of the venerable American M1 design. Manufactured in Austria, Germany, as well as Denmark, this version of the M1, although not a combat item, is absolutely outstanding in all respects. Proving that sometimes you can improve upon the original.


Now this from Joseba's fantastic site (translation via bablefish):


The helmet MÂș 48, as it happened prior to the successive helmets of the Danish army, at the beginning the distribution of new helmets of Kevlar massively has been destined to the Civil defense (Civilforsvaret). For it a black painting seal has been printed them with the letters " CF" under the Danish real crown. Besides the seal, mate is frequent to paint the helmets of gray color (in other models of Danish helmets, the seal of the DC was used to print in the leather of the trimming).

Gracias Joseba!

Also, Greg Pickersgill has info and more photos at his fine site right here.


So far no surprises for any fan of the M1. The steely blue gray color is quite attractive and the finish on this unissued helmet is absolutey mint.


Stamped in the dome of the shell is the insignia for the Danish Civil Defense organization -



the Civilforsvaret.


Again the liner presents nothing startling, all very much the M1 family.


Here's a real improvement over the American version: A fabric chinstrap. Made of heavy duty webbing this chinstrap is far more functional and durable that that very thin leather strap of the US M1 (just think of how many broken ones you've encountered while pawing through stacks of old Westinghouses and Capacs).

Like the original this liner has the insignia grommet front and center.



That very distinctive, Nazi-defeating profile.


Chinstrap bales are in all respects identical to the late war M1.


Aside from the web chinstrap the liner also has a pronounced lip, very much unlike the American original. This lip would be very helpful for channelling and shedding rain.


Close- up of the cam slider. Everything about this helmet smacks of very high production standards.



Like the shell, the liner interior is also stamped with the Civiforsvaret "CF" surmounted by the royal crown of the queen.





Though one wonders why the Danes would mark their helmets with an old crown when they could render what the queen actually wears...




A smokingly-stylish hat! Goodness, yes!

This is the very chic Queen Margrethe II who is the monarch of that fine country of Denmark. A stylish gal who, apparently, isn't afraid to speak out against Islamic bullies. You go, Margie Girl!

Good lookin' Queen...

Good lookin' helmet!




Oops! gotta go...

Someone's at the door.





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