M1 Helmet..OT Captain?

[Garandrew]

Anybody know if this is a WW2 made Captain marked M1 helmet? Seam is in the front, but bails swivel.

M1 helmet pictures by AndrewG1957 - Photobucket

Thanks for any help...its an M1.. ;-)
Andy

Information

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[Capt Quahog]

Sewn on chinstrap. I've owned both with the rigid strap holder and those that move back and forth. There is at least one WEB site on the Internet devoted to the WW2 USGI M1 helmet.

[GrinerBros]

Yep its ww2 and a nice one at that... The liner and seam are a dead giveaway.... Swivel bales are ww2 they switched from the fixed bale sometime to the swivel sometime in late 43...
go to M1-helmet.com for more info, its a great website
Home of the M-1 Helmet

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Like all collectibles, there are people who will take advantage and enhance or completely fake M1 helmets to make a quick dollar.

It's an authentic second generation (swivel bale) introduced in October 1943.
They are fairly common. The army switched to 'swivel bales' after having problems with the 'fixed bale' helmets having the bails broken off.
(GI's broke many by sitting on them)
Of course 'fixed bale' helmets are worth much more now because of their rarity.
(Many of them are faked these days)

McCord Radiator made the majority of M1 helmest and Schulueter Mfg made some, with the Schulueter being more rare. By VJ Day McCord produced 22 million M1 helmets and Schuluter produced 2 million.
(The Schuluerter helmets will have an 'S' stamped under the brim are are worth more)

I got into collecting M1 helmets a few years ago and have several books on the subject. The biggest problem is there are more faked painted helmets than humped gun parts!
Unfortunately, the chance of the captain bars being authentic is slim. You need to look at the wear and age carefully to see if it looks like the rest of the paint. Most all WWII era paint contained lead and in some cases collectors have exposed very real looking fakes by using black lights and other means of testing the paint.
(Then some humpers began using old paint when they can find it!)

Faked rank and unit marked helmets are rampant these days. German helmets started this 'Hump' thing because the prices went up to astronomical levels.

Then after 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Band Of Brothers' people went nuts for M1 helmets trying to find examples of unit marked helmets. Humpers obliged and many, many people buy them thinking they found a treasure.
(Anytime there's something people want, crooks will get into the picture)

It's said (barely jokingly) amongst collectors there are more WWII M1 Airborne helmets on eBay that existed on D-Day!
They are the playing card designs you see on eBay, (Spades, clubs, etc)
(Details of the unit symbols and variations would take up a chapter - The regulations for these symbols were vague. Some were done very well, but many looked very sloppy - It was common to make GI's paint helmets as punishment)

Most marked M1 helmets were scooped up by collectors years ago and are very rare and difficult to find. If you locate one they cost a fortune and are almost exclusively sole between collectors. Ebay buyers often pay a few hundred dollars for them thinking they got a deal, when authentic M1 helmets with authentic markings can go into four figures.

There are also many companies now who create 'reproductions' that look very good and sell them as such. The problem occurs because few are marked as reproductions and then they are resold later down the line as authentic. Every part of the shell is available as reproduction parts as well.

The seller told the truth about this helmet. The cork texture, paint, straps, and symbols are recreations.



I'm not saying this one is a fake. There's not enough info in the photos to tell anything for certain, but the chance of it being 'enhanced' by someone is overwhelming just by looking at the photos of the captain's bars. Sadly there are many very many desirable front seam helmets that are ruined by people who could care less and they paint fake markings all over them to make a buck.

There are many collectors books and these are very good if anyone is interested in getting into collecting M1 helmets, but it can be a frustrating and expensive hobby. (I got out of it)

The M1 Helmet - History of the M-Helmet by Mark A. Reynosa
Painted Steel - Steel pots by Cris Armold
M1 Helmets Collectors Guide of WWII by Michael Spivey

Sorry for the long post, I only wanted you to be careful if you're buying. I'd never buy one from the internet. They're one of those things you almost need to hold in your hand and inspect carefully. Sadly this collecting field has been humped to death.

~ Harlan

[lboos]

Harlan is the expert on WW 2 M1 helmet's .

[Twinson]

Just remember when looking at liners that are advertised as being original vet bring backs.....look at the webbing, does it look like some GI had it on his sweaty stinky head while crawling thru the muck? Or does it look brand new inside..........

[Jim K]

I have often wondered about the symbols painted on helmets in WWII movies. I know that in my time of service it was forbidden to paint anything on my helmet except my serial number in white paint on the underside. (Division and rank decals went on the helmet liner, which would have been covered in combat.)

I can hardly believe that people painted their rank on the helmet, as one of the prime rules for snipers was to shoot officers and NCOs.

Jim

[Garandrew]

Harlan, and all, I got this helmet many years ago. It came from an estate. If the helmet is 100% correct/original, any idea on value as an Officers helmet?
Thanks...Andy

[Griff Murphey]

John C. Tittle, the old man who taught me how to shoot, was an Infantryman in Europe... came in as a replacement about a month or two after D-Day. They were issued M-1s picked up on the beach and cosmolined, sand, salt, and all. He said the only officers who lasted any time were the ones who wore NO rank and carried a RIFLE.

[snipershot1944]

Andy

Front seam is good sign as late and post wwii helmets had a rear seam since GI's used helmets as digging tools and the seam of the rim edge was often damaged. Swivel bales would probably date the helmet late 43 or early 44. Khaki webbing is positive too. Does the helmet have a vertical white stripe to the back?

If original I'd guess $400-$600 in value. I sold a collection of WWII helmets last year and that seems to be the range for a Lt-Capt mid war helmet.

Sincerely

David