Original U.S. WWII M1 McCord Front Seam Fixed Bale Helmet with Seaman Paper Co Liner & HBT Camouflage Cover
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, with a rare Seaman Paper Company liner and HBT camouflage cover. 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 itself has a heavy amount of rust on the interior and no heat stamp is visible, but it is certainly WWII production.
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 most of its original WWII parts, and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, heavy use with the oxidation in the interior. There is also the usual wear on the stainless steel rim. It has the correct early war OD green #3 Chin strap with a cast brass buckle, though the fixings are heavily oxidized.
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 is present and in lovely condition. The leather liner chinstrap is retained however it has detached from one side as shown. The HBT camouflage cover has two very large holes on one side as shown, but still displays well on the helmet.
Comes more than ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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