RARE M17 Reissued 'Polte Ammunition Factory' Luftschutz Steel Helmet

A highly unusual and rare Austrian M17 helmet, originally produced during the First World War and later reissued for service in the Second World War. This exceptional example features original Polte Armaturen- und Maschinenfabrik decals on both sides, making it a very scarce factory-related piece. The helmet was originally finished in apple green, still visible inside the shell. During WWII it was carefully overpainted in dark blue, neatly applied around the existing Polte decals and the swastika shield decal on the opposite side. A Luftschutz emblem was later added to the front, most likely indicating use by factory guards or air-raid protection personnel connected to the Polte munitions works. The interior retains its original green paint and is complete with its liner. The leather shows age-related wear: the front section is slightly deteriorated and the liner tongues have hardened, but it remains complete and displayable. A painted size '59' is present, a relatively large size for the period. Inside is also a rare original cloth identification label marked 'Trupp 7', with a name written in Sütterlin script (illegible), along with what appears to be a unit or company number. An extremely rare Luftschutz variation, with only a handful of comparable examples known worldwide. A true must-have for advanced collectors of civil defense and factory-related helmets.