Original U.S. WWI 79th Infantry Division Painted British Made M1917 Doughboy Helmet with Battles & Regiment Painted on Rim
-
Original Item: Only One Available. When America was drawn into the European conflict it possessed no steel helmets of its own. They looked to other nations for ideas and selected the British helmet as the most suitable. Britain supplied about half a million helmets to the Americans before production of an American version was started in the U.S. This is a fantastic, genuine Great War hand painted 79th Infantry Division British made helmet, complete with its chinstrap, but no liner.
The exterior of this helmet has been beautifully painted with the soldier’s organization and battles:
316 - L - ARGONNE - TROYON - MEUSE
This indicates the soldier was in the 316th Infantry Regiment, Company L, and took part in the major offensives of the Division. The heat stamp on the underside of the rim is BS 10, a nice and low lot number for a helmet manufactured by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd of Glasgow. The heat stamp and the split rivets on the chinstrap bales are a solid indication and a good reference point for identifying British made helmets for American use during the Great War. The best feature on this helmet is the hand painted 79th Infantry Division “Cross of Lorraine” and the battles painted around the rim.
The helmet is in good condition with its liner gone and chinstrap disconnected. The chinstrap is still present but most of it has disconnected from the helmet. This is a great example of a 79th Division helmet, ready for further research and display.
History of the M1917 Helmet
The M1917 was the US Army's first modern combat helmet, used from 1917 and during the 1920s, before being replaced by the M1917A1. The M1917A1 helmet was an updated version of the M1917 and initially used refurbished WW1 shells.
The M1917 is a near identical version of the British Mk.I steel helmet, and it is important to note that when the US joined the Great War in 1917 they were initially issued with a supply of around 400,000 British made Mk.Is, before production began state side. The M1917 differed slightly in its lining detail, and exhibited US manufacture markings.
M1917 helmet liners typically show a paper label at the crown and the dome rivet head. The liner is set up as on the British versions, with an oilcloth band and net configuration, attached to a leather strap, riveted to the shell. The chinstrap is leather with steel buckle.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
We Buy Military Antiques
Our team expert buyers travels the world to pay fair prices for entire estate collections to singular items.
START SELLING TODAY
