Vietnam Era US M1 Paratrooper Helmet
Item #: WR516
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This is a US Vietnam era M1 helmet and liner. The helmet has a visible heat stamp of 985A, with the size of the numbers the same as used during WWII. I believe this is a stamp of McCord Radiator & Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan. They produced almost twenty million M1 shells between 1941 and the end of World War II. The exterior of the shell shows evidence of multiple coats of paint, the lighter shade of green found on Vietnam era helmets and the dark shade found on WWII examples. The inside of the helmet is painted the same light green from the Vietnam era, but also has the darker paint showing through in spots. I believe this is the original paint. The exterior has almost no texture left to it, mostly around the rim of the helmet. The helmet shell has a couple of very small dents. The stainless steel band around the rim retains most of the paint. The rim has a front seam stainless steel band. This is one of the last front seam helmets made, being produced between September and October of 1944. The chin strap bails are swivel. The pieces of the chin straps are missing on the shell. The liner is a post WWII made during the 1965 time period according to the stamps in the suspension. The liner still has a couple coats of paint showing, the interior is unpainted. The liner is complete with nape strap, paratrooper chin strap and sweat band. The suspension cloth is cotton and correct for the Vietnam period. This is a nice example of an M1 combat helmet that saw service from World War II, through the Vietnam era and on into the 1980's, when it was replaced by the Kevlar helmet.
(Sold)
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