Original U.S. Vietnam War USMC M1 Helmet with Incountry-Made ERDL Cover Made from Ripstop Fatigues with Marine Boonie Hat & Accessories
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an excellent example of a Vietnam War M1 helmet which was fitted in-country with a custom made helmet cover made from an ERDL Ripstop fatigues uniform shirt. This piece of ripstop fabric was given the correct foliage slits and edge reinforcements and used as a helmet cover, following the standard Mitchell pattern construction well. There is some tearing as shown. The helmet is fitted with an elastic band named WALTERS, which is holding in place a spoon and matchbook, accessories commonly found attached to Vietnam M1 helmets. The helmet comes with a period correct 1968-dated camouflage Boonie hat.
The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the United States military from World War II until 1985, when it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S. military. The M1 helmet has become an icon of the American military, with its design inspiring other militaries around the world.
Vietnam War era M-1 helmet shells have a set of swivel (movable) chinstrap loops called bales and a manganese steel rim. These rims had non-magnetic qualities that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In WWII the shells had Stainless Steel rims, however these would easily lose paint, and the shine produced without paint was a liability.
This helmet shell is stamped I-2932 for manufacture by Ingersoll. The helmet retains most of its original period parts, and the shell has the original Green finish. The custom cover has scattered oxidation staining and wear, with the correct chinstrap stretched taut over the rear brim.
The helmet comes complete with high pressure Vietnam War P64 liner. The liner does not have a frontal eyelet, indicating that it is a post Korean war manufacture. A new suspension system for the M1 Helmet Liner was introduced in 1964, with this one being in good service-worn condition with a heavily degraded sweatband.
The included boonie hat is stamped Size 7 and named LEWIS, with a maker tag showing a 1968 contract. There is a small Marine EGA device attached to the front.
These helmets have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years, especially genuine Vietnam War issue ones. This one has a great custom cover and attached accessories, and will fit well into any collection focused around M1 Helmets or the Vietnam War.
The ERDL pattern, also known as the Leaf pattern, is a camouflage pattern developed by the United States Army at its Engineer Research & Development Laboratories (ERDL) in 1948. It was not used until the Vietnam War, when it was issued to elite reconnaissance and special operations units beginning early 1967.
The pattern consists of four colors printed in an interlocking pattern. It was initially produced in a green-dominant colorway, consisting of large organic shapes in olive green and brown, black ‘branches’, and light green ‘leaf highlights’. Shortly thereafter a brown-dominant scheme (with the light green replaced by light tan) was manufactured. The two patterns are also unofficially known as "Lowland" and "Highland" ERDL, respectively.
The ERDL-pattern combat uniform was identical in cut to the OG-107 Tropical Combat uniform, commonly called "jungle fatigues", it was issued alongside. It was common for marines to wear mixes of ERDL and OG-107 jungle fatigues, which was authorized owing to periodic shortages. Australian and New Zealand SAS members were also issued U.S.-spec tropical combat uniforms in ERDL during their time in the Vietnam War.
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