Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of a rather rare M1 helmet which features the 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 but is extremely difficult to read but with the bales and seam, we believe this to be a mid 1943 example.

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. The top interior of the shell has light oxidation present, almost like liquid pooled and staying there for a bit. There is also 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 worn condition. The front of the helmet has a lovely set of brazed Captain’s “bars”.

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. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The sweatband and liner chinstrap are no longer present. The exterior of the liner has what appears to be a post war camouflage paint scheme done to it and there are two split pin rivets on each side with remnants of a yoke like attachment. We believe this to have possibly been done for theatrical purposes but are not 100 percent certain.

A beautiful example ready for further research and display.