Riddle Game #4

[higgins]

So, since Thursday came and went, I guess I have no choice but to tide you guys over with another riddle. Can you pinpoint the era and origin of this completely authentic period helm that is totally not a reproduction?

[Arrow Odd]

Can you pinpoint the era and origin of this completely authentic period helm that is totally not a reproduction? [/img]

No, I can't

To get some wrong answers out of the way...
21st Century Estonian.
Some form of gladiator, like a murmillo but less fishy.
Some north and east of Berlin, C15

[higgins]

Some north and east of Berlin, C15

Que?

[EinBein]

I guess it's some 1st or 2nd WW gear from either the Soviets or the Germans

[Arrow Odd]

Some north and east of Berlin, C15

Que?

'Some' should have 'somewhere'. Names and borders have been rather changeable, but I was hoping to cover Poland, Lithuania, the Baltic states, western Russia. Not sure that counts as 'pinpointing'.


Having seen EinBein's suggestion, I can see its appeal to a bomb or mine defuser.

[Marras]

At first two observations:

1) The mask doesn't seem to have any mechanism to open it.

2) The mask also has only this small slit to allow sight and no further ventilation holes like in the other helmets at the background. So it would be very hard to fight with this one on.

My official guess is that it is 19th century fencing mask and not a whole helmet.

[higgins]

No, no and no



Not 19th century, sorry, and not a fencing mask either. The suggested 20th century and Europe are spot on though.

[Marras]

Some sort of early 20th century helmet used by soldiers in a pretty fixed positions like in artillery. Lack of ventilation keeps me guessing something like this.

[higgins]

What would be a situation where you'd want to sacrifice ventilation for protection even more than in a relatively stationary artillery position?

[Marras]

Bomb disposal?

[EinBein]

Welding?

[higgins]

Bomb disposal?

Other people have suggested it being riot gear or meant for SWAT-style entry, but the narrow eyeslit as well as the face shield being almost 5mm thick leads me to believe that it is indeed a bomb disposal equipment. One of the two helmets I know even came with the accompanying accouterments which looked indeed like bomb disposal stuff. Here's some more pics:





So, decade and country, anyone?

[Marras]

1960; USSR?

[higgins]

'69 but not Soviet

[Marras]

DDR?