Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine late WWII Issue U.S. Army M1 Helmet, which like many was then reissued for use during later conflicts. This example may have been used in the Korean War, but definitely saw use in the Vietnam war. It has a standard USMC Reversible 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 is heat lot stamped 675D, which indicates the approximate manufacture date of October-November 1943, right during the change over to swivel bales.

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. The total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by the main contractor McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit.

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.

The helmet shell is a fine example and features a correct front seam and swivel bails. It has large oval welds on the front seamed rim, identifying it as a McCord shell. The entire shell was overpainted during arsenal refurbishing, and the original chin strap was removed, replaced with an OD Green #7 chin strap, attached to the swivel bales by metal fittings.

The liner is a correct high pressure Korean or Vietnam War issue liner. The standard WWII style Korean war suspension is held within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers, and the three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct green string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The sweatband is complete, with only light wear. The liner chin strap is missing, which is common.

The included USMC reversible camouflage cover is in excellent condition, complete with the elastic securing band, and overall this helmet does not seem to have been extensively used when it was reissued for the Vietnam War. There is light wear with a few repairs, and some light rust staining from the inside of the helmet. The color is retained very well, especially on the tan side.

One of the tabs on the bottom of the cover is marked:

COVER, HELMET, CAMOUFLAGE
CONTRACT NO. 8027
FSN 8415-261-6833
100% COTTON
DPSC DIR OF MFG

An excellent genuine WWII issue helmet shell, repainted and refit for use by the USMC during the Vietnam War. Ready to add to your collection and display!

The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the United States military from World War II until 1985, when it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S. military. The M1 helmet has become an icon of the American military, with its design inspiring other militaries around the world.

The M1 helmet is extremely popular with militaria collectors, and helmets from the World War II period are generally more valuable than later models. Both World War II and Vietnam era helmets are becoming harder to find. Those with (original) rare or unusual markings or some kind of documented history tend to be more expensive. This is particularly true of paratroopers' helmets, which are variants known as the M1C Helmet and M2 Helmet.

The M1 helmet was adopted in 1941 to replace the M1917 helmet. Over 22 million U.S. M-1 steel helmets were manufactured by September 1945 at the end of World War II. A second US production run of approximately one million helmets was made in 1966–1967. These Vietnam War-era helmets were different from the World War II/Korean War version by having an improved chinstrap, and were painted a light olive green. The M1 was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the PASGT helmet, which offered increased ergonomics and ballistic protection. It should be noted that no distinction in nomenclature existed between wartime front seams and post war shells in the United States Army supply system, hence World War II shells remained in use until the M1 was retired from service.

While obsolete in the United States, the M1 Helmet and international variants are still in use by other nations around the world. The M1 helmet liner still occupies a symbolic niche in the United States military. For example, liners are currently worn in training by United States Navy SEALs BUD/S candidates, where in it is painted with the trainees' class number, name, and rank insignia, and painted and chrome-plated versions models are still used in ceremonial units. In Israeli service, reserve soldiers have used the M1 helmet in combat as late as 2006.