Item:
ONSV4708

Original U.S. WWII 1942 McCord Front Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet with USMC Mosquito Net Cover

Item Description

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 MSA. 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 244 which indicates the approximate manufacture date of September 1942, when the war was well underway.

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 earl 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 WW2 parts. It has the original corked paint, but it was overpainted at some point with a more "olive" tone, possibly to increase the camouflage profile. This was done some time ago, and it has the usual paint wear on the stainless steel rim, through both coats of paint.  It has the correct early war OD green #3 Chin strap with a cast brass buckle.

The liner is correct high pressure WWII issue and stamped with a S in an oval over 4 for the SEAMAN PAPER COMPANY. This marking is somewhat faint, as Seaman did not make the markings very prominent, so cleaning easily wears them away. Manufactured in Chicago, Illinois this "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed "S" in the crown. Seaman Paper Company started delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 - 4,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and 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 OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very good shape. 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. Unfortunately the sweatband and liner chin strap are completely missing, most likely having deteriorated and rotted out long ago.

Covering the helmet shell is a very nice Unissued U.S. Marine Corps Camouflage mosquito net. These could have the netting tucked up under the liner, so they were often used in place of the reversible camouflage liner. This example is in great shape, and fits the helmet perfectly.

A very nice genuine early WWII issue helmet with a rare USMC mosquito net, perfect for any collection! Ready to display!

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