Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Korean War issue McCord M1 helmet shell, with a Westinghouse / CAPAC Paratrooper liner. It does however have some very interesting aspects, which make it a prime candidate for further research.

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 mid 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 October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales". Then in October 1944, the rims were changed to non magnetic manganese steel, due to issues with the paint wearing off the rim. Shortly after this in November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet.

McCord restarted production during the post war years for the Korean Conflict, and there were also WWII helmets which were refit during the war. This helmet shell definitely appears to have undergone something like that, as this helmet really doesn't fit into the standard production format. It does look to be a WWII production shell, and we think we can see faded heat lot stamp "857E" in a rusted area on the helmet, which could also be "657E". This would indicate production late 1943 or early 1944. However, while it has the correct late war swivel bales and a rear seam rim, it in fact has as stainless steel rim. We've never seen a helmet shell in this configuration before, so we can only assume it was some type of repair or refit.

The helmet shell does show quite a bit of wear, and definitely had water sitting on the inside for some period. A lot of the paint is worn, and there are definitely dents on the outside. Much of the paint is worn off the stainless steel rim, and the shell chinstrap is entirely missing.

The liner is correct "high pressure Korean War Era issue and stamped with a W over mold number 14, for manufacture by the the Westinghouse Electric Co of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner are identified by an embossed "W" in the crown (which is still Westinghouse's logo to this day). There is also a CAPAC logo above this, with 5 1 surrounding it, indicating 1951 manufacturer. Westinghouse was the largest M-1 helmet liner producer during WWII. With the outbreak of the Korean conflict, they resumed making helmet liners, which were quite similar to the WWII configuration.

There is some confusion over these liners, and some believe that CAPAC purchased liner molds from Westinghouse, and added their own logo, while not removing the Westinghouse logo. Whichever it is, the liner is definitely Korean war issue, but very early, as the liner configuration is nearly identical to WWII, with the webbing color being the main difference.

This true US Korean War M-1 helmet liner be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include cotton dark OD Green #7 herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very good shape, with a bit of age fading. 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 unfortunately quite degraded, with the leather split and separated from the webbing as shown.

The paratrooper chin strap extensions are both complete with their cast brass buckles, and are in the correct OD Green #7, which matches the aged color of the rigging perfectly. The original leather chin strap for the liner is still present, though worn, and the paratrooper chin cup is missing.

A Korean War Issued M1 helmet with a very interesting history! Ready to research and display!