Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a 1943 or earlier WWII M1 Helmet with original Captain’s rank painted, complete with original khaki chinstraps with blackened brass hardware, Foliage net, and its original Westinghouse liner. Interestingly, The liner has a lieutenant’s rank on the front, indicating that the lieutenant was most likely promoted to Captain and had not gotten around to changing the rank on the liner. These pieces have been together a long time! This is one of the more attractive WWII US helmets we have had the pleasure of offering in recent years!

The steel shell on this example exhibits original paint to the exterior, some corrosion to the interior, and some corrosion to the interior of the shell in the crown. The rim appears to be stainless steel, which helps date the helmet to Pre-1944. Early to mid 1944 was when the manganese rim was introduced. M-1 helmet shell originally had a stainless steel rim with seam in the front. Stainless steel 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 1944, due to issues with paint flaking off the bright stainless steel, the rim was changed to use non-magnetic manganese steel, which retained the paint and was not shiny. Shortly after this in November 1944 the switch was made to rear seam from front seam.

This helmet features the correct fixed bales which indicates pre-October 1943 manufacture as swivel bales began production around that time. The helmet still retains all of its original WWII parts with some light wear from service. The exterior still has the original "corked grain" OD Green paint retained well, with areas of light wear. The shell strap is the correct OD Green #3 from a mid war helmet, with a stamped blackened brass buckle. It shows only light wear, and is really in great shape. The net is section cut from a GI Vehicle net, which was quite popular with the troops during WWII.

The liner is the correct “high pressure” WWII issue and stamped with an “W Circle” logo, which was the product stamp for Westinghouse. 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 worn condition, with some areas having small tears. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular green-painted "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 shows wear from honest use (sweat and grime). The liner chin strap is present, and is unbroken and slightly dry. The front of the liner features the name “Thompson” affixed to the front by the means of individually cut and pasted letters, along with a 1st Lieutenant’s Bar above. This is definitely a liner that saw use during the war, and looks to have been exposed to dirt and moisture during service, and possibly afterwards. We have left this intact to preserve the wonderful "service worn" look that the interior has.

The M1 Helmet:
In World War II the production of the M1 helmet began in June 1941 and ceased in September 1945. The total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by the main contractor McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit. Although McCord was supposed to be the single source of M-1 helmet shells, by the summer of 1942 a second company was enlisted to help the production effort. This was Schlueter Manufacturing of St. Louis, Missouri.

Schlueter began production of its M-1 helmet shells in January 1943. Schlueter produced only 2,000,000 M-1 helmet shells during the war (both fixed and swivel). They placed an "S" stamp on their helmet shells above their "heat temperature stamp". Aside from the markings, there are some subtle differences between a McCord and Schlueter M-1 helmet shell. This can be found on the rims. A Schlueter helmet shell has a much straighter profile than the classic McCord brim. Also the weld marks for the fixed bales and rim are small and round on a Schlueter, while they are oval and wide for a McCord.