Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good service-worn U.S. WWII M1 helmet set configured for Marine Corps use, consisting of a mid-to-late-war front-seam swivel-bale steel shell, a Westinghouse high-pressure liner, and an original WWII-pattern reversible USMC camouflage helmet cover with foliage slits and a hand-painted Eagle, Globe and Anchor device. The helmet shows a long service history, including a period-style stitched repair to the camouflage cover and apparent later alteration to the liner suspension. While the individual components are correct for WWII use, the set also shows evidence of continued use or modification into the postwar or Korean War period.

The cover is the second pattern to be used during WWII which does have the 16 foliage buttonhole slits in the top of the helmet cover, or buttonhole on each one of the “fingers”. The helmet does not have a USMC stencil, but instead has a hand-painted EGA device with a scroll in the eagle’s beak, a fantastic period addition. These covers were never stenciled during World War II, only having EGAs if the soldier added them themselves, like on this helmet.

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 with a partial number that we cannot read fully, 19 71. This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWII parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint with front seam and swivel bails. The chin strap is mid-war OD Green with stamped brass hardware. The shell and chinstrap are in good overall condition, showing normal wear related to service.

The early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed (static) 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). In October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales" that this helmet has. In 1944, to deal with paint wearing off the very shiny stainless steel rim, the material was changed to manganese steel in October, and then the seam moved to the rear in November. This example still has the front seam.

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and a very faint embossed with a W for manufacture by the Westinghouse Electric Co of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liners are 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.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in good condition. 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 liner chinstrap is original and shows some heavy crazing. The strap at the back of the suspension is later-added, likely during the Korean War period, as it is dark green. Some of the suspension is missing as well. There is a faint name and number scratched into the side, WALKER over a very faint serial number.

Condition overall is good and strongly service worn. The shell retains its front seam, swivel bales, wartime-style corked finish, and chinstrap. The camouflage cover shows honest wear and a stitched repair, while the hand-painted EGA remains visually prominent. The Westinghouse liner retains important WWII features but has incomplete suspension, a heavily crazed leather chinstrap, and an apparent later dark-green rear strap.

The historical appeal of this helmet lies in the layered nature of the set. Its WWII front-seam swivel-bale shell, wartime USMC reversible camouflage cover, hand-applied EGA, Westinghouse high-pressure liner, WALKER inscription, and later liner alteration are all consistent with a helmet that remained useful well beyond its initial issue period. Rather than representing a completely untouched 1944 assembly, it is a particularly evocative example of the long service life of Marine Corps M1 helmet equipment from WWII into the Korean War era.