Bulgarian M72 Helmet

Bulgarian Army M72

The M72 is the pressed steel combat helmet the Bulgarian Army adopted around 1972 to replace the earlier M36. It is genuine issue from the communist era, not a copy, so it suits collectors filling a Warsaw Pact display, reenactors who need the correct helmet for a Bulgarian impression, and anyone who wants a piece of Cold War hardware with real service history.

Features

• Pressed Steel Shell — The shell is stamped from a single sheet of steel, the standard method for military helmets of the period.
• OD Green Finish — The shell is painted OD green, the olive drab shade used on most Eastern Bloc field equipment.
• Short Visor Profile — A short brim at the front and a flared rim around the back follow the M51/72 shape, with a shorter visor than the earlier M51.
• Side Ventilation Grommet — A small vent fitted into each side of the shell lets air move through the crown.
• Eight-Point Leather Liner — Eight leather tongues sit against the head, and a cotton drawstring through their tops sets how deep the helmet rides.
• Adjustable Leather Chinstrap — A brown leather strap with a metal buckle and punched holes adjusts to hold the helmet in place under the chin.
• Sized By Liner Circumference — The M72 was issued in sizes 56 and 58, which refer to the liner circumference in centimeters.
• Bulgarian Army Issue — Originally issued to the Bulgarian Army and Home Guard, which kept the M72 in service through the 1990s and 2000s.

Service History

The M72 is often listed as the M51/72 because it developed directly from the Bulgarian M51. Its rounded dome shares design principles with the Italian M33, mixed with Soviet influences, which gives it a profile unlike any other Warsaw Pact helmet. Bulgaria kept it in service for decades after adoption, and that long issue history is a large part of its appeal to collectors.