Original U.S. WWI M1917 Doughboy Helmet Shell with Multi-Colored Camouflage Paint
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Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a very nice genuine Great War hand painted camouflage helmet shell, with the liner and chinstrap now long gone. The helmet features original period colored camouflage paint in mostly red, green, blue, yellow, and brown in a panel pattern. This example was almost certainly painted at home after the war.
The paint is well-patina’d with heavy wear across the shell. There are some areas of rust and fading of the paint, so this helmet definitely saw service. The interior of the helmet shows that the liner and chinstrap are gone, as well as the original rivet in the dome.
The underside of the brim is stamped ZC 235, indicating that the shell is a U.S. manufactured shell, and not British. The solid rivet attaching the chin-strap bale further confirms this.
A lovely camouflaged 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 MkI 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 a steel buckle.
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