Original Item: Only One Available. An outstanding example of an early WWII U.S. Combat Helmet that certainly has that “been there “veteran” look! This is an example of a McCord M1 Fixed Bale Helmet, painted with an Officer’s Leadership Bar on the reverse. Fitted on the helmet is a net which unquestionably has been on this particular helmet for a very long time. Accompanying the helmet is a fine example of a very scarce Hood Low Pressure Helmet Liner, with original vinyl sweatband, liner chinstrap, and nape strap.

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 stamped 356C, which dates to 1943.

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.
The early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed chinstrap loops called "bales" and a stainless steel rim. 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).

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint with front seam and fixed bails. The shell is fitted with brass chinstrap hardware. The reverse of the helmet is painted with an Officer’s vertical “follow me” Invasion stripe, as used in northwest Europe following the D-Day Invasion.

The helmet also features one of the rare early-war "low pressure" liners, which were constructed of rubber fiber, and were the thinnest construction of all WWII Liners. This liner was manufactured by Hood Rubber, and features the white stamped HR marking on the crown, steel triangular "A" washers, and the standard OD Green #3 HBT suspension, which was held over for the later versions of the liner. St. Clair also made the low pressure liner, but they used unique square washers and rayon suspension. The low pressure liners, like the Hawley paper liners, were found to be inadequate, and were replaced with the "high pressure" liner, so finding one still in a helmet is quite rare, as they were sold off to be children's toys.

The rigging in the liner is still intact showing signs of light honest use. The correct Hood Rubber Vinyl Sweatband is still present, with its age matching the rest of the liner. Like all true US WWII M-1 helmet liners, this liner has the front vent eyelet hole. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with a shoestring. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. All parts of this liner are original WWII manufacture. This is a great original example of a rare "low-pressure" liner.

An attractive example of a WWII U.S. Combat Helmet that certainly has the appearance of having “been there”!