Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, fitted with a very nice liner by Seaman Paper Company. This is one of the earliest production M1 helmets that we have ever had. The best feature of this helmet is the painted liner with the 38th Infantry Division insignia as well as a Major rank. Affixed to the liner is a set of “flip up” sunglasses, a method we have not seen before!

The U.S. WWII M-1 helmet was only produced from 1941 to 1945. The first production batch resulted with over 323,510 M-1 helmets before the start of the American involvement in the war. This helmet is heat lot stamped 63B which indicates the approximate manufacture date of February - March 1942, directly after the U.S. entered WWII.

The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit Michigan to produce the steel M1 helmet bodies. These bodies were made from a single piece of Hadfield Manganese steel that was produced by the Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell
weighed 2.25 lbs each.

This fantastic condition M1 shell has correct early war fixed chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front fully welded seam. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet. This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, with only light wear. There is also the usual wear on the stainless steel rim, but it retains much of the original paint. It has the correct early war OD green #3 Chin strap with a cast brass buckle.

The liner is correct high pressure WWII issue and stamped with an S in an Oval for the SEAMAN PAPER COMPANY. Manufactured in Chicago, Illinois this "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed "S" in the crown. Seaman Paper Company started delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 - 4,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.

This true almost excellent condition US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) OD Green #3 cloth suspension. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the original string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The sweatband in this helmet is in good used condition, and has the correct OD Green #3 backing. There are also still visible ink stamps on the rigging and chin strap. The leather liner chin strap is present and in lovely condition.

The liner is painted a lovely green with Major oak leaves painted on the front and the 38th Infantry Division insignia on both sides. The best feature is the “dust visor” or sunglasses that are attached to the front brim by rivets. This is a ball and catch method and acts as a hinge so the wearer could flip them up when not in use.

These helmets have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years, especially genuine WW2 issue liners with the correct HBT straps and buckles. Almost certainly to appreciate in value year after year!

38th Infantry Division
The 38th Infantry Division ("Cyclone") is one of the eighteen divisions of the United States Army, and one of eight National Guard divisions. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and contains Army National Guard units from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Delaware, Michigan, Tennessee and Other States.

Formed in 1917, the division earned the special designation "Cyclone Division" after the division's training camp at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, was damaged by a springtime tornado. Deployed to France in the closing days of the Great War, the 38th Division was broken up to provide fillers for combat formations. At the end of the war, the 38th Division demobilized and after a brief period of inactivity, was reconstituted and reorganized in the National Guard on 16 March 1923.

The 38th Division was inducted into federal service on 17 January 1941 as the United States prepared for entry into World War II. The Division returned to Camp Shelby to reorganize as a triangular infantry division and train for combat. The 38th Infantry Division deployed to the Pacific theater in January 1944, initially to New Guinea where the division saw limited combat after final training. In December, the division deployed into Leyte, Philippines to support clearing and security operations. On 29 January 1945, the 38th Infantry Division took part in the combat landing against the Japanese held Southern Zambales Province on the island of Luzon. Afterwards, the 38th Infantry Division took part in the operations to clear Zig Zag Pass and the Bataan peninsula, and to secure Corregidor and Manila Bay. In recognition of their contributions in clearing the Philippines, the 38th Infantry Division received the nickname "The Avengers of Bataan".

Quickly demobilized after World War II, the 38th Infantry Division was reorganized and federally recognized on 5 March 1947 at Indianapolis, Indiana. During the intervening years, the 38th Infantry Division underwent numerous reorganizations while still retaining the designation as an infantry division. The 38th Infantry Division headquarters mobilized in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations in 2005, exercising command and control over all National Guard elements deployed in the state of Mississippi. Since 11 September 2001, units of the division have participated in Operation Enduring Freedom (in Kuwait, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Cuba, and the Horn of Africa) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, the 38th Infantry Division provided a headquarters element (designated Task Force Cyclone) to command and control counterinsurgency operations in Regional Command East, Afghanistan from August 2009 through June 2010.

Most recently (as of October 2013), the 38th Infantry Division headquarters had responsibility for the domestic all-hazards response team (DART) mission in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the event of a major incident in the eastern half of the United States.