Original U.S. Vietnam War 18th Airborne Corps & 3rd Army Military Police Battalion Lieutenant’s Ingersoll M1 Helmet with Westinghouse / CAPAC Liner and Chin Strap
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Original Item: Only One Available. 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 they produced without paint was a liability.
This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original Vietnam War parts, and the shell has the original dark OD Green finish. The exterior has MP painted on the front, with the 18th Airborne Corps insignia on one side and the 3rd Army insignia on the other side, and the correct Red and White stripes for a Vietnam War era member of the Military Police. These helmets are quite a bit harder to find than unmarked ones.
The helmet's heat lot code is very faint, which appears to be I-1391, which indicates manufacture by Ingersoll Rand Products, who produced a total of 3,174,296 helmet shells between 1965-1968 during the Vietnam Period.
The liner appears to be a Korean War era "High Pressure" liner and white leather chinstrap, with a CAPAC stamp on the crown over the Westinghouse logo. The liner shows heavy use and the exterior is painted white with a black stripe painted across the helmet vertically. The sweatband, nape strap, and chin strap are present and in mostly solid condition with very heavy wear.
These helmets have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years, especially genuine Vietnam War issue ones with Military Police Markings. Almost certainly to appreciate in value year after year!
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