Item:
ONSV23NCN088

Original U.S. WWII 2nd Infantry Division Painted Lieutenant Colonel’s 1943 M1 McCord Front Seam Fixed Bale Helmet with Seaman Paper Co Liner and “Follow Me” vertical Stripe

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of a rather rare M1 helmet which features a beautifully handpainted 2nd Infantry Division “Indian Head” insignia on the front with an equally attractive silver oak leaf indicating the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The division insignia, according to legend, is the creation of a driver of the division who painted it on the side of his truck with such success that the resulting design evolved into the insignia of the 2d Division.

The design concept was sent to command headquarters for approval. Brigadier General Omar Bundy was the Division Commander at that time. He served on the American frontier and participated in the Indian Wars campaigns against the Crow and Sioux Indians. He also fought during the Spanish–American War with the 5th Army Corps in Cuba, receiving the Silver Star for gallantry at the Battle of El Caney. General Bundy not only approved the design but he took it one step further. He ordered that the design be put on his staff car!

The back features desirable vertical white stripe on the back, known as the “follow me” stripe. These vertical stripes were present on the backs of the helmets so that subordinates knew that the soldier in front of them was an officer, they were not placed on the front of the helmet for obvious reasons, the same reason you don’t salute an officer in the field!

This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, with a Seaman Paper Co liner. 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 with 649A indicating approximate manufacture of July-August of 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.

This M1 shell has correct early war fixed chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front 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 WWII parts, and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, showing moderate use, with no evidence of a repaint. There is the usual wear on the stainless steel rim with minor deformities. There are the expected stress cracks located on the rear of the helmet, a common sight to see with early manufactured M1 helmets. It has the correct early war OD green #3 Chin strap with a cast brass buckle in good but slightly worn condition.

The liner is correct high pressure WWII issue and stamped with a S in an oval for the SEAMAN PAPER COMPANY. 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, lovely service worn condition US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) OD Green #3 cloth suspension. 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 a correct string allowing the wearer to adjust the fit. The sweatband and liner chinstrap are present but cracked with signs of extensive wear. The exterior of the liner has a beautiful applied paper insignia for the 2nd infantry division. The sides of the liner appears to have had other decals on the sides which were removed at some point.

A beautiful example ready for further research and display.

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