Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent service-used U.S. Marine Corps M1 helmet ensemble assembled from genuine WWII components and configured for continued use during the Korean War era. The set consists of a late-WWII McCord front-seam, swivel-bale steel helmet shell, an original reversible USMC camouflage helmet cover with later Eagle, Globe and Anchor markings, and an original WWII Firestone high-pressure liner. The combination is representative of the extensive reuse of wartime helmet equipment by the Marine Corps during the Korean War.

The shell has a heat lot stamp, 928D. This heat-lot number is consistent with McCord production during the later portion of 1944, when swivel bales had replaced the earlier fixed-loop arrangement but the stainless-steel rim seam was still positioned at the front. Comparable McCord shells in the low-900 heat-lot range are generally associated with approximately August and September 1944 production, placing 928D comfortably within the same late-1944 period.

The shell is fitted with an olive-drab chinstrap consistent with Korean War-era service and a later infantry-style buckle. This reflects the common postwar rebuilding and continued issue of WWII M1 helmet shells rather than indicating that the shell itself was newly manufactured during Korea.

The cover is the first pattern to be used during WWII which does not have the 16 foliage buttonhole slits in the top of the helmet cover, or buttonhole on each one of the “fingers”. Additionally, the front of the cover has a diamond-shaped patch stitched on with a stenciled EGA on top, this being done on both reversible sides of the cover. From what we can find, this looks to have been done to covers reissued for the Korean War. Interestingly, there are three different stenciled markings on the tongues of the tan side of the cover. They read 38, 15, and A-44. The cover shows heavy fading from service wear with some tearing on both sides and along the brim edge.

The liner is correct “high pressure” WWII issue and stamped with an F logo for the FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY Manufactured in Akron, Ohio this “high pressure” manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed “F” in the crown. Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately 7,500,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended.

This example is fitted with the correct khaki suspension with leather sweatband. The chinstrap is entirely gone, however. The liner fits well in the helmet.

The M1 helmet introduced during WWII remained standard U.S. service headgear through the Korean War, and the Marine Corps made extensive use of wartime-produced shells, liners, and camouflage covers throughout that conflict. As a result, Korean War helmets frequently combine components manufactured during WWII with later chinstraps, markings, repairs, and reissued camouflage equipment.

This example is especially interesting because each principal component documents a different stage of that service history: the 928D late-WWII McCord front-seam swivel-bale shell, original reversible no-slit USMC camouflage cover with EGA diamond modifications on both sides, and original Firestone high-pressure liner with wartime suspension. The faded cover, unidentified 38 / 15 / A-44 markings, Korean War-era chinstrap configuration, and missing liner chinstrap all contribute to the honest service-used character of the ensemble. Rather than representing a factory-matched helmet, it is an excellent example of the wartime equipment that continued to equip U.S. Marines during the Korean War.