Original Item: Only One Available. 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 stamped 147D which indicates the approximate manufacture date of May 1942, just after the U.S. entered into WWII.

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 is an early M-1 helmet with a set of fixed (non-movable) chinstrap loops called bales and a stainless steel rim. 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).

This helmet is a fine complete example and still retains all of its original WW2 parts (except liner chinstrap) and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint with three original red crosses, not inside of white circles as you often encounter. The front of the shell, on the left “arm” of the cross there is a circular indentation which could have been caused by a ricochet or shrapnel, but there is no way to confirm as to what happened. The rear of the helmet has what appears to be a name written but it is too faded to be read.

The liner is correct high pressure WWII issue and stamped with a W for the Westinghouse Electric Co Manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed "W" in the crown (which is still Westinghouse's logo to this day). Westinghouse was the largest M-1 helmet liner producer and had two production divisions; Micarta and Bryant Electric.

The Micarta Division produced about 13,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and the Bryant Electric Division about 10,000,000. Westinghouse Electric Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery in May 1942. Westinghouse did have a contract to produce airborne liners and converted an unknown amount to airborne configuration. Westinghouse discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) 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 the correct string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The original leather chin strap is unfortunately missing.

On any World War II battlefield, you could find thousands of men trained and ready to do one thing, fight. For roughly every 500 fighting men, there would be 30 or less trained and ready to do an entirely different mission: save lives. These were the battlefield medics.

WW2 Medic helmets are among the most sought after of all M1 helmets and have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years. Value increases yearly, don’t miss your chance on this one!