Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, fitted with a very nice liner by Firestone. As with many WWII helmets, it was kept in service long after WWII was over, and looks to have been reissued for use in Vietnam. The outer shell was repainted, a new sweatband was fitted, and it was issued with a USMC reversible camouflage cover. This has the correct U.S. Marine Corps EGA logo on the front, and has been personalized with "BORN TO KILL" added to the side.

The U.S. WWII M-1 helmet was only produced from 1941 to 1945. The first production batch resulted with over 323,510 M-1 helmets before the start of the American involvement in the war. This helmet is heat lot stamped 244C which indicates the approximate manufacture date of August 1942, not long after the U.S. entered WWII. 

The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit Michigan to produce the steel M1 helmet bodies. These bodies were made from a single piece of Hadfield Manganese steel that was produced by the Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell weighed 2.25 lbs each.

This very good condition M1 shell has correct early war fixed chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front fully welded seam. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet. This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWI parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, though it was repainted for Vietnam service with a darker OD color. There is also the usual wear on the stainless steel rim.  It has the correct early war OD green #3 Chin strap with a cast brass buckle, showing light wear and oxidation to the fittings.

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and stamped with a W under mold number 20, for manufacture by the the Westinghouse Electric Co of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner are identified by an embossed "W" in the crown (which is still Westinghouse's logo to this day). Westinghouse was the largest M-1 helmet liner producer and had two production divisions; Micarta and Bryant Electric. The Micarta Division produced about 13,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and the Bryant Electric Division about 10,000,000. Westinghouse Electric Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery in May 1942. Westinghouse did have a contract to produce airborne liners and converted an unknown amount to airborne configuration. Westinghouse discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include cotton OD Green #3 herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very good shape, with a bit of age fading. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct OD green string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The sweatband in this helmet is a 1961 dated Vietnam War Era example, and is in very good condition, with little wear of any type. There is not any major oxidation on any of the fittings, and the liner leather chin strap is even still intact, a rarity!

A very nice genuine early WWII issue helmet, reissued for service during Vietnam, and showing only light wear. This would be perfect for any collection! Ready to display!