Bulgarian M72 Helmet
- SKU
- BG-FGU-HM72
Description
Features
- Authentic Bulgarian Military Surplus — Genuine communist-era combat helmet issued to the Bulgarian armed forces, pulled directly from original storage crates.
- Pressed Steel Shell — Heavy-gauge steel construction based on the proven Italian M33 pattern, offering serious impact and fragmentation protection.
- M51/72 Pattern — Post-WWII Bulgarian design that replaced the earlier German-inspired helmets and served as standard issue throughout the Warsaw Pact era.
- Leather Liner — Sweat-resistant leather suspension liner cradles the head and keeps the shell properly seated during movement.
- Adjustable Chin Strap — Leather chin strap with buckle hardware locks the helmet in place and adjusts to fit a wide range of head sizes.
- Olive Drab Finish — Subdued OD green paintwork consistent with Eastern Bloc field equipment and well-suited to woodland environments.
- Cold War Collectible — A documented piece of Bulgarian and Warsaw Pact military history, ideal for collectors, reenactors, and militaria displays.
- Functional Field Use — Robust enough for airsoft, paintball, costume, prop, or hard-use display beyond the shelf.
- Made in Bulgaria — Manufactured in-country for the Bulgarian People's Army during the Cold War period.
More Information
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Customer Reviews
4.6
100% of customers recommend this product
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Top customer reviews
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Incredible condition for a surplus helmet.I was amazed when I opened the crate to find this helmet in near-perfect condition. The olive drab paint is crisp, and the leather liner is still soft and supple, which is rare for gear of this age. It is a fantastic piece of Bulgarian history that looks great on my display shelf.
Exceptional condition.
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SizeThe helmet was in GREAT condition, looks good, no problems there. The only issue I have is that it was too small for me but it will go well in the collection. I got a size 57 because 58 is sold out
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Cool Cold War-era steel helmet in very good condition.As people know, this is a Bulgarian steel helmet that was also exported to the Third World far and wide. The helmet is nearly new but with some scrapes and handling/stacking type marks and a lot of dust. Combines the strengths of the Italian M1933/47 "ball shape" and liner system with a touch of Warsaw Pact SSh-40 characteristics. Pig-skin liner marked with the size in cm. I got a 57, which is a bit too small for me, but nice on display. I had a Czechoslovakian field jacket and hood, so I thought I'd see if it would fit as a helmet cover. Worked great! Bulgarian helmet covers had elastic, and the Czechoslovak did not, but it didn't take long to figure where to tuck the excess material between the liner system and the helmet shell. Looks good!
A very nice display helmet. Fits tight due to the pig-skin liner system backed by sheet metal bands that are riveted to the interior in three places. Very high quality steel construction, and as people who know about old steel helmets will tell you, the Italian basis for this one was one of the best brain housing unit protectors designed. On youtube there's videos of these Bulgarian M72s (not the M51s!) getting shot at with handgun rounds, which dent the helmet but bounce off. So I guess in a pinch the helmet could protect your own brain housing unit from construction debris or what-have-you. Makes a cool Cold War-era/ Warsaw Pact collectible.
Made for smaller head sizes. Like any helmet, it can be a challenge finding an adequate shelf to display it on.
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Great condition, but unusableThe helmet appears to be unissued and looks great. There's just one problem... the liner is mounted crooked, making the chin strap unusable. At least it'll make a good display piece. Too bad I can't wear it.
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Just in CaseFor the price, this helmet was a good deal. While not the most comfortable thing in the world, it is made out of relatively thick steel and should offer reasonable protection for a variety of uses. Don't expect it to stop a rifle round, but it could be a lifesaver.