Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an excellent original U.S. WWII M1 helmet with a beautifully hand painted 2nd Infantry Division “Indian Head” insignia on the front, applied over a large white MP marking, with a white Military Police band encircling the shell. The combination creates a particularly striking helmet associated with Military Police service in the 2nd Infantry Division.

The painted insignia has been examined under ultraviolet light and shows no fluorescence, which is consistent with older period applied paint.

The helmet shell is an early WWII McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company M1 with the desirable front seam and fixed chinstrap bales. The shell is heat lot stamped:

249B

This heat lot is consistent with approximately mid 1942 production, making it a very early wartime M1 helmet.

McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan was selected by the U.S. Ordnance Department as the primary producer of M1 steel helmet shells during WWII. The shells were formed from Hadfield manganese steel and fitted with a separate removable liner, creating the two piece helmet system that became one of the most recognizable pieces of American equipment of the war.

This shell retains the correct early fixed chinstrap loops, usually referred to by collectors as fixed bales, as well as the stainless steel rim with its seam positioned at the front. Later wartime production incorporated movable bales, and in late 1944 the rim seam was moved to the rear.

The helmet retains its original cork textured olive drab finish and shows moderate service wear, with no obvious evidence of a complete repaint. The stainless steel rim shows the expected wear and some minor deformation.

The original early war khaki chinstrap is still present and fitted with its cast brass buckle. The strap shows heavy wear from service and age but remains with the helmet.

The front of the shell carries the distinctive painted insignia of the 2nd Infantry Division, commonly known as the “Indian Head” division. The division’s shoulder insignia, showing the profile of a Native American head set against a white star, became one of the most recognizable U.S. Army divisional emblems of WWII.

Beneath the divisional insignia is a large white MP marking, with a matching white band extending around the circumference of the helmet. Such markings were intended to make Military Police personnel immediately recognizable while carrying out traffic control, security, prisoner handling, and other duties.

The helmet is fitted with an original Mine Safety Appliances, or MSA, high pressure liner manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The liner is identified by the embossed:

MSA

marking in the crown.

Mine Safety Appliances began producing M1 helmet liners for the U.S. military during WWII and manufactured substantial numbers through the end of the war.

The liner retains its original cotton herringbone twill suspension, which is dated 1943. The suspension remains secured by its rivets and triangular “A” washers, while the three upper suspension straps are joined with the original style adjusting cord.

The liner itself remains in good condition but has several cracks along the edges. The original sweatband is still present and shows heavy cracking from age. The leather liner chinstrap is also retained and is currently stretched over the front brim in the familiar manner often seen on surviving WWII helmets.

The paintwork has aged extremely well and gives the helmet excellent visual character. The 2nd Infantry Division insignia remains clear, while the underlying MP marking and white band are still readily visible.

The 2nd Infantry Division saw extensive combat in the European Theater, including fighting in Normandy, Brittany, the Hürtgen Forest, the Ardennes, and the final advance into Germany and Czechoslovakia. Military Police attached to formations such as the 2nd Division performed essential duties behind and near the front lines, including traffic regulation, route control, security, and management of prisoners and displaced personnel.

With its early 1942 McCord fixed bale shell, original wartime finish, painted Military Police markings, hand painted 2nd Infantry Division insignia, 1943 dated MSA liner, and surviving chinstraps, this is an especially attractive and complete example of a WWII divisional MP helmet.