Interesting helmet find

[BEAR]

While rummaging around in the back room of my favorite antique store I uncovered this camouflaged M1917A1. While I am used to seeing M17s of the Great War painted in camouflage, this one is new to me. So, I scratched it under the chinstrap and it followed me home. Only drawback are the leather ties in the liner, they are dry rotted.

BEAR

Information

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[browningautorifle]

this camouflaged M1917A1.

Have you rooted out a date of manufacture? I'll bet this one's really late. Although I've seen them here occasionally, not this nice. Good catch.

[BEAR]

Thanks
According to Mark A. Reynosa's book U.S. HELMETS OF THE 20TH CENTURY, McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Co. only manufactured the M1917A1 from November 1940 to May 1941. They only produced 904,020 helmets before they were replaced by the M1. However, many of the M17's were outfitted with the A1s liner.

The helmet stamp is 5A. That would seem to be an early helmet since I have another A1 stamped 11A. Reynosa's book does not address the stamps or years associated with these stamps.

BEAR

[browningautorifle]

The helmet stamp is 5A. That would seem to be an early helmet since I have another A1 stamped 11A.

I would think this is a heat lot number?

[BEAR]

I would think this is a heat lot number?

That is true. The A1 was only made by McCord and it was only a short run (only six months), so assumption being what is, I would assume the heat lots would follow a sequential order. Doing some additional research, the numbers range from 1 to 24 with a letter code in addition.

I'm sure that if I'm off base on this assumption someone will come along and correct me. This can't possibly be as complicated as the M1 heat stamps and dates.

BEAR