Rare textbook Japanese Navy Type 90 steel combat helmet.The bitter rivalry between the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy meant even in terms of procurement of what is basically the same helmet there are distinct differences ! The Navy as here only employed the larger of the two available helmet sizes . Paint and liners differed in small detail . This late war Navy version shows to the front the factory/depot stencil enamel sprayed anchor insignia that replaced the earlier separate brass and steel anchor badges . The Paint work is a finer application than Army versions and has the flat profile Navy rivets .There is a typical Navy set of unit (Kanji) markings to one side that would be worthy of more research . The chinstrap loops are in a fixed soldered style that is once again not found upon Army versions . The liner is the rough out hide and bears no size indication . The whole helmet is field worn with a nice patina and signs of combat use . Although faint there is some Writing (Kanji ) to the pads. A highly evocative bring back piece .