Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine late WWII Issue U.S. Army M1 Helmet, with a very nice 61 dated Vietnam War Era Liner. Like many WWII helmets, the shell was reissued for use later, with a new shell chin strap and liner. It was probably used during the Korean war era, and possibly into the Vietnam Era. This example also at some point had the FOUR STARS of a full General Rank stenciled to the front, with the name "KARDASH" added on the back. We have not been able to find any information regarding this, so the markings are most likely spurious in nature. The helmet itself however is definitely not.

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 1096A, which indicates the approximate manufacture date of October - November 1944.

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 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.

The early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed (static) 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). In October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales" that this helmet has.

In October 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 seams. This helmet features the correct front seam stainless steel rim and mid war production swivel bales.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains many of its original WWII parts, though it was definitely stripped and repainted with a sand or grit based OD green color. It features a correct manganese steel front seam and swivel bails. The chin strap has been replaced with a Korean / Vietnam style OD Green #7 chin strap with clip attachments to the bales. It has the correct buckle with the extra extension, which would break under heavy load in case the soldier's helmet got hung up.

The helmet comes complete with high pressure Vietnam war era Issue liner, which is stamped with the CAPAC Manufacturing Company logo on the top over CMC, and has no frontal eyelet. There is a 6 1 stamped around the logo at the top, indicating 1961 manufacture. It looks like there was some type of insignia attached to the outside of the liner, as well as some marked tape, but that has been removed.

The design of Ear Vietnam War era liners was mostly identical to the WWII issue, except the webbing is dark OD Green #7, not the WWII OD Green #3. 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 is present, with the leather showing only light wear. There is an issue marking on the back of the sweatband indicating a 1972 contract. The leather liner chin strap is also present, and in great shape!

An excellent genuine WWII issue helmet, reissued and used during the 1960s and 70s, in very good shape. Ready to display!