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I picked-up this M1 helmet years ago while in the service, it has never been repainted or worked on. I think it is a later WW2 helmet, note the split seam in front. The chin strap appears to be later too. Any help on information would be appreciated. Robert
Definitely a later strap. I don't know exactly when they started using those (by Korea?) but we had them as a replacement item , I think I still have one here someplace. Just cut the sewn one off and crimp the new one on.
Yes, the straps with metal ends that crimped on began during the Korean War era and were used that way through Vietnam. Lot's of earlier WWII helmets were upgraded with the new straps and new liners. At the beginning of the Korean War all helmets were WWII vintage. When the need for for more helmets arose, McCord Radiator started making new ones again. The new ones all had rear seam and the shape of the dome is slightly less rounded. When you have them sitting side by side you can see the difference in the shape.
There were a few rear seam helmets made in WWII but they have the same more rounded dome as the earlier front seam helmets. The first new liners made post WWII were exactly the same design as during WWII except they changed the herring bone twill suspension to green instead of khaki. You see a lot of these Korean War liners being sold as WWII but it's easy to tell they're post war by looking at the color. All WWII liners were khaki and no post WWII liners used khaki.
I have one Vietnam era helmet with all the upgrades - Vietnam era liner and cover, but the helmet shell is an early fixed bale upgraded with the crimped on chin straps.
That's a pretty easy description of how to recognize WW2 and later liners and outers.
Hi all: the chin strap (I cant see the picture) that replaced the early WW2 ones was developed in 1943, and used from 1944 onwards - all the way until early 70's. So to answer an old thread the first question: The front seam helmet you mentioned is definitely WW2, if it has fixed bales it is early WW2, swivel bales mid to late WW2 - the strap you mentioned : if it is blends well with the helmet and in the same visual condition (matches aging and wear) - then it is most likely a late WW2 chin strap. I could type a book on the subject - as I have had a huge learning curve over the last 2 months ( I just purchased 3500 x M1 shells with chin straps) - Always willing to learn on here more.
The crimped on chin straps were designated as 'T1 Fastener' and were first used as a production item beginning 1951-1952 when M1 helmet production resumed due to the Korean War. They were being developed near the end of WWII as non-production replacement straps but saw little use before the end of the war.
Reference: Page 109 of THE M-1 HELMET, A HISTORY OF THE U.S. M-1 HELMET by Mark A. Reynosa.
(His books on the M-1 helmet are the most comprehensive and detailed I've read)