M16 or what???

The helmets of the Bulgarian army in WWI - were they M-16 or M-18 or Austrian???

Probably only the archives can give an answer for sure. But until documents are shown, this is what I think on the subject: Probably all the types were used in the Bulgarian army in WWI. And no matter what said earlier ;) , now I think the helmets were mainly German M-16 - quite equal number of M-16 with leather liner ring and M-16 with metal liner ring /the so-called M-17/. Plus some Austian helmets /with higher situated liner post rivet/. I have not yet seen even a single M-18 on picture /though this is a little hard to determine on the old photos/ or in reality.

So, as said, all the helmets I have ever seen are M-16 with the two types of liners, plus a few Austrian that appear from time to time. These are currently sold at Ebay, coming out of old military stocks, some people are lucky to find them among the other helmets. These have been in the Bulgarian army since WWI and nowadays they meet their last days in the army with new paint, liners and chinstraps /during the years they have been changed many times, the last change seems not very long ago/.

Just have a look at the pictures below:

German M-16 shell with modern Bulgarian liner and fresh paint. But have a look at the chinstrap - the new leather is attached to the original WWI hardware!

A similar piece - M-16 with new liner and new chinstrap - notice that on the place of the original M-16 cylinders /side posts/ for attaching the chinstrap are riveted M-36 type D-rings. I think this was made to the M-16 helmets both before and after WWII. I have pictures /but the album is too havy and fragile so can not take it to scan/ of student-officers from the Military of H.M. School, on maneuvers in 1935-1936. It is clearly seen that all the helmets are M-16 and all already have 2-piece chinstraps. The two M-16 helmets from my own collection are similar to the shown here - one has intact its original M-16 type cylinders for chinstrap; the other one has D-rings - but the original M-16 cylynders for attaching are not removed, simply a longer rivet is inserted in order to hold the M-36 D-rings, too. Also, no picture of it, but not long ago I saw a similar M-16 with original M-16 liner /in fact - M-16 leather liner band with Bulgarian M-36 liner 'fingers' sewed to it/.

Again thois seems to me M-16 with D-rings added. The liner and chinstrap seems to be Bulgarian M-36 type A - so accordig to me this must have been done before WWII. Or not?

And this one is an excellent piece! M16 from the Bulgarian army, last repainted probably in the 30's. Original WWI metal-ring liner; notice that the side posts for attaching the chinstrap are replaced with D-rings and the original German M95 removable chinstrap therefor is replaced with ordinary Bulgarian.